What are the origins of this fun-filled festive custom?
Bedbugs have been around for thousands of years in every region of the world. They can survive in heat of up to 113°F (45°C), and chilly temperatures as low as 46°F (7°C).
Be sure they're not fleas, ticks, or other insects. To compare, you can look up images online, or contact an extension agent, as they're trained in pest control issues.
It's best to keep your clothes off any beds if you want to prevent bedbugs from coming into your home. Also, instead of placing guests' coats on your bed, hang them in the coat closet instead, for instance.
The truth is bedbugs are resilient, and there are no magic sprays that will get rid of a bedbug infestation.
Storing items under your bed creates opportunities for bedbugs to hide near your mattress.
Because bedbugs are nocturnal, they often hide in wall voids or other dark places, like cracks and crevices.
A free couch on the side of the road can be tempting, but bringing it into your home can lead to a serious bedbug infestation
Sources: (CDC) (EPA)
See also: Disturbing things that happen if you stop cleaning your home
Ensure your travels don't bring home a bedbug. Immediately wash your clothes and clean any luggage upon returning home.
If you throw out a mattress or furniture that has bedbugs in it, you should slash or in some way destroy it. This way, no one else takes it and gets bedbugs themselves.
Cover your mattress or box spring in dust mite-proof encasement. This will create a barrier between you and any potential bedbugs.
It can be difficult to eliminate bedbugs, but it's not impossible. So don't throw out all of your things, because most of them can be treated and saved.
Vacuuming can get rid of some of your bedbugs. Carefully vacuum rugs, floors, upholstered furniture, bed frames, under beds, around bed legs, and all cracks and crevices around the room.
Bedbugs find it difficult to crawl on smooth surfaces such as glass or plastic. Storing your items in a plastic container or plastic bag helps to prevent spreading.
Bedbugs are insects that feed on the blood of animals and humans. Adult bedbugs are reddish-brown, while younger ones are smaller and can appear translucent or yellowish. Bedbug eggs are tiny and white.
You don't want to wait to see bedbugs! Click on for how to prevent them from appearing in the first place.
An adult bedbug is roughly five to seven millimeters long, or about the size of an apple seed.
A cluttered home provides more places for bedbugs to hide. It also makes locating and treating them harder.
This reduces the number of bedbugs. Also, bedbugs and their eggs can hide in laundry containers, so make sure to clean them, too!
Just like bomb-sniffing and drug-sniffing dogs, well-trained and properly handled canines can track down bedbugs because they're taught to identify the scent.
Anyone can get bedbugs. It has nothing to do with personal hygiene. They're not associated with poor housekeeping or a certain poverty level.
Here's a creepy fact: bedbugs will alter their schedule to come out during the day if that's when you sleep!
Got bedbugs? You'll soon have more if you don't deal with the problem. Each female bedbug lays around 200 to 250 eggs in her life span, which lasts about four months.
At the first sign of a bedbug infestation, you should call a professional pest control company. DIY solutions are often unsuccessful and can actually worsen the situation.
Why do bedbugs enjoy invading our beds? Well, they’re attracted to the carbon dioxide that humans exhale. This is why they'll often hide in the wall voids of our bedrooms and emerge during nighttime.
The Latin name for bedbugs is Cimex lectularius, which means "bug of the bed."
Bedbugs are some of the hardest pests to get rid of. That could be partly thanks to the extreme length of time that they can survive without eating. It's thought that they can survive for as long as a year without a blood meal.
While bedbugs carry disease, they don't transmit them to humans. However, possible excessive itching left from their bites can sometimes increase the chance of a secondary skin infection.
It can be difficult to spot bedbugs, since they're expert hiders. But if you notice tiny black flecks, then you can surely suspect bedbugs, as that's their fecal matter. Also, if you're looking for them, check crevices and creases in your mattress.
Bedbugs leave a cluster of itchy bites on your skin, often on your arms or shoulders. However, only 30% of humans exhibit any sort of signs of bedbug bites. Many simply don't have a reaction to their bites.
We've all heard the familiar children's rhyme about bedbugs. But there's nothing like having to deal with an actual bedbug infestation! With the recent news of how bedbugs are crawling all over Paris, these pesky pests are making everyone worried ahead of the 2024 Summer Olympics.
But while it's normal to be completely creeped out by them, it's also important to note that bedbug outbreaks are incredibly common. What's more, having all your facts in order is important to properly deal with a bedbug outbreak.
Check out this gallery to learn everything you need to know about bedbugs.
What you didn't know about bedbugs
Learn the surprising truth about these pesky pests!
LIFESTYLE Pests
We've all heard the familiar children's rhyme about bedbugs. But there's nothing like having to deal with an actual bedbug infestation! With the recent news of how bedbugs are crawling all over Paris, these pesky pests are making everyone worried ahead of the 2024 Summer Olympics.
But while it's normal to be completely creeped out by them, it's also important to note that bedbug outbreaks are incredibly common. What's more, having all your facts in order is important to properly deal with a bedbug outbreak.
Check out this gallery to learn everything you need to know about bedbugs.