Manchester Bed Bugs
Manchester Bed Bugs
Manchester Bed Bugs – One of the most reviled and misunderstood pests known to man is the bed bug (Cimex lectularius). How many of us gone off to sleep at night as children with the words of our parents in our ears ‘sleep tight and don’t let the bed bugs bite’?
Bed bugs probably started to feed on man at about the time we moved into caves, the ‘bat bugs’ Cimex pilosellus and Cimex pipistrella primarily feed on bats and it is probable that bat feeding species of bug evolved to feed on human blood when our ancesters started dwelling in bat infested caves.
Until the arrival of DDT in the early 20th century bed bugs were common non-paying guests in much low quality homes.
The later part of the 20th century experienced pest control companies dealing with very few bed bug calls indeed, their presence being largely confined to inexpenisve holiday camps and student accomodation etc.
Many people mistake dust mites, which are not visible to the unaided eye, with bed bugs which very definitely are.
Adult bedbugs are reddy-brown, about a quarter of an inch in size and decidely swollen after a meal of our blood.
They grow by an incomplete metamorphosis which means that the nymphs are just smaller copies of the adult, they do not have a pupal stage like fleas or a fly.
Bed bugs regularly feed on human blood every 7 – 10 days, emerging in the hours before dawn and finding their target by detecting the exhaled CO2 from human breath and when close in on their target, infra red body heat.
In the absence of a suitable human host to dine on they can [lay|lie|stay|remain dormant for periods of up to 18 months.
Indications of a bed bug infestation are spots of blood on bedding and on the underside of mattresses and some people can react badly to their bites.
The early 21st century has seen bed bug numbers explode across the globe, the easy availability of global travel and economic migration have both been blamed for the resurgence.
What is positive is that thet are now making a real return not only in poor quality dwellings but high class hotels, schools and even hospitals.
One London borough reports a doubling of bed bug infestations each year from 1995 – 2001.
One night away in an infested hotel is all it takes, they hitch a ride in your suitcases or bags. Pest control companies are also now reporting instances of transport related bug infestations on tubes, trains and buses so a simple journey to work on an infested tube or train can be sufficient to spread the infestation to your own home.
They are an expensive pest to deal with as contrary to popular opinion they do not just live in beds. They infest any nook and cranny conveniently close to a sleeping human, beds, electrical sockets, televisions, bed-side telephones etc and treatment is both difficult and time consuming. They have even been found living beneath the toe-nails of infirm people and in the rolls of flesh on heavily over-weight people.
They are not a pest that can be tackled by an amateur and a professional will almost certainly be needed.
That concludes this article entitled Manchester Bed Bugs
Bed Bugs – How To Check If Your Hotel Room Has Them
Bed Bugs – How To Check If Your Hotel Room Has Them
Bed Bugs – How To Check If Your Hotel Room Has Them – You arrive at your holiday hotel at 3.0am, tired and frayed after a long and arduous journey, flight delays, airport security, fractious children and surly passport control and now all you want to do is fall into bed and look forward to the morning and the first day of your vacation.
The Bed Bug
That could be most costly mistake you’ll make this holiday!
The bed bug (Cimex lectularious) is back with a vengeance and its food is you!
Bed bugs are small haematophagic insects about the size of an apple-pip.
They feed on the blood of warm blooded creatures and their favourite meal is human blood.
Having been virtually eradicated in the 20th century they are back and spreading like wildfire, all over the world reports of massive increases in bed bug infestations are being made.
Some cite increased economic migration, availability of cheap travel and resistance to insecticides but whatever the reason, they are thriving and they love holiday makers!
They feed on human blood every 5 -10 days, emerging from their hiding places in the small hours when the tourist is likely to be in a deep sleep, perhaps aided by copious quantities of the local sangria.
Bed Bug Bites
They sense the presence of a host initially by tasting the carbon dioxide in exhaled breath but switch to infra-red sensing of body heat when closing in on the target.
They pierce the body of their target with a needle containing two tubes, with one they insert saliva which contains both an anaesthetic and an anti-coagulant and with the other they draw blood.
In a heavily infested room it is possible to receive up to 500 bites per night.
So how do you check if your room is infested?
Start by stripping the bed down to the mattress, turn the mattress over if possible and concentrate on the end nearest the headboard.
Look for dark coloured smears, live or dead insects and spots of congealed blood.
Bed Bugs & Their Smear Marks
Bed bugs are quite easy to see and move very rapidly when exposed. You can see photos of the bugs and their smear marks at
If you find or suspect bed bugs on no account stay in that room, or even that hotel, not even for one night or you will regret it, and certainly don’t unpack your cases in that room.
Get hold of your tour company representative immediately and insist on being moved to another hotel.
If you stay in a bug infested room you are very likely to transport them back to your own home as contrary to urban myth they can survive the flight home in your suitcase very easily indeed.
If you have problems with bedbugs call 0800 019 8382
That concludes this aticle entitled – Bed Bugs – How To Check If Your Hotel Room Has Them
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