Depending on the news source you trust, you may believe that the bed bug epidemic is on the rise or is finally letting off. The differing opinions could be based on the fact that there are different types of bed bugs that are adapted to different areas and climates in the country.
Bed Bug Basics
Regardless of the type of bed bug, the basics are generally the same. A bed bug hatches from a tiny little egg that is less than a third of the size of a sesame seed. It takes about a month to become an adult and lives as an adult for 6 months to a year. As an adult, they can be about ¼ of an inch, which is only slightly bigger than a sesame seed.
An female adult bed bug can lay as much as 500 eggs within that time. Clearly this bug multiplies fast. If you see one or two, you probably have an infestation. Get ahead of their game by calling the Las Vegas exterminators with experience in bed bugs.
While it cannot fly or jump, this particularly gross bug has gotten such a reputation because they can climb up just about anything. If you think you see these little guys climbing around, they can be white, light tan, dark brown or a burnt orange color depending on which type of bed bug they are. If the bug looks white, it could still be a bed bug that just molted.
Types of Bed Bugs
There are three main types of bed bugs:
- Cimex Lectularius or or household bed bug is the most common of all the types of bed bugs. It is a flat brown bug, so it easily lives in the small cracks and crevices of your walls and mattress. It is said they even prefer these small spaces because the pressure helps the bugs to digest their meals. They find their meals by following heat and carbon dioxide. As long as there is a steady blood supply, bed bugs will live in the same room for their entire life span.
- Cimex Hemipterus is the tropical bed bug that is found in places like California and Florida. This bug can be light tan or brown but turns red after it feeds. This type of bed bug also has small wings, but it cannot fly. This bug is also known to carry a number of different diseases, but there has yet to be a reported case of a disease transferring from the bug to its human host.
- Leptocimex Boueti is the bat bug. This type of bed bug is a picky eater. As the name suggests, it prefers to feed on bats. However, if you are a viable host that is in its vicinity, this creepy bug will happily munch on you. Thankfully, they are normally found in South America and West Africa so you don’t have to worry about them so much.
What does that mean for you?
Thankfully, none of the bed bugs are known to get humans seriously ill. Their bite can create a small, red welt that can be itchy or swell but that depends on how sensitive the host is. If you are not prone to allergic reactions, it is possible you can be bitten without having a reaction at all.
If you are bitten, you will most likely find the bites on your arms, legs, neck and shoulders. If you find these bites, you need to contact one of the Las Vegas pest control companies right away. Even if you have only a few bites, there is a good chance you have an infestation. Instead of waiting to see just how bad the infestation is, call the experts at R and C Pest Control. For more information about the best in Las Vegas pest control companies, contact 702.257.2847.