There are plenty more myths and untrue statements about bugs based on urban legend and spread on the web. Let’s take a look at some common bed bug myths.

Myth: You can’t see a bed bug.

Reality: You should be able to see adult bed bugs, nymphs and eggs with your naked eye.

Myth: Bed bugs live in dirty places.

Reality: Bed bugs are not attracted to dirt and grime; they are attracted to warmth, blood and carbon dioxide. However, clutter offers more hiding spots.

Myth: Bed bugs transmit diseases.

Reality: There have been no cases or studies that indicate bed bugs transmit diseases between humans.

Myth: Bed bugs are not a public health pest.

Reality: Bed bugs are a public health pest. We coordinated with CDC and USDA to identify pests of public health importance and issued a Pesticide Registration Notice that listed pests of significant public health importance. Bed bugs are on this list. In 2009, EPA and CDC collaborated on a joint statement to highlight the public health impacts of bed bugs.

Myth: Bed bugs won’t come out if the room is brightly lit.

Reality: While bed bugs prefer darkness, keeping the light on at night won’t deter these pests from biting you.

Myth: Pesticide applications alone will easily eliminate bed bug infestations.

Reality: Bed bug control can only be maintained through a treatment strategy that includes a variety of techniques plus careful attention to monitoring. Proper use of pesticides may be part of the strategy, but will not by itself eliminate bed bugs. In addition, bed bug populations in different areas of the country have developed resistance to the ways many pesticides work to kill pests. If you’re dealing with a resistant population, some products and application methods may not work. It is a good idea to consult a qualified pest management professional if you have bed bugs in your home.

Myth: EPA has funding available for people who need help with controlling bed bugs.

Reality: Unfortunately, EPA does not have funding available to help people with controlling bed bugs. Our roles in the bed bug issue are to: evaluate pesticides to ensure that when they are used according to label directions they are effective and will not harm people, non-target species or the environment, and work with other federal agencies to provide reliable information about bed bugs and their control.

Content source: U.S. Government EPA:
Original EPA Article

Tags: bed bugs myths,bed bugs control,bed bug prevention,bed bugs extermination,bed bugs infestations,bed bugs solutions

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Bed Bugs “Feasting” Facts

During the day, bed bugs hide in the areas around the bed such as the headboard or nightstand. They prefer a human host and are attracted by body temperature, natural body odor, and carbon dioxide their sleeping host exhales.

• Bed bug infestations are usually found near areas where people sleep.
• Bed bugs are fast-moving and nocturnal insects, preferring the host’s head, neck, and upper extremities. .
• They feed from 3 – 10 minutes, until they are engorged, and then they crawl away unnoticed to their hiding places.
• These parasites have two hollow tubes. When they’re ready to feast, they inject anesthesia-laden saliva into your skin through the first tube to numb the area and keep your blood from clotting. Then they suck your blood through the other tube.
• Few people realize they have been bitten until bite marks appear anywhere from 1 – 14 days after the initial bite take place. Worse still, the Journal of the American Medical Association reported that people will not show any visible marks in half of all bed bug cases! – and you could be living with bed bugs without even knowing it.
• At normal room temperature, bed bugs only last around two to three months without getting something to eat. However, when it’s cold out, their metabolism slows down and they may survive up to a year without feeding!