Bed Bugs | MNN - Mother Nature Network

MNN.com > Bed Bugs

Bed bugs are small, parasitic insects that feed off the blood of mammals and birds, typically at night. They are copper colored and wingless, but turn bright red as they feed.

Bed bugs are found in mattress seams, box springs, or in cracks and crevices near sleeping areas. As bed bugs cannot fly, they crawl or are carried by other animals, including humans. Common methods of transportation include hiding in luggage, clothes, mattresses and furniture.

Read more about 'bed bugs'

While the insects do not carry diseases, their bites will often leave a red, swollen welt that will itch. Scratching at these welts can cause infections. Not everyone who is bitten by bed bugs will develop these welts.

Detecting bed bugs can take some time if someone hasn’t been bitten. Dark fecal spots and light-brown sked skins are one way, but the best way is to remove linens from mattresses, dismantle furniture and frames and check in holes and crevices with a flashlight and magnifying glass.

If an infestation has occurred, thoroughly vacuum and wash all infested areas, including steam cleaning. A new mattress by also be necessary if the bed bugs have laid eggs. Spray approved insecticides along cracks and crevices and then sealing them if possible. If the infestation is sizable, contacting a pest control specialist is the best option.

For more on bed bugs, visit the CDC’s resource page on the insects.

(Text by Noel Kirkpatrick)

(Photo: Oldmaison/Flickr)

Camel cricket

Camel cricket

Your brain on bugs: Can you ID these insects?

May 17, 2016, 2:51 p.m. by Chanie Kirschner

See if you know the difference between a bedbug, a beetle and these other creepy-crawlies.

Bed bugs

Bed bugs

What is a bed bug's favorite color?

April 26, 2016, 11:43 a.m. by Jenn Savedge

New info may help researchers design traps that attract more bugs.

wolf spider bite

wolf spider bite

If you think it's a spider bite, you're probably wrong

July 5, 2013, 12:39 p.m. by Douglas Main, LiveScience

An arachnologist at McGill says what we call 'spider bites' are probably flea bites or the skin's reaction to chemicals and infections.

One DIY method of ridding your home of bedbugs: Burning it to the ground

June 17, 2013, 1:59 p.m. by Matt Hickman

A space heater- and hair dryer-brandishing New Jersey resident accidentally sets his home ablaze while battling bedbugs (in a not-recommended-at-all DIY fashion.)

Woman awarded $800,000 in bed bug infestation lawsuit

June 4, 2013, 11:25 a.m. by Melissa Breyer

In this case, the landlord was found to be at fault. But as more bed bug lawsuits are being brought to trial, landlords are drawing the line on responsibility.

Are libraries the new hot spot for bedbugs?

December 7, 2012, 11:46 a.m. by Melissa Breyer

These sly parasites have picked up a new mode of transportation: Borrowed books.

Philly overtakes NYC as U.S. bedbug capital

June 13, 2012, 1:24 p.m. by Russell McLendon

Bedbugs are on the rise across the U.S., but they're especially ascendant in Philadelphia, according to a new city-by-city ranking of infestations.

Where do bedbugs come from?

June 3, 2012, 4:33 p.m. by Chanie Kirschner

These creepy crawlies originated in the tropics and can be found just about everywhere now.

WineBedBugs_main_0530

WineBedBugs_main_0530

Can drinking a glass of wine keep bedbugs away?

May 30, 2012, 3:11 p.m. by Brooke Borel, Life's Little Mysteries

The insects created fewer eggs when they consumed blood with 200 proof ethanol in it compared to those that sipped alcohol-free blood.

Why do humans still have body hair?

December 14, 2011, 8:20 a.m. by Charles Q. Choi, LiveScience

Hairs serve as motion detectors for alerting us to insects, like bedbugs, before they can bite us.

Study finds bedbugs more deadly than originally thought

May 11, 2011, 3 p.m. by Livescience.com Inc.

Bedbugs carry bacteria that can cause hard-to-treat infections, though the bedbugs haven't been proven to spread disease.

Survey: 30% of people would prefer root canal over bedbug problem

November 19, 2010, 10:44 a.m. by Helen Jupiter

Bedbug registry is seeing its traffic surge, and a new survey shows concern is growing.

Diving in Great Barrier Reef offers some stunning sights.

8 of the world's most spectacular scuba spots

tour skating on natural ice

9 activities to make the most out of winter

mysterious structures

8 amazing structures with mysterious origins