What
Do Bed Bugs Look Like
Most people can recognize common housefly and
mosquitoes. These insects are big enough and they invade our homes at
any time
of the day so we can see them. They can be found anywhere in the world
and the
potential diseases, like malaria and dengue, they bring to humans are
known and
actively been pursued for their cures.
There are
other insects, like bed bugs, that are
not as ubiquitous and surreptitious in their means of attack. Bed bugs
are
unlike other insects because they are equally potent in transmitting
diseases
but they evade our notice because of their size. In spite of this, it
is still
possible to recognize a bed bug as adults are not too small and if we
are only
particular in looking for one.
What do bed
bugs look like? They are wingless insects that derive their food from
blood,
animal’s or human’s. Young bed bugs are as big as
poppy seeds and adults can
grow to about a quarter of inch in length. Their color ranges from
white to red
to dark brown, the color transformation being an indicator of the stage
of
their development. Bed bugs can survive in direst situation; they
suspend their
development when food is scarce and temperature drops. The body of a
bed bug is
flat from top to bottom, but is oval in head according to Harvard
School of
Public Health. Because of their appearance, they are a dead ringer to
and
mistaken for ticks and fleas.
They are
highly adapted to human environment and
are found in areas of the world with temperate climate. They have
disappeared in
most parts of the world when strong pesticides were permitted to be
used. They
are appearing again as these pesticides are banned for reportedly harsh
environmental consequences. Their inability to develop wings limits
them from
flying. When they are disturbed, they search frantically for cover like
tiny
crevices, cracks, and temporary shelters like papers, book covers, etc.
University of Kentucky Entomology reveals they usually live beside the
bed or
furniture near it or places that are usually used for sleeping.
For
bed bugs treatment
there are different ways. It is very important that we know
what do bed bugs look like. It is a primary concern for mothers and
housekeeping to always maintain the place bedbug-proof. It is hard
enough to
look for evidence of their infestation, except when bites are starting
to appear
and their presence is confirmed.
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