Bed Bugs Don’t Just Bite! They Use Harmful Histamine Pheromones to Communicate in Ocean City, NJ
Research from the North Carolina State University shows that homes that have been treated for bed bug infestations have levels of histamines, the chemicals that are responsible for allergens and other immune reactions, up to 20 times higher than homes that had never been infested. The study found that after three months, homes treated for bed bugs had an average of 54.6 micrograms of histamines per 100 milligrams while homes that never had bed bugs had around 2.5 micrograms. Even three months after an infestation has been taken care of, these histamines can be present in household dust! Bed bugs excrete these histamines to communicate with one another. Histamines can lead to rashes, runny noses, itchy eyes and other allergy symptoms. This study makes it clear that it’s best to avoid bringing bed bugs into your home in the first place. If bed bugs are inadvertently bought in, you need experts to take care of the infestation correctly to avoid any further problems. Bed bugs are extremely resistant to many pesticides. Successful treatment may involve lots of heat! You will need to contact a pest control company like Ross Environmental Solutions that offers an effective heat treatment method to eradicate bed bugs. This combined with rigorous cleaning to remove household dust can minimize harmful histamine levels.
What Do Bed Bugs Look Like to the Human Eye?
Bed bugs are insects that feed on blood and are therefore attracted to humans. They can bite and cause rashes. Bed bugs like to hide in warm places like the folds of mattresses and bedding and in cracks of walls and furniture. Identification is important because they need to be treated differently than other pests. The good thing is that bed bugs are visible to the human eye. Fully grown adults are just less than a quarter of an inch long and the eggs of bed bugs are much smaller and a light cream in color. Bed bugs have six legs, antennas but no wings as they don’t fly. Immature bed bugs are translucent in color and will be bright red after they have fed. They will fade to brown as they digest their meal. When immature bed bugs become adults, they become darker brown or a rusty red/brown color. They are oval-shaped and flat in appearance.
Signs of a Bed Bug Infestation
If you discover bites that are red and itchy, it will be the first indication that you’re dealing with bed bugs. These bites will be flat, red welts in zigzag lines or small clusters. These bites don’t spread disease but can be very irritating with scratching that can lead to bleeding and infection. Bed bug bites will be on exposed skin as bed bugs feed at night. Once the bites are present you’ll need to check your bed. You will see blood stains that look like tiny rust spots. These spots can be found near the corners and edges of the bed. You may also notice oval brown exoskeletons as they molt. Bed bugs also emit a foul odor that is strong, unpleasant and musty- like a wet towel. The pheromones they release can be very strong if numbers are high.
Bed Bug Control
Call the professionals at Ross Environmental Solutions at the first signs you’re dealing with bed bugs. We offer both visual and canine bed bug inspections and if they are found in your home, we have the best chemical and heat treatment methods to ensure complete eradication! Contact us for a bed bug inspection today!
