Bed bugs are parasites that live and feed on warm-blooded animals, including humans, causing skin rashes and bites. They can crawl up vertical surfaces such as furniture legs and like to lay their eggs in cracks or crevices located near to the host. The young (nymph) bugs are small and hard to see with the naked eye; adult bugs are brown and disc-shaped, and typically about 3mm in size.
Bed bugs are particularly prevalent in high-occupancy dwellings such as hostels, hotels and blocks of flats. Many infestations have been caused by residents inadvertently bringing back bed bugs from their travels. They can survive in starvation for up to a year, so professional assessment and treatment of a bed bug infestation is essential to ensure that these tenacious creatures have been totally eradicated.
Why is treatment so important?
Bed bugs are insects from the genus Cimex that feed on human blood, usually at night. Their bites can result in several health impacts including skin rashes, psychological effects, and allergic symptoms. Bed bug bites may lead to skin changes ranging from small areas of redness to prominent blisters.