Bed Bugs
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WHAT ARE THEY?
Cimex lectularius (in mild or temperate climates) and Cimex hemipterus (mainly in tropical and subtropical climates), better known as bed bugs, belonging to the order Hemiptera and the family Cimicidae, are small parasitic insects, ectoparasites and hematophagous, meaning they feed on the blood of humans and warm-blooded animals, which they need to survive and reproduce. They should not be confused with dust mites - microscopic arachnids that feed on dead skin cells - unlike which they are visible to the naked eye.
The prevailing hypothesis suggests that the bed bug, in the early stages of its evolution, fed on the blood of bats, establishing a parasitic relationship in ecosystems shared with primitive man. The prolonged coexistence favored an adaptation process that allowed the ancestor of this insect to specialize in feeding on human blood, following Neanderthals and our species in the process of civilization and migrations. The ancient Greeks and Romans already knew it well: the former called it Koris, while the Romans gave it the name we still use today. Before the 1950s, the bed bug was an extremely widespread parasite among humans. During the world wars, with all the difficulties and shortages, bed bug infestations were the order of the day, historically associated with conditions of overcrowding and poor hygiene.
In recent years, bed bug infestations have become an increasingly widespread problem worldwide, with a major impact on daily life and the economies of many countries, particularly in the tourism and transportation sectors, causing inconvenience, economic losses (including expenses due to litigation) and damage to image. Although they are not vectors of pathogens, these arthropods hide in beds and other hard-to-reach places, forming aggregations of tens, hundreds or thousands of specimens and represent a danger to human health and well-being as their bite can cause allergic and skin reactions and their presence stress and psychological disorders of various kinds.
Appearance: how are they made?
Bed bugs are small insects, about the size of a lentil or an apple seed:
- 1-7 mm in length
- 1-4 mm wide
When fasting, their shape is oval and reddish-brown in color. After feeding, their body becomes more "rounded" and can take on a more intense color, ranging from light brown to dark red. The flattened shape of their back and belly allows bed bugs to hide even in tiny and tight spaces. They do not fly or jump but move by crawling on six thick and well-developed legs. The compound eyes and antennae are the main sensory organs of the bed bug: each antenna, in particular, has four segments and is sensitive to heat and certain chemicals, including carbon dioxide.
THE CAUSES
Before the ban on DDT (dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane) in the 1990s, bedbugs were almost eradicated. The causes of their resurgence on the international scene - in America, Europe, Australia, Africa and Asia - are multifactorial and mainly attributable to:
- development of resistance to new generation insecticides
- International tourism (a recent example is the infestation that hit several accommodation facilities in Paris) and business trips;
- global trade in used goods
Furthermore, urbanization, the spread of central heating in buildings, and the increase in crowded and heated environments have created ideal conditions for them to continue their development cycle and proliferation. Bed bugs spread in many ways in an environment, mainly through people or objects that have come into contact with infested places and unknowingly carry eggs, nymphs and/or adults with them. Hotel rooms, and hospitality facilities in general, and public transportation such as trains and airplanes, with the continuous coming and going of people who frequent them regularly, are among the most vulnerable environments to infestations.
Luggage is one of the most likely vectors for bed bugs from an infested environment to another, but these parasites are able to move and "stalk" their prey in various ways, generally using inanimate objects such as:
- pillows, clothes, and linens
- personal belongings
- suitcases, bags, and backpacks
- furniture, mattresses, sofas and armchairs;
- second-hand items
- doors and windows
- vehicle
How They Behave
Bed bugs are essentially nocturnal creatures: inactive during the day, when they hide from sunlight and remain concealed in their aggregated lairs within nests in beds or furniture. At night, generally between midnight and 5 a.m., they are attracted by the warmth of bedrooms and the carbon dioxide emitted by the human body during deep sleep. They emerge from their hiding places and go "hunting" for people to suck blood from. Bedrooms are the ideal habitat for bed bugs because they offer warmth and direct, constant access to their food source.
How They Eat
The bed bug's feeding cycle involves a meal every 3-7 days. The state of immobility during sleep makes people vulnerable and therefore an ideal target, but also many warm-blooded animals, including pets. Once they have identified the spot to bite, these parasites take about 3-5 minutes to pierce the skin, inject an anticoagulant substance that can cause itching and allergic reactions, and suck up an amount of blood equal to about 6 times their body weight. Subsequently, they retreat into their hiding place, remaining on the body for a total of about 20 minutes. After eating, adult bed bugs, particularly males, are very interested in mating. Adult specimens can survive without eating for a very long time, from a few months up to a year, making their detection even more difficult.
Where They Hide
Bed bugs colonize environments regardless of hygienic conditions, as they can nest even in pristine places, particularly in:
- Apartments
- Hospitals
- Hotels, hostels, and B&Bs
- Shelters and refuges for the homeless
- Cabins of means of transport such as cruise ships, buses, and trains
- Food industries
- Shops
- Restaurants
- Cinemas and theaters
- Fitness centers
Their goal is to settle in the warmest rooms, which generally house the main development focus, but they can invade every corner of a house and move very quickly, giving rise to new infestations by transporting laundry and clothes near other beds or resting places (e.g., armchairs and sofa beds). During daylight hours, bed bugs are very adept at hiding in wood, paper materials, and fabrics, usually taking refuge in:
- Edges and seams of mattresses
- Wooden slats and springs of bed bases
- Pillows
- Cracks and crevices in the bed
- Bed frames
- Headboards
- Nightstands
- Sofas and armchairs
- Furniture
- Paintings
- Carpets and rugs
- Upholstery and wallpaper
- Electrical outlets and switches
- Door and window frames
- Baseboards
- Cracks in the walls
- Any other poorly lit and sheltered environment
How They Reproduce
Warm temperatures accelerate the development of bed bugs, but these parasites are truly tenacious: even in cold climates, they manage to survive thanks to the microclimate that forms inside buildings. Bed bugs go through 3 stages of development: they hatch from eggs, transform into nymphs (or neanids), and finally become adults. Under favorable conditions, just one sexually mature pair is enough to reproduce and infest a room at an astonishing rate. To continue mating and producing eggs, both males and females must feed at least once every 14 days. Females are able to lay up to 5 eggs a day (and about 200-300 eggs in the course of their life, on average 9-12 months, although with age the number of viable eggs laid undergoes a decline) of white color, covered with a sticky substance, which generally hatch in warm environments about 7-10 days after laying with a temperature around 20°C (after 4-5 days at 35°C).
Bed bug eggs require a relatively stable temperature between 13°C and 37°C to develop; temperatures above or below these values inhibit hatching and cause the death of the embryo within a maximum period of three months. Under optimal conditions, egg mortality is low and about 97% of bed bug eggs hatch successfully. The eggs hatch within 6-9 days, giving life to immature bed bugs, called nymphs, which are translucent straw-colored and very small in size (about 1 or 2 mm), making them difficult to detect. After having their first blood meal, the nymphs' bodies grow and become darker in color, going through 5 stages of development (nymphal stages) marked by as many molts and at least one meal for each stage.
The transition from nymph to adult specimen depends on the ambient temperature, food availability and, to a lesser extent, humidity. Under ideal conditions (temperature around 30°C and abundant food availability), the complete life cycle from egg to adult can be less than two months, usually about 6-8 weeks. A few bed bugs can become thousands within 2-3 months.
SYMPTOMS: HOW TO RECOGNIZE THEM?
Red Bumps on the Body
Have you ever noticed annoying bumps on your body upon waking up? Beware of nighttime bites! The welts found on the skin may suggest bed bug bites, but they can often be similar to those produced by the bites of other insects. Generally, the bites, or stings, are multiple and characterized by a small raised, round, itchy and reddened swelling that often in more sensitive individuals gives rise to real skin eruptions. The bed bug does not bite just once, but makes a series of bites, on average three in ten minutes, usually arranged in a straight line or cluster. If you find multiple bites located on exposed areas such as hands, wrists, arms and face, there is a chance that you have been bitten by one or more bed bugs.
Blood Stains
After having a blood meal, these insects become slower and less able to hide and can be accidentally crushed by humans during sleep, leaving stains on the body, sheets and clothing as a clear sign of their presence.
Fecal Stains
After feeding on blood, bed bugs may expel feces rich in dark-colored hemoglobin - on the skin but also on sheets, clothing, along the seams and corners of mattresses or on other furnishings of the bed - which serve as a guide for the parasites to orient themselves and facilitate the finding of a new meal. From the color of the excrement you can tell if the stain is recent because over time they oxidize and discolor.
Exuviae
Young bed bugs grow quickly and increasing in size change their exoskeleton because it has become too tight. The yellow, white or transparent coatings, called exuviae, are abandoned around after molting and often when there are numerous specimens in a nest accumulate: this is an unmistakable sign of an infestation. The various stages of growth of the insect are recognizable by the size of the exuvia found. By monitoring the presence and quantity of exuviae, it is possible to understand if the infestation is increasing or decreasing.
Sweetish Smell
In case of major infestations by bed bugs, you may perceive a characteristic sweetish, unpleasant and persistent odor, similar to that of bitter almonds, caused by the aggregation pheromones produced through the glands located in the lower part of the body and released by these parasites.
Live Bed Bugs
Especially in the morning you may be able to see live bed bugs with the naked eye, hidden in the cracks of the mattress, in the seams of the bed or in other dark and sheltered hiding places.
BITES
Bed bug bites are painless, but in some people they can cause intense itching and painful swellings of the strofuloid type caused by a hyperimmune reaction to some substances contained in the saliva that this insect releases during the blood meal. The signs of the bites appear on the skin of the face, neck, arms and hands after a period varying from a few hours to 10 days and can occur with a linear or clustered distribution in several ways:
- Small holes;
- Red or purplish spots, raised solid growths or hives (wheals) often itchy and with a small dark hole in the center;
- Blisters;
If you scratch the bite area, an infection can develop. Bed bug bites usually heal without treatment within two or three weeks. Elderly people develop symptoms less often than young people.
What to Do?
- Apply something cool, such as a clean, damp cloth, to the affected area to relieve itching.
- Keep the affected area clean.
- Avoid scratching the bites to prevent infection.
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RISKS
A bed bug infestation can involve several problems, both physical and economic, and a significant impact on the quality of life, both individually and collectively. As a result, it is essential to intervene promptly to eliminate and prevent the spread of these parasites. Here are the main risks:
For People's Health
- Psychological stress: a bed bug infestation can cause stress, anxiety and depression, especially if the infestation persists over time.
- Itchy bites: bed bug bites cause intense itching, which can lead to scratching and, in some cases, secondary infections.
- Allergic reactions: some people may develop allergic reactions to the bites, with more severe symptoms such as swelling, extensive redness and difficulty breathing.
- Sleep disturbances: the presence of bed bugs can cause insomnia, difficulty concentrating and irritability, negatively affecting the quality of life.
For Infested Places and Economic Activities
- Damage to reputation: bed bug infestations can lead to negative reviews and severely damage the reputation of accommodation or commercial facilities with consequent economic losses.
- Loss of earnings: during disinfestation operations, the rooms must be closed, causing a direct loss of earnings.
- Legal risks: guests of accommodation or commercial facilities may take legal action for compensation due to bed bug bites and psychological damage or infested personal items.
HOW TO ELIMINATE THEM? Zbb-13 IS OUR SOLUTION
The professional solution against bed bugs is ZBB-13. With a maximum programmed temperature of 60°C (140°F), it eliminates bed bugs safely and effectively, without damaging furniture or surfaces. Thanks to its advanced technology, it guarantees a complete treatment of every environment, eliminating even eggs, nymphs and adult specimens present in the most difficult to reach places. Lightweight and portable, it is ideal for professional use in hotels, homes and industries.
PREVENTION
Since it is very difficult to identify and eliminate a bed bug infestation, prevention activities on places and objects at home or while traveling are essential in order to avoid "unpleasant" consequences for things and people.
At home
- Maintain order and cleanliness: Minimize clutter and the accumulation of dirt in areas where bed bugs can hide.
- Wash laundry frequently: Especially sheets, pillowcases and mattress covers, at high temperatures (at least 60°C).
- Vacuum regularly: Especially on mattresses, sofas, armchairs and carpets.
- Seal cracks: Use sealant to close any cracks or fissures in walls, floors and furniture.
- Protect the mattress: Get a waterproof mattress cover with a zipper.
- Inspect regularly: Periodically check the bed and surrounding furniture for signs of infestation.
- Beware of used furniture: If you buy used furniture, inspect it carefully before bringing it home.
While traveling
- Thorough inspection of hotel rooms: Before settling your luggage, carefully check the mattress, sheets, seams, furniture and electrical outlets.
- Suitcase away from the bed: Never place your suitcase on the bed or on the floor nearby, but on a luggage rack or on a hard, clean surface.
- Immediate washing: Upon returning home, wash all laundry at high temperatures (at least 60°C) and put it in the dryer on high heat.
- Thorough vacuuming: Vacuum the suitcase, paying particular attention to zippers, seams and corners.
What to do if you suspect an infestation?
- Don't underestimate the problem: Act quickly to prevent the infestation from spreading.
- Thoroughly clean clothes, garments and objects: Wash laundry at high temperatures, vacuum carefully and throw away any infested items.
Tips
- Inform your neighbors: If you live in an apartment building, inform your neighbors in case of a suspected infestation.
- Prevent re-infestations: Even after eliminating the infestation, continue to take precautions to avoid relapses.