Bed Bug Identification & Prevention
What Are Bed Bugs?
Bed bugs are parasitic pests that feed exclusively on the blood of warm-blooded mammals. Although the preferred hosts for bed bugs are humans, they will feed on pets or other animals if necessary. Adult bed bugs are flat, oval-shaped, and wingless. Bed bugs use elongated, piercing mouthparts (proboscis) to feed. Before feeding, they are reddish-brown in color; after feeding, their bodies swell, and they turn a deep purple.
Bed bugs prefer to live near people and have the potential to hitchhike their way into any Honolulu home or business on people or their belongings. Bed bugs live in every state and, through the ease and affordability of travel, move with people across the country and the globe.
Are Bed Bugs Dangerous to Your Health?
Bed bugs are capable of acquiring and spreading human pathogens during the feeding process. As of now, the spread of disease is not a huge threat in regards to bed bugs; the bigger concern is many people are allergic to a protein found in bed bug saliva. Once bitten, those who are allergic develop itchy, red welts that may lead to secondary infections.
Another issue associated with bed bugs is the loss of sleep. It is hard to get a good night’s sleep if you know that bed bugs are using you and your family as an all-you-can-eat buffet.
