'Bugs News

top-hiding places, bottom-bites Bed bug bites look a lot like bad mosquito bites . Take a look at the lower drawing (right). Bed bug bites will generally be red with local inflammation and swelling. The redness is caused by an allergic reaction to proteins in the bug's saliva; again, much like a mosquito bite. There may be multiple bites in the same area and the bites can occur anywhere on your body. Bites will usually itch as well. Bed bug bites are self-limiting and there is very little danger of disease transmission associated with these insects, unlike mosquitoes which can transmit numerous deadly diseases. Bed bug bites can be treated with over-the-counter anti-itch medications, or antibiotic lotions if the skin is broken by scratching. If you encounter bed bugs in a motel/hostel/inn or other sleeping establishment you should (1) notify the management so they can take steps to control the infestation, and (2) take care not to transport bed bugs from there to your next dest...

Why are bed bugs returning to big cities like NYC?   Human b ed bug s , Cimex lectularius , are almost unique among ectoparasitic insects in that they specialize in feeding on human blood, and only on human blood ( click here if you're not sure what bed bugs look like). While there are plenty of insects and other arthropods that feed on the blood of animals such as birds, reptiles (snakes and lizards), and mammals (hairy creatures that give birth to live young and have mammary glands) most will happily feed on a variety of different animals as well. For example, certain mosquitoes may select a bird for one meal then a human for the next meal, and so on. This is how West Nile virus , for example,  moves between birds and humans. The human bed bug, on the other hand, feeds only on us . Human bed bugs , along with body lice , have always been closely associated with their favorite meal ticket, namely people. Both insects are even the subject of familiar children's nursery rhy...