For a long time, many of us considered bed bugs as a problem of days gone by. The adage, “Sleep tight and don’t let the bed bugs bite,” virtually became nonsensical. However, bed bugs have made a comeback. Their developed resistance to pesticides has led to a rise in their pervasiveness and tenacity. Even worse, attempting to eliminate them proves extremely difficult and nearly impossible. Although they generally don’t provoke serious health issues, their presence is far from desirable; it’s certainly in your best interest to eradicate them. Curious about these nocturnal pests? Check out these 25 Most Disturbing Facts About Bed Bugs.
Adult bed bugs are about the size, shape and color of an apple seed.
Source: https://www.epa.gov/bedbugs/bed-bugs-appearance-and-life-cycle They hide when you're awake and find clever hiding spots.
Source: http://rockymountainbedbug.com/blog/2016/09/10-facts-you-may-not-know-about-bed-bugs-part-1 Bed Bugs are literally all over the world, including all 50 States. You can't escape.
Source: http://www.pestworld.org/news-hub/pest-articles/six-facts-you-didnt-know-about-bed-bugs/ Bed Bugs can survive a long time without food. How long? Try five months.
Source: https://www.terminix.com/bed-bug-control/behavior/diet/living-without-food/ They're feeding patterns are nocturnal; they'll create a line of bites from your exposed skin on up.
Source: https://www.terminix.com/bed-bug-control/behavior/ Bed Bugs might make you paranoid and anxious. Those who have dealt with infestations might think they're still there when they really aren't.
Source: https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2014/10/bed-bug-madness-the-psychological-toll-of-the-blood-suckers/381447/ Female bed bugs lay one to seven eggs per day. Meaning, if they found your bed, it's probably covered in them.
Source: https://www.terminix.com/bed-bug-control/life-cycle/reproduction/ Bed Bugs feed on your blood to survive, using an anesthetic in their saliva while biting so you don't notice it.
Source:https://www.terminix.com/bed-bug-control/behavior/ It only takes 3 to 10 minutes for bed bugs to feed until they're engorged with your blood.
Source: https://www.terminix.com/bed-bug-control/behavior/ Their breeding habits are horrific. Using the strategy of traumatic insemination, male Bed Bugs stab the female's abdomen and injects sperm into the wound.
Source: https://www.livescience.com/42297-bed-bugs-facts-information.html A clean home doesn't mean you don't have Bed Bugs. Though, it does help to reduce the number of hiding spaces by removing clutter.
Source: https://www.thoughtco.com/myths-about-bed-bugs-1968616 Bed Bugs evolved tens of thousands of years ago to feed on human flesh. Before they were content with other animals, but now they live only for our blood.
Source: http://www.connorspest.com/blog/7-most-terrifying-facts-about-bed-bugs Even luxury five star hotels have been infested with Bed Bugs.
Source: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3438634/Five-star-hotels-infested-BED-BUGS-major-surge-blood-sucking-insects-New-York-City.html Not only can you get disgusting Bed Bug bites, but you could have an allergic reaction to them. It can cause asthma attacks and anaphylaxis.
Source: http://acaai.org/news/allergic-bed-bugs Bed Bugs are hitchhikers and can travel in your suitcase, mattress, pillow case, laptop case, and pretty much anything else it finds.
Source: https://www.moyerpest.com/blog/post/how-do-bed-bugs-hitchhike They aren't just in mattresses but have been found in subways, theaters, and ferries.
Source: http://www.foxnews.com/story/2009/04/01/bedbugs-not-just-confined-to-beds-infestation-spreading-to-subways-theaters-and.html Bed Bugs have been found to spread the deadly and drug resistant bacterium known as MRSA.
Source: https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health/bedbugs-may-play-role-in-spread-of-mrsa-under-some-conditions-study-finds/2011/05/11/AFsehKqG_story.html?utm_term=.dca76c6e1de6 You'll know you have an infestation if there are blood stains on your sheets, dark spots of Bed Bug excrement, or an offensive musty odor from their scent glands.
Source: https://www.webmd.com/skin-problems-and-treatments/guide/bedbugs-infestation#2 If you want to kill them, you might have to use a freezer set to 0 degrees Fahrenheit. And it takes up to four days.
Source: https://www.bedbugs.umn.edu/bed-bug-control-in-residences/freezing To make matters worse, Bed Bugs have grown resistant to pesticides.
Source: http://abcnews.go.com/Health/bed-bugs-resistant-pesticides-study-finds/story?id=46702348 Throwing away your furniture to buy new furniture won't do anything, and your new furniture will just get bed bugs, too.
Source: https://www.bedbugs.umn.edu/what-not-to-do At the same time, moving away from your house to be rid of Bed Bugs will likely only bring the Bed Bugs with you.
Source: https://www.bedbugs.umn.edu/what-not-to-do You might have to resort to drastic measures by hiring a dog that'll sniff out the Bed Bugs.
Source: http://americank9pi.com/testimonials/ Bed Bugs have been known to cause massive lawsuits, leading to major legal fees.
Source: https://www.terminix.com/bed-bug-control/facts/ Bed Bugs could kill you. It's very rare, but one elderly woman in Pennsylvania died of sepsis (blood infection) due to a Bed Bug infestation.
Source: https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation-now/2017/02/25/bedbugs-kill-woman-caretaker-faces-charges/98408062/ Lists Going Viral Right Now
Photo: 25. British Pest Control Assoc via flickr. CC BY 2.0, 24. Wikipedia Commons.com (Public Domain), 23. Pexels.com (Public Domain), 22. Wikipedia Commons.com (Public Domain), 21. Pexels.com (Public Domain), 20. Сања Малохоџиќ, Paranoid, CC BY-SA 4.0, 19. anonymous, Cimex lectularius2, CC BY-SA 3.0, 18. Wikipedia Commons.com (Public Domain), 17. Wikipedia Commons.com (Public Domain), 16. Rickard Ignell, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Traumatic insemination 1 edit1, CC BY-SA 1.0, 15. Tim Collins, Living Room, CC BY-SA 3.0, 14. snowflakegirl via flickr. CC BY 2.0, 13. Hennem08, Waldorf Astoria New York – Park Avenue Entrance, CC BY-SA 3.0, 12. Wikipedia Commons.com (Public domain), 11. Doc. RNDr. Josef Reischig, CSc., Bed bug (265 17), CC BY-SA 3.0, 10. Wikimania2009 Beatrice Murch, Richard in an empty theater, CC BY 3.0, 9. Wikipedia Commons.com (Public Domain), 8. NY State IPM Program at via flickr. CC BY 2.0, 7. Peter Galvin via flickr. CC BY 2.0, 6. Wikipedia Commons.com (Public Domain), 5. No machine-readable author provided. Doug Coldwell assumed (based on copyright claims)., Sleep tight and don’t let the bed bugs bite, CC BY-SA 3.0, 4. Pexels.com (Public Domain), 3. Elgaard, BedbugSniffingDog, CC BY-SA 3.0, 2. Chris Potter, 3D Judges Gavel, CC BY 2.0, 1. PublicDomainPictures.net (Public Domain)
