Bed bugs are small insects that can get into beds and other resting areas and feed on people while they sleep. While bed bugs are not known to transmit disease to people, an infestation can still cause itching, loss of sleep, anxiety, and significant psychological stress.
If you think you have bed bugs or another pest, it’s time to contact a Broken Arrow Pest Control company that can deal with them. In this article, we’re going to take a good look at bed bugs, their history, and why they can be difficult to control.
Bed bugs are closely related to bat bugs. Research into bed bug evolution supports the idea that ancestors of modern bed bugs were associated with bats and that some populations later adapted to feeding on humans. Bed bugs and bat bugs can look extremely similar, and distinguishing them may require close examination of microscopic physical characteristics by someone experienced in insect identification.
Humans have had a long relationship with bed bugs. Historical records show that bed bugs have been associated with people for thousands of years. Their scientific genus name, Cimex, comes from the Latin word used for bed bug. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency provides information about bed bug appearance, biology, and life cycle.
Bed bug control changed dramatically during the twentieth century. DDT became widely used in the 1940s and was highly effective against many bed bug populations. Bed bugs became much less common in the United States and other developed countries during the following decades, but they were not driven close to global extinction. DDT was later restricted and banned for most uses in the United States because of its environmental persistence and health and ecological concerns. Bed bug resistance to DDT also developed.
Bed bugs later made a major resurgence. Scientists have linked that resurgence to several factors, including increased travel, changes in pest-control practices, and resistance to insecticides. If you’re using a control method that is not working, an infestation can continue to grow and become more difficult to control. That’s why it’s important to address a suspected infestation quickly.
Over-the-counter products vary widely, so it is not accurate to say that they almost exclusively contain pyrethrins or that they are all worthless. However, resistance to pyrethrins and synthetic pyrethroids is widespread in many bed bug populations and can make some products much less effective. Oklahoma State University Extension explains bed bug identification and management and emphasizes that successful control can require a combination of methods.
That’s why it’s important to use an effective bed bug-control plan and to know when professional help is needed. A Broken Arrow Pest Control company can inspect the infestation, identify where bed bugs are hiding, and choose appropriate treatment methods. TermMax Pest Control can help with bed bugs and other pest problems. Contact us today if you think you’re having a problem with bed bugs or any other pests.
