Different types of bed bugs. Bed bugs bite people when they are disturbed or frightened, causing painful and itchy rashes and blisters in the mornings. They are as annoying as they already are.
It’s convenient to group bed bugs under one generic name. Did you know that bed bug species number at least seven? Each of these has distinct behaviors that may be distinguished by various factors.
When deciding on which approach to employ in eradicating bed bugs, identifying them is critical. As a result, we’ll discuss the many sorts of bed bugs as well as other essential facts about these pests in this article.
What are bed bugs?
Blood-feeding bed bugs, often found at night, belong to the Cimex genus of insects. Bites may cause skin rashes, mental problems, and allergic symptoms in humans. They may also cause other health complications. Skin reactions might range from tiny red patches to enormous blisters caused by bed bug bites.
Itchiness is typically present, and the symptoms may take minutes to days to appear. Some people may be fatigued or have a fever. The majority of the body’s exposed parts are impacted. They don’t appear to transmit any communicable illnesses with their bites. Dead skin or vasculitis may be rare complications.
HOW TO TELL IF YOU HAVE BEDBUGS
It’s sometimes tough to tell if you have an infestation. Other insects, such as mosquitoes or fleas, are commonly blamed for the itchy welts.
Bedbugs don’t inflict any pain when they bite at night, so you may not realize they’re biting. You will, however, develop tiny, irritated welts later. Flea bite generally appear on the ankles and feet, but the welts may appear anywhere on exposed skin.
Signs of a bedbug infestation:
-Bloodstains on your sheets or pillowcases.
-On sheets, mattresses, bedclothes, and walls there are dark/rusty patches of feces.
-Bedbugs like to hide in fecal spots, eggs, or shed skins.
-A musty odor.
-Finding bed bugs and identifying the type may be the only way to know for sure.
Bed Bug Bites
Bed bugs feed on a food source of entirely blood, which they obtain from biting bigger animals. While the target is sleeping, they prefer to feed at night.
They bite the skin and lap up the blood that seeps out, using a large beak-like protrusion. The bed bug may feed for up to 10 minutes at a time without awakening the unaware donor because these bites are so tiny that they cause no discomfort.
Nonetheless, for a brief period of time, they inject an anticoagulant into the region, preventing blood from coagulating and the puncture from closing. Bed bug bites are known for their itching and irritation because of this chemical. These usually don’t happen for several hours after the donor has been bitten.
Although bug bites are not fatal, they may cause varied degrees of allergic symptoms in humans. This varies depending on how many bites a person has, as well as how long they occurred.
Different types of bed bugs
It is time to take a look at the many forms of bed bugs available now that we have covered the fundamental aspects of bed bugs. The major types of bed bugs, as well as their behaviors and primary features, are discussed in this section.
Common or household bed bug (Cimex lectularius)
This bed bug isn’t as difficult as you think, so don’t be intimidated by the name! In tropical regions, the Cimex lectularius is the most frequent bed bug.
If there is no human victim available, the Cimex lectularius prefers to feed on human blood.
The red coloring on the abdomen of this enormous bed bug can grow up to five millimeters in length. After feeding, female cimex lectularius will lay one egg every week or three days, depending on the rate at which she feeds.
These insects prefer to hide in the bedroom during the day because they are nocturnal feeders.
They are resistant to certain insecticides, so you may need to enlist the services of an exterminator if you want to remove them with a vacuum cleaner.
Tropical bedbug (Cimex hemipterus)
The tropical bed bug is the popular name for this species, and its physiology makes their habitats substantially more restricted than those of the common bed bug, despite their similar resistance to DDT since the turn of the twenty-first century.
Tropical bed bugs prefer warmer and more humid conditions, as their name implies. The similarities between these two species are greater than the differences, with the exception of that one distinguishing feature.
Because they seem to be the same and need no particular treatment methods or tactics, little attention has been paid to any differences between them since they first appeared.
It isn’t to say that there aren’t variances between common and tropical bed bugs. According to a research done in Malaysia, tropical bed bugs have hairier legs than ordinary bed bugs, making them significantly more successful climbers.
Fortunately, the practical impact of this is minimal in terms of extermination procedures. Traps can be a effective way to identify a bed bug infestation, but they are ineffective at reducing the population in a significant manner because of the speed with which bed bugs reproduce.
Their foot pads’ hairs are especially robust, allowing them to spring upwards more effectively on even steep surfaces. This species, on the other hand, has a smaller range.
While infestations have been discovered in the southeastern United States, they are most prevalent in Africa, Asia, and South America. Florida and Georgia, for example, have been affected.
However, it is probable that members of this species cohabitate with common bed bugs in a wider range than we currently know since the differences between tropical and common bed bugs aren’t frequently investigated in pest control.
Bed Bugs From The Cimex Adjunctus Family
A lesser kind of bed bug, cimex adjunctus generally resides in furniture near a human’s residence and is recognized to be a minor species.
Since they can’t survive outside for extended periods of time, these insects are most often seen indoors throughout the winter, making an infestation more likely to be detected by the homeowner.
If human blood is accessible, the cimex adjunctus family will feed on it, but they will also consume dog and cat blood.
These bugs are more likely to bite any exposed skin area, such as the ankles, backs of knees, neckline, or other areas that may lead to them being discovered sooner than bed bugs who prefer feeding on covered areas.
While cimex adjunctus typically does not spread illness, if they feed on an contaminated person or animal, any viruses or bacteria present there will be passed on to the person or animal.
Leptocimex Boueti
A species known as Leptocimex boueti is less common than even the tropical bed bug. It also thrives in tropical and subtropical environments, although it hasn’t spread as much.
As a consequence, South America and West Africa have the highest populations of this kind of bed bug. Humans are not the primary food source for this bed bug species, which is part of why they don’t bite as often.
While they aren’t choosy eaters, most members of Leptocimex boueti feed off bats rather than humans. These bed bugs will not hesitate to lay as many eggs as possible in a human dwelling if the opportunity arises.
These bed bugs don’t have any distinguishing characteristics from other species, except their fondness for bats and restricted range of habitats. The casual observer would be unable to tell their bodies apart, and the frequency, pattern, and intensity of their attacks are almost identical.
Despite this, they might be important in understanding bed bug evolutionary history. Despite the fact that just three bed bug species bite humans on a regular basis, they are only one of hundreds of insect species that have evolved prey.
Leptocimex boueti is thought to be the missing link in the evolution of certain species from preferring bat blood to preferring human blood, and it is believed that all of these species originally evolved to feed off of bats.
The Harris bed bug glue traps and EcoRaider spray, among other items, are recommended if you believe you have a bed bug problem. The spray is very successful at killing bed bugs in all phases, and the glue traps make it simple to recognize if you have bed bugs or another bug.
Swallow Bugs (Oeciacus Vicarius and Hirundinis)
Nests of this sort of bed bug may be discovered in barns and on cliffs. They’re also common in buildings where birds nest, such as hotels and homes.
What they look like:
-3-4 millimeters.
-Long, fine hair covering its body.
The two segments at the ends of se-segmented antennas are equal in length.
They don’t feed on people in the same way that other bed bug species do, but they may if their principal food source is unavailable.
Mexican chicken bugs or Poultry bugs (Haematosiphon Inodora)
The poultry bug is the last sort of bed bug that will bite a person if no other potential victim is available. This kind of bed bug feeds on a range of fowl species, including ducks, geese, turkeys, and, of course, chickens. It is also known as the Mexican chicken bug. Wild birds, such as hawks and eagles, are also affected by them.
Poultry bugs are the most dangerous for household birds, and a bug infestation can make them sick. You may be at risk of being bitten if you have hens or other domestic birds on your property.
Colorado bed bug (Hesperocimex Coloradensis)
The West Coast and the Midwest are the most common places to find bed bugs. Bed bugs feed on birds, bats, and other wild creatures outdoors. According to a recent study, pygmy owls have become the main source of food for them.
Colorado bed bugs are known for following their live hosts around, which is a defining feature. As a result, they may be found in cacti, where bats and other birds may rest. They are essentially identical to conventional bed bugs in terms of color, form, and size.
Chimney Swift Bugs (Cimexopsis Nyctalis)
The chimney swift bug has significant differences from bed bugs in terms of shape, size, and color. Yet, when it comes to all of the forms of bed bugs listed here, this one is similar to bed bugs:
-In comparison to bed bugs, they have longer legs
-They are constantly active, not only during the day.
-They never sleep on mattresses, instead preferring to sleep on walls.
Primicimex Cavernis and Bucimex Chilensis
These two bed bug species are closely related. They have spider-like legs and are bigger than bed bugs. In Central and South America, they are native. Bats are their main source of food, and they can freely eat them while they are sleeping in bat caves or inside cacti woodpeckers have holed.
Ornithocoris Pallidus and Ornithocoris Toledoi
This is a bed bug that eats martins, and it’s another kind of feeder. They also eat chickens, similar to Mexican chicken bugs.
From South America to the Gulf coast, they prefer warmer climates. The lighter brown color of these bed bugs is the only difference with common bed bugs.
Only three kinds of bed bugs that feed on people
There are around 90 species of bed bugs, according to this terrifying factoid. Unfortunately, just three of them enjoy human food.
While identifying the species of bug does help pest eradication workers make sure they’re providing you with the best service, it’s not essential for you to understand the flavor of bed bug infestation in your home.
Here’s a quick guide to identifying the various sorts of bed bugs and determining if you have a distinct sort of infestation.
The type of bed bug you have determines how common it is in your area.
The three kinds of bed bugs that feed on people are C. lectularius, C. hemipterus, and L. boueti.
C is a symbol used in mathematics. C. and L. Evolarius were among the evolvators. If you reside in Europe or the United States, hemipterus are the ones to be concerned about. They prefer to nest in household items like mattresses, sofas, carpets, and even behind wallpaper. They feed on humans and like to nest in them.
L. is the letter for the Latin word lexicon, which means “word.” Because it prefers tropical climates, boueti is only found in West Africa and South America. This kind of bug is unlikely to have established home in your residence unless you reside in one of the areas or have recently visited there.
Although people are their first choice when it comes to feed on bed bugs, L. will do so if possible. Bats are the main attraction for boueti. While they won’t pass up a convenient human blood meal, you’re unlikely to come across this species unless you live in an area with a lot of bat populations.
Little red dots that seem in a line or zigzag pattern, as well as dark stains on carpets, mattresses, and fabric furniture from fecal droppings, are common signs of bed bugs in the house.
Unfortunately, you probably won’t be able to identify which type of bed bug you have.
The prothorax (the upper half of the segment between a bug’s neck and abdomen) and edges of the two forms of bed bugs prevalent in the United States and Europe are usually flatter than those prevalent in tropical regions, according to Terminix.
Unfortunately, unless you’re an entomologist and happen to have a microscope, it’s difficult to distinguish between the various sorts of bed bugs. They all have the same nesting patterns and may wreak havoc in your home in the same way. In addition, their teeth are similar.
You should always contact professionals to deal with a suspected bed bug problem.
You may be allowing the problem to spread by attempting to handle a possible bed bug infestation on your own, even if it is cost-effective.
You run the risk of overlooking the source of the bugs and leaving your home vulnerable to future infestations or worse pest damage if you attempt to DIY an eradication strategy. Instead of risking a small bug problem becoming a big infestation, leave the bug-busting to the pros and avoid the danger.
Bed bug facts
Other interesting facts about bed bugs that most people would not know are that they are notable blood-sucking insects. Here are some bed bug facts that you should be aware of in order to get to know them better.
Every day, one female bed bug deposits eggs. During her lifetime, she will produce at least 500 eggs.
Due to their size of just 1mm, bed bugs are nearly impossible to see.
Any environment may be suitable for bed bugs. They can live in temperatures as low as -120 degrees Fahrenheit and as high as 120 degrees Fahrenheit.
They rely on their keen intuition. During the day, they created a mechanism to counteract the scent of blood. Only then do they come out at night if the aroma of exhaled carbon is strong.
They’re pesticide-resistant, which is unusual. They’ve built immunity to conventional insecticides, making it more difficult to manage and get rid of them throughout time.
Picky eaters are common with bed bugs. Live hosts are the only ones who can get blood from them.
The saliva in their mouths is mildly anesthetic. As a result, the live hosts would have no idea that they were already feeding on them.