What are the most dangerous bug bites. How can you identify potentially harmful insect bites. When should you seek medical attention for a bug bite. What are the symptoms of tick-borne illnesses. How to recognize venomous spider bites.

Common Bug Bites and Their Potential Risks

While most bug bites are harmless, some can lead to serious complications. Understanding which insects pose the greatest threats and recognizing the warning signs of potentially dangerous bites is crucial for your health and safety. Let’s explore the most common culprits and their associated risks.

Tick Bites: More Than Just a Nuisance

Ticks are notorious for transmitting various diseases, some of which can be life-threatening if left untreated. The most well-known tick-borne illness is Lyme disease, but it’s not the only concern.

• Lyme disease: Transmitted by blacklegged ticks
• Anaplasmosis: Can be fatal in rare cases
• Rocky Mountain spotted fever: One of the deadliest tick-borne diseases in the U.S.

Do all tick bites transmit diseases? No, not all ticks carry pathogens. However, it’s important to be vigilant, especially if you live in or visit areas where these diseases are prevalent, such as the northeast, mid-Atlantic region, or north-central states of the U.S.

Identifying Tick-Borne Illness Symptoms

Recognizing the symptoms of tick-borne illnesses early can be crucial for effective treatment. While the classic bulls-eye rash is a telltale sign of Lyme disease, it’s not always present. Other symptoms to watch for include:

• Fever and chills
• Joint or muscle aches
• Swollen lymph nodes
• Nausea and vomiting
• Stomach pain
• Fatigue
• Headaches
• Red or purple-spotted rash (in cases of Rocky Mountain spotted fever)

How long does it take for symptoms to appear after a tick bite? Symptoms can develop anywhere from 3 to 30 days after the bite, depending on the specific disease. This is why it’s crucial to monitor your health closely if you suspect you’ve been bitten by a tick.

Venomous Spider Bites: When to Worry

While most spider bites are harmless, bites from venomous spiders like the black widow and brown recluse can cause serious health issues. Knowing how to identify these spiders and recognize the symptoms of their bites is essential.

Black Widow Spider Bites

Black widow spiders are easily identifiable by their shiny black bodies and the distinctive red hourglass shape on their abdomen. Their bites can cause:

• Severe pain that may spread to the back, chest, or abdomen
• Muscle cramps and spasms
• Nausea and vomiting
• Sweating
• Elevated blood pressure

Is immediate medical attention necessary for a black widow spider bite? Yes, if you suspect you’ve been bitten by a black widow spider, seek medical care promptly. While fatalities are rare, the venom can cause severe discomfort and potentially dangerous symptoms, especially in children and the elderly.

Brown Recluse Spider Bites

Brown recluse spiders are known for the violin-shaped marking on their back. Their bites can lead to:

• A painful, itchy red area that develops a blister
• A deep, enlarging ulcer as the surrounding skin dies
• Fever and chills
• Body aches
• In rare cases, hemolysis (destruction of red blood cells)

How long does it take for symptoms of a brown recluse bite to appear? Symptoms typically develop within 2 to 8 hours after the bite. However, the full extent of tissue damage may not be apparent for several days.

Mosquito-Borne Diseases: A Global Health Concern

Mosquitoes are more than just a nuisance; they can transmit a variety of diseases that pose significant health risks globally. Understanding these risks is crucial, especially when traveling to areas where these diseases are endemic.

Zika Virus: A Threat to Pregnant Women

The Zika virus gained worldwide attention due to its potential to cause birth defects. While symptoms in adults are usually mild, the virus can have devastating effects on developing fetuses.

• Mild fever
• Rash
• Joint pain
• Conjunctivitis (red eyes)

Can Zika virus cause long-term health problems in adults? While most adults recover fully from Zika virus infection, there have been rare cases of Guillain-Barré syndrome associated with the infection. However, the primary concern remains the risk to pregnant women and their unborn children.

West Nile Virus: A Silent Threat

West Nile virus is present in many parts of the world, including the United States. Most people infected with West Nile virus don’t develop any symptoms, but about 1 in 5 will experience:

• Fever
• Headache
• Body aches
• Joint pains
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Rash

What are the most serious complications of West Nile virus? In about 1% of cases, West Nile virus can cause severe neurological complications, including encephalitis or meningitis. These can be life-threatening, particularly in older adults and people with weakened immune systems.

Bee and Wasp Stings: When Allergies Turn Dangerous

For most people, bee and wasp stings are painful but not dangerous. However, for those with allergies, these stings can be life-threatening. Recognizing the signs of a severe allergic reaction, known as anaphylaxis, is crucial.

Symptoms of Anaphylaxis

Anaphylaxis can develop within minutes of a sting and may include:

• Difficulty breathing
• Hives or swelling that spreads beyond the sting site
• Tightness in the throat or chest
• Dizziness or fainting
• Nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea

How quickly does anaphylaxis develop after a sting? Symptoms of anaphylaxis typically appear within 5 to 30 minutes after the sting, but in some cases, they may not appear for up to an hour.

Managing Bee and Wasp Stings

For those with known allergies to bee or wasp stings, carrying an epinephrine auto-injector (such as an EpiPen) is essential. For non-allergic individuals, basic first aid includes:

1. Removing the stinger (if present) by scraping it out with a straight-edged object
2. Washing the area with soap and water
3. Applying a cold compress to reduce swelling
4. Taking an antihistamine to manage itching and swelling

Is it necessary to seek medical attention for all bee or wasp stings? For most people, home treatment is sufficient. However, if you experience symptoms of an allergic reaction or have been stung multiple times, medical attention is advisable.

Fire Ant Bites: Small Insects, Big Pain

Fire ants are aggressive insects found in many parts of the southern United States. Their bites are painful and can cause significant discomfort and, in some cases, serious allergic reactions.

Recognizing Fire Ant Bites

Fire ant bites typically appear as swollen red spots that develop a blister on top. Other characteristics include:

• Intense burning and itching sensation
• Multiple bites in a circular pattern
• Potential for pustules to form within 24-48 hours

Why do fire ant bites form a circular pattern? Fire ants tend to grab the skin with their mandibles and pivot around this point, injecting venom multiple times, which results in the characteristic circular pattern of bites.

Treating Fire Ant Bites

Most fire ant bites can be treated at home:

1. Wash the affected area with soap and water
2. Apply a cold compress to reduce swelling
3. Use hydrocortisone cream to manage itching
4. Take an oral antihistamine if needed

When should you seek medical attention for fire ant bites? If you experience symptoms of an allergic reaction, such as difficulty breathing, widespread swelling, or dizziness, seek immediate medical care. Additionally, if bites become infected or fail to heal, consult a healthcare provider.

Preventing Bug Bites: Your First Line of Defense

While knowing how to identify and treat bug bites is important, prevention is always the best strategy. Taking proactive measures can significantly reduce your risk of encountering problematic insect bites and stings.

Protective Clothing and Gear

Wearing appropriate clothing can create a physical barrier between you and biting insects:

• Long-sleeved shirts and long pants
• Light-colored clothing (makes it easier to spot ticks)
• Closed-toe shoes
• Hat with a brim
• Tucking pants into socks when hiking in tick-prone areas

Does the color of your clothing really matter when it comes to preventing bug bites? Yes, light-colored clothing not only makes it easier to spot ticks but may also be less attractive to some biting insects like mosquitoes, which are drawn to dark colors.

Insect Repellents: Choosing the Right One

Using an effective insect repellent is crucial for preventing bites. The CDC recommends repellents containing:

• DEET (up to 30% concentration for adults)
• Picaridin
• IR3535
• Oil of lemon eucalyptus
• Para-menthane-diol

Are natural insect repellents as effective as chemical ones? While some natural repellents can be effective, they generally don’t last as long as chemical repellents. Oil of lemon eucalyptus is one natural option that has shown effectiveness comparable to low concentrations of DEET.

Environmental Precautions

Modifying your environment and behavior can also help reduce your risk of bug bites:

• Avoid outdoor activities during peak mosquito hours (dawn and dusk)
• Remove standing water from your property to reduce mosquito breeding sites
• Keep lawns mowed and remove leaf litter to reduce tick habitats
• Use mosquito nets when camping or sleeping outdoors
• Check yourself, children, and pets for ticks after spending time outdoors

How often should you reapply insect repellent? Most insect repellents need to be reapplied every few hours, especially if you’re swimming or sweating. Always follow the product instructions for the best protection.

When to Seek Medical Attention for Bug Bites

While most bug bites can be managed at home, certain symptoms warrant immediate medical attention. Knowing when to seek help can prevent complications and ensure proper treatment.

Signs of Infection

Any bug bite can become infected if bacteria enter the wound. Watch for these signs of infection:

• Increased redness, swelling, or warmth around the bite
• Pus or drainage from the bite site
• Red streaks extending from the bite
• Fever or chills
• Swollen lymph nodes

How long does it typically take for a bug bite to heal? Most uncomplicated bug bites should start to improve within a few days. If a bite isn’t showing signs of improvement after a week, or if it’s getting worse, consult a healthcare provider.

Systemic Reactions

Some bug bites can cause systemic reactions that affect the entire body. Seek immediate medical care if you experience:

• Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
• Swelling of the face, tongue, or throat
• Rapid heartbeat
• Dizziness or fainting
• Severe headache or confusion
• Widespread rash or hives

Can a single bug bite cause a systemic reaction? Yes, particularly in individuals with allergies. For example, a single bee sting can trigger anaphylaxis in someone with a bee venom allergy. Additionally, bites from certain spiders or ticks carrying diseases can lead to systemic symptoms.

Persistent or Worsening Symptoms

If your symptoms persist or worsen despite home treatment, it’s time to consult a healthcare provider. This is especially true if you experience:

• Pain that doesn’t improve or worsens after a few days
• A bite that continues to expand in size or develops a bull’s-eye pattern
• Joint pain or muscle weakness
• Flu-like symptoms that develop days or weeks after a bite
• Any unusual symptoms that concern you

Should you always see a doctor after removing a tick? While not every tick bite requires medical attention, it’s advisable to consult a healthcare provider if you live in an area where Lyme disease or other tick-borne illnesses are common, or if you develop any symptoms after a tick bite.

Bug Bite Symptoms You Should Never Ignore

By
Olivia DeLong

Medically reviewed in June 2022

Updated on June 8, 2022

With backyard barbeques, picnics, and summer hikes come bug bites—and quite often, lots of them. Some bites may go unnoticed, while others are so itchy and swollen you may be willing to try an array of over-the-counter remedies to get some relief.

That fact is, even seemingly harmless bug bites can lead to complications that may require medical attention. In other cases, insect bites and stings that aren’t dangerous for some people could trigger allergic reactions in others. Certain insects could also spread infections, such as Lyme disease, Zika virus, or Rocky Mountain spotted fever (RMSF) in parts of the United States and other locations around the world.

How do you know if your nagging bug bite is worth your concern? The answer depends on what bit you, how your body reacts to the bite, and whether or not it becomes infected, says Miriam Zylberglait, MD, an internist at HCA Florida Aventura Primary Care in Aventura, Florida.

“In general, bug bites are benign conditions,” says Dr. Zylberglait. “However, they may cause different types of complications, which could be as simple as a rash, but could also include more serious problems, like skin infections or allergic reactions.” 

What bit you?

Some bugs are stealthy. You might not realize that you’ve been bitten until it’s too late. In some cases, you may not even be sure what landed on your skin. A bug bite or sting usually isn’t cause for alarm, but there are situations that may require medical attention:

Ticks: If you find an engorged tick embedded in your skin, it may have been there a while. It can take a tick up to 2 hours to get ready to feed after planting itself on your skin, and it usually takes around 36 to 48 hours of feeding for them to transmit diseases such as Lyme disease.   

Not all ticks found in the U.S. carry diseases, but some blacklegged ticks can transmit infections. These include Lyme disease and anaplasmosis, an infection that is usually mild to moderate but in rare cases can be fatal. American dog ticks, Rocky Mountain wood ticks, and brown dog ticks can spread Rocky Mountain spotted fever, one of the deadliest tick-borne diseases in the U.S.

Ticks that spread these diseases are typically found in certain parts of the country, particularly the northeast or mid-Atlantic region and the north-central states (Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan).

Most people with Lyme disease—roughly 70 to 80 percent—develop a bulls-eye rash, but not everyone will. Other signs of a tick-borne illness may include:

• Chills
• Joint or muscle aches
• Swollen lymph nodes
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Stomach pain
• Fever
• Red or purple-spotted rash
• Fatigue
• Headaches

If blood tests confirm that you have Lyme disease, the bacterial infection can be effectively treated with antibiotics.

“Lyme disease symptoms may go beyond the typical rash and can also affect your joints and long-term heart health if not appropriately treated,” says Zylberglait. Some of these longer-term issues could include muscle and joint pain, arthritis, memory problems, and nerve damage, depending on how far the disease has progressed. 

In most cases, early treatment of Rocky Mountain spotted fever and anaplasmosis with antibiotics can reduce the risk of serious complications. If left untreated, both can be life-threatening. 

Venomous spiders: Most spider bites are harmless and only result in some discoloration, swelling, or itchiness. Spider bites can often be treated by simply cleaning the area with mild soap and water and applying an antibiotic cream to prevent an infection. If you were bitten in the arm or leg, it might also be helpful to apply a cool, damp cloth to the area and keep it elevated. You may need antibiotics if the bite becomes infected (more on that later on).

Bites from black widow, brown recluse, and other venomous spiders, however, can trigger more serious reactions. You may not always be able to see what bit you, but if you do catch a glimpse, keep in mind that brown recluse spiders usually have a violin-shaped pattern on their body near their legs. Black widows have a large round body, with a red or orange hourglass marking on their underbelly. See a healthcare provider (HCP) if you have:

• Pain and swelling that extends to your stomach, back, or chest
• Stomach cramping
• Sweating or chills
• Nausea
• Body aches
• Dark blue or purple area toward the center of the bite that may turn into a large wound

If you’ve been bitten by a black widow, and you’re experiencing severe pain, your HCP may recommend an injection of antivenom—a medication that helps stop the effects of the toxins that have entered your body. In some cases, a brown recluse bite may cause an ulcer or lesion to form, which may require further medical treatment. It’s also important to see an HCP if you haven’t had a tetanus booster within the past five years.

Mosquitos: Certain mosquitos can spread infections, including West Nile Virus, Zika virus, dengue fever, and malaria. These infections aren’t as much of a concern in the U.S. as they are in other parts of the world, but they’re not completely out of the question.

In 2015 and 2016, there were major Zika virus outbreaks in the Americas, with widespread transmission of the virus in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, along with limited local spread in Florida and Texas. Since 2018, no reported cases of Zika transmission by mosquitoes have occurred in the continental U.S., and no confirmed cases of Zika disease have occurred in the U.S. since 2019.  

If you’ve recently traveled to South America, the Caribbean, the South Pacific, Southeast Asia, Africa, and any other high-risk regions, watch out for possible warning signs of mosquito-borne diseases, such as:

• Fever
• Joint pain
• Red and itchy eyes
• Aches and pain
• Nausea
• Rash

“It’s very important for you to communicate to your physician that you were in any of these areas recently so that they can think through the proper diagnosis,” Zylberglait says.

There are not many specific treatment options for mosquito-borne illnesses, but acetaminophen can help reduce your fever. Your HCP may also advise you to stay hydrated and rest as much as possible. Malaria, caused by a parasite that infects red blood cells, requires specific drugs but treatment depends on which parasite is involved, as well as your age and symptoms. Treatment may also differ for women who are pregnant.

Every year, millions of people worldwide are infected with malaria, and hundreds of thousands die. Malaria transmission is most likely to occur in Africa, South America, and Asia, and is highest in sub-Saharan Africa and parts of the South Pacific. About 2,000 cases of malaria occur each year in the U.S., mostly in travelers from countries where transmission is more likely.

Other mosquito-borne diseases may lead to problems, as well. West Nile virus (WNV) is the leading cause of mosquito-borne illness in the continental U.S., according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Some people with West Nile virus may develop meningitis or encephalitis (inflammation of the brain). That may require additional treatment and a hospital stay involving intravenous fluid treatment, breathing support, or nursing care.

Outbreaks of dengue fever occasionally occur in the continental U.S., usually in travelers who were infected elsewhere, though it’s common in the U.S. territories of Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and American Samoa. Severe dengue fever (sometimes called “breakbone” fever because it can cause very intense joint and bone pain) can cause internal bleeding and other complications. See an HCP immediately if you develop:

• Stomach pain or tenderness
• Persistent vomiting
• Bleeding from nose or gums
• Restlessness or irritability
• Bloody stool or vomit

Recognizing allergic reactions

Like peanuts, dust, pollen, and other allergens, some people are allergic to specific bugs. Insects that can trigger allergic reactions include mosquitos, kissing bugs, bees, wasps, and fire ants. If you’re not allergic, a typical reaction may include pain, swelling, and redness or discoloration that’s confined to the sting or bite area. But if you’re having an allergic reaction, the symptoms may be more severe. Allergic reactions can cause:

• Hives, itching, or swelling in areas beyond the sting site
• Abdominal cramping
• Vomiting, nausea, or diarrhea
• Tightness in the chest or difficulty breathing
• Swelling of the mouth, tongue, or throat
• Difficulty swallowing

In severe cases, insect bites can trigger a life-threatening allergic reaction, called anaphylaxis. This is a medical emergency that requires immediate attention and treatment with epinephrine, corticosteroids, and antihistamines. Symptoms include difficulty breathing, dizziness, a sharp drop in blood pressure, loss of consciousness, or cardiac arrest (sudden loss of heart function). These usually occur within 5 to 30 minutes—and sometimes up to an hour—of getting bitten.

“While the bite might not look so dangerous and may be very benign for the majority of people, it could be very serious if you’re allergic,” says Zylberglait. “If you recognize these symptoms, you should seek help immediately.” And if your HCP has prescribed an epinephrine pen for allergic reactions, keep it with you at all times, so you can self-administer your medication when you need it.

Spot warning signs of infection

Regardless of the insect, a bite or sting could become infected if you scratch or pick at the area. Bacteria, such as streptococcus and staphylococcus epidermidis, are commonly found on the skin, Zylberglait explains. If left untreated, infected bug bites could lead to a deeper, more dangerous skin infection called cellulitis, which requires treatment with antibiotics. You should see an HCP as soon as possible if you have symptoms of cellulitis, such as:  

• Fever
• Chills
• Swelling, discoloration, redness, or red streaking around the bite area
• Cold sweats
• Nausea
• Trouble concentrating
• Blisters, pus, or drainage
• Swollen lymph nodes
• An area that’s warm or painful to the touch

Prevention is best 

Avoid insect bites and stings with the help of protective clothing and repellents. Wear long-sleeved shirts and pants when possible, and tuck your pants into your socks to form an extra barrier.

It’s also important to plan ahead when traveling. Take extra precautions if you’re going to areas where mosquito- and tick-borne diseases are common. In some cases, your HCP may suggest receiving certain vaccines or taking preventive medications in preparation for your trip, Zylberglait notes.

And if you’ve had a previous allergic reaction to an insect bite, she adds, make sure you are familiar with any symptoms or red flags, in case it happens again.

Signs a Bug Bite Is Serious — Warning Signs

Signs a Bug Bite Is Serious — Warning Signs

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There are some signs you shouldn’t ignore after getting a bug bite.

Ekaterina Karetkina/Shutterstock

• Some bug bites can be harmless, but others can have some serious health effects.
• If you experience a fever, chest pain, or cramps after a bug bite you may want to seek out immediate medical attention.
• You should seek medical attention if you experience severe reactions, like trouble breathing or dizziness, from bug bites.
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From camping to unwinding in the backyard, some outdoor activities can be difficult to enjoy if you’re worried about bugs.

Redness and itchiness are pretty typical for most mosquito, tick, or spider bites. But some bug bites can lead to allergic reactions, diseases, or viruses, so it’s important to pay attention to your symptoms.

Here are a few signs that your bug bite may require medical attention. 

Go to the emergency room if you have difficulty breathing after getting bitten or stung.

It could be a sign of a severe allergic reaction.

Jason Redmond/AP

If you experience difficulty breathing after a bug bite or sting, it could be due to a severe allergic reaction, and according to the Mayo Clinic, you should go to the emergency room.

This reaction is particularly common with bee stings.

Difficulty breathing can be a sign that you have gone into anaphylactic shock, and according to WebMD, if you have a known, severe bee-sting allergy you should carry around any prescribed epinephrine injections at all times.

Nausea and cramps can mean a number of worrying things after a bug bite.

Cramps are something to look out for after getting bitten.

iStock

According to the Mayo Clinic, vomiting and body aches can be symptoms of the West Nile virus. Not everyone who contracts the diseases shows symptoms, but you may want to seek immediate medical attention if your reaction to a bite includes things like a high fever, severe headaches, or muscle weakness. 

According to WebMD, severe abdominal cramping can also be a sign of a black-widow bite. If you think you could’ve been bitten by a black-widow spider, you may want to see a doctor to review if treatment is necessary.

That said, per WebMD, black-widow bites can be dangerous for young children so if you suspect a child has been bit by one, help them seek out immediate medical attention.  

In addition, nausea, vomiting, and stomach pain can be symptoms of anaphylactic shock, according to WebMD. If you suspect this may be the case with your bite, seek out immediate medical attention. 

Consider seeking emergency medical care if you experience severe swelling from a bite or sting.

Swollen eyes, lips, or throat should not be ignored.

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Swelling of the lips, throat, or eyelids is also a common sign of an allergic reaction to a bee sting. WebMD lists it as a symptom of anaphylactic shock and recommends seeking immediate medical attention if you are experiencing these symptoms.

According to Healthline, if you are experiencing swelling of the eye after a bug bite, you may want to to see a doctor — especially if the swelling is causing any pain, vision distortion, or floaters.

Look out for a target-shaped rash that could indicate Lyme disease.

It’s important to catch Lyme disease symptoms early.

anakopa/Getty Images

If you develop a red, target- or doughnut-shaped rash around the site of a tick bite you may have contracted Lyme disease.

Dermatologist Margaret E. Parsons of the American Academy of Dermatology recommends seeking medical treatment so you can be prescribed the proper antibiotics to better treat and manage the disease. 

According to the Mayo Clinic, you should still visit your doctor even if the rash or other symptoms seem to disappear. 

Don’t ignore a rapid heartbeat after a bug bite or sting.

It could be a sign of anaphylactic shock.

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A rapid heartbeat is another symptom of anaphylactic shock and requires emergency medical attention.

Mayo Clinic recommends going to the ER if your heartbeat is racing after a bug bite or sting.

Hives can indicate a severe allergic reaction.

Be aware of the effect the bite has on your skin.

Shutterstock

If hives persist after getting stung or bitten, the Mayo Clinic recommends going to the emergency room for immediate treatment as it can also be a sign of a severe allergic reaction.

In addition, per Medical News Today, you may want to seek out medical attention if you notice a blotchy rash on your body since that could also be indicative of a severe allergic reaction.

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what they look like and how to deal with them

• By Wil Malinoshevsky
• About bedbugs

Bedbug larvae are the most insidious part of the entire bedbug population in an apartment. The fact is that many people do not perceive them as bedbugs in general, and some do not even see them. Although these larvae bite people just like adult bugs. And there are always more of these larvae in the room than exactly adult bed bugs. That is, most of the bites from bedbugs on your body specifically on you are the work of the “hands”, or rather, the proboscis of the larvae of the bugs. And you may not even find this main horde of hungry parasites in the apartment.

For example, in the photo below – a cluster of larvae in a sofa drawer:

Just recently we had a call to a student hostel. People poisoned bedbugs several times on their own, but they continue to bite and they ask: where to look for bedbugs if we don’t see them. They bite and you can’t find them.

We arrive, we simply lift the sheet on the mattress, turn away the seam and under the seam we see just continuous accumulations of these larvae and eggs. We show the student, we say that they bite. And the student says that he thought they looked somehow different, like ordinary bedbugs. Didn’t even pay attention to these.

Let’s not delve into the question that, in principle, there should not be any insects on the mattress, and if someone lives here at all, then this is not good. It’s just that the situation is indicative – a person sees exactly the larvae of domestic bugs, but does not understand what they are, what exactly they bite, and it is they who will soon grow up and multiply.

Therefore, because of this, there are many problems with the removal of bedbugs. Without seeing and not being able to recognize the larvae themselves, a person can treat even with a very strong agent completely different places in which these larvae are located. Accordingly, the larvae will not die and it will not be possible to remove the bugs.

But this problem is solved relatively simply: you need to figure out what the larvae of bedbugs look like at different stages of their development, where to look for them and how to kill them correctly. Everything, everything else is a matter of technique and a good effective tool.

What do bed bug larvae look like

Bedbug larvae look very different, despite the fact that in their development they practically do not change the shape of the body. The fact is that a larva with a body length of less than 1 mm hatches from an egg, and a nymph before the last molt, ready to become an adult sexually mature bug, is practically no different from an adult.

The photo shows a larva that has just emerged from the egg, still with an empty abdomen:

Therefore, by the way, the larvae of bedbugs are called nymphs – they have the same body shape as adults, but differ in size. In this way, bugs differ from insects with complete transformation, for example, the same butterflies and beetles, in which worm-like larvae, completely different from adults, hatch from eggs.

For example, in the photo below there are two adult bugs, the one on the far right is a nymph of the penultimate age, and all the rest are nymphs of previous ages:

For example, a larva that has just emerged from an egg looks like a very small, tiny spider or mite. She has a yellow body and if you look at her with the naked eye, she just looks like a small yellow dot. It does not look like an adult flat brown bug at all, and therefore it is not surprising that many people do not even consider that these are bugs.

By the way, on light mattresses, such larvae easily merge with the background, and if you don’t look closely, you might not even notice them.

And if you look for photos of bedbug larvae somewhere, you will most likely find a macro photo where these larvae are shown at a close approximation. When you see them with the naked eye, you may not even understand what they are. People with low vision may not notice these guys on the mattress or furniture at all.

Dimensions of bedbug nymphs

As the larva grows, its body increases in size and becomes more conspicuous and more similar to adult bugs. If an adult has a body length of 5-6 mm, then the body length of a nymph ranges from 1-4 mm. Moreover, if the adult bugs are brown, then the nymphs are either yellow with a translucent body, or raspberry-red, if they have just been fed. They need to be distinguished only from eggs – they are white and like grains of rice – and from excrement – they are round and black, like fixed points.

By the way, hungry nymphs can be overlooked, for example, on an unpainted tree, on the same bed frame, because they merge with it in color. But the saturated nymphs are very clearly visible, they just look like running drops of blood.

If you look at the nymph at all, you can see through the integument of her body the stomach, the black contents of her intestines and other internal organs. When such a larva sucks blood, you can see how this blood flows into the stomach.

Larvae, or nymphs: which is correct?

Immature bed bugs can be referred to as both larva and nymph. For bed bugs, it’s the same.

In entomology, the science that studies insects, nymphs are called larvae, which, after hatching from the egg, already immediately have a body structure similar to the body structure of adults. That is, a nymph is a larva that looks like an adult bug.

The photo shows all stages of bed bug development:

All insects are divided into two large groups – insects with complete metamorphosis and insects with incomplete metamorphosis. In the first, the larvae are very different in appearance from adult insects. These are butterflies, for example, or beetles, in which the larvae – caterpillars or worm-like stages – do not at all resemble sexually mature individuals. In insects with incomplete metamorphosis, there is no such radical difference between individuals at different stages of development. These are bedbugs, these are cockroaches, grasshoppers. Their larvae are called nymphs and in fact they can be spoken this way and that.

By the way, an important point: insect larvae with incomplete metamorphosis, nymphs, usually lead the same lifestyle as adult insects. The difference is only in the size of their body, the underdevelopment of the reproductive system and some organs (for example, wings) and the inability to reproduce.

This photo shows a “white” nymph – a larva that has just molted, the integument of which has not yet become stronger and has not acquired a characteristic dark yellow color:

Bedbug nymphs are no exception in this regard. They live in the same place where adult bugs live, eat the same food. That is, from a very early age, when they are barely visible to the naked eye, they already bite a person and suck his blood. Their bites are not as painful as the bites of adults, or rather, if bumps and redness remain at the bite sites, then these consequences are not as pronounced as after the bites of adult bugs. And they itch a little less. In many people, even bumps from bites do not remain on the skin – just a small reddish speck, although in them the bites of adults are very swollen and itchy. But in general, bed bug larvae are just as dangerous as adults.

The main danger of bed bug larvae

The danger of larvae lies primarily in the fact that in an apartment or in a single room there are always more of them than adult bugs.

The fact is that the female bug lays 2-3 eggs every day, and in her 7-8 months of life gives a new life to three to four hundred nymphs. The hatching time of larvae from eggs is 4-5 days, and this incubation period can be extended up to one and a half weeks at low air temperatures.

Each nymph develops for about 28-30 days, that is, already a month after the female has matured and started to breed, her first offspring also begin to breed.

It turns out that in the population for each female there are several hundred of her own nymphs. And in fact, hundreds of times more of these larvae hatch indoors than there are adults here. Since they do not have any predators here, they all grow and multiply rapidly, and this age ratio is maintained here all the time. This means that several adult bugs and several dozen larvae bite you in the room every night. That is, in fact, they are even more dangerous than adult parasites.

Nymphs as a cause of allergy

In addition, during its development, it changes chitinous covers 5 times. The dry skins remaining from them break down over time and mix with dust, and when air moves, they can rise and enter the human respiratory tract.

These skins contain very aggressive allergens that often cause chronic rhinitis with runny nose and nasal congestion, dermatitis. And over time, such chronic rhinitis without treatment provokes the development of asthma.

Numerous remains of their chitinous covers are visible here in the cluster of bugs:

And the larvae in this regard are much more dangerous than adult bugs: each larva leaves behind 5 skins, and there are more of these larvae in the room than adults. That is, even the remains of dead bugs are less numerous than the shed chitinous covers of the larvae.

Therefore, it is they who leave the most allergens in the house, and if they live here for a long time, then the number of these allergens constantly increases exponentially.

Why larvae are more difficult to hatch

There is another nuance: it is the larvae that may be the first to appear after processing. The fact is that bedbug eggs are very resistant to the action of insecticidal preparations. Those means that reliably kill adult bugs and larvae do not work on eggs. Today, there are no insecticidal preparations with a proven ovicidal effect on the market at all. This means that after processing in the apartment, all larvae and adult bugs die, but after a few days, nymphs begin to hatch from the eggs laid before processing.

If the treatment was carried out well and the remedy was chosen correctly, all these nymphs die. Good exterminators use strong preparations with a pronounced residual effect to poison bedbugs, that is, these agents poison bedbugs even when they dry out after treatment and insects run through the layer of dry preparation. At least, we in Dezincity use only such remedies for bedbugs.

When the larvae hatch, they begin to look for a person, crawl towards him, get dirty in the product and die from him. Plus, at the same time, just hatched larvae run very slowly, and once on the treated surface, they collect a very large amount of the drug. That is, they almost all die.

But sometimes some of these larvae can survive. There may be several reasons for this:

• There were a lot of bedbugs before treatment, they left thousands of eggs and some single nymphs were able to avoid contact with the preparation;
• Processing was unprofessional, the places where the larvae move were not treated and they simply did not get dirty in the product;
• The treatment was carried out with an agent that does not have a residual effect. Many folk remedies for bedbugs do not have such an effect and do not allow poisoning the larvae the first time.

Sometimes there are several of these reasons. In all these cases, after treatment, some of the hatched larvae may survive and must be destroyed by repeated pest control before they become adults and begin to lay their own eggs.

When to re-treat to kill all larvae

Bed bug eggs incubate for 7-12 days, up to a maximum of two weeks under normal household conditions. That is, two weeks after processing, larvae are already hatched from all eggs and there will be no developing eggs left here.

The larvae themselves develop to adulthood in about 30 days.

This means that the re-treatment must be carried out exactly in this time window – not earlier than two weeks after the first pest control, but not later than 30 days. If carried out earlier, there is a risk that at this time single eggs will remain in the apartment, from which the larvae have not yet hatched, and they will hatch after the second treatment. If carried out later than in a month, then by the time of the second persecution, individual adult bugs may already appear in the apartment, which will lay new eggs and, similarly, larvae will hatch from them after the second treatment.

Our practice at DisinCity shows that re-treatment is usually not required. According to our statistics, in 83 cases out of 100, after our first treatment, the bugs no longer bite people. Only in 17% of cases there is a need for re-treatment. In fact, it is required if you have been poisoned by bedbugs, but after a week and a half, bites began to appear again. If you are sure that the bugs do not get to you from the neighbors, then these bites are left precisely by small larvae. You can try to find them and if you find them, then call the service and re-disinsect.

How to get rid of the larvae?

This second processing is usually simpler than the first. The fact is that small larvae are kept very compactly near sleeping places. Due to the fact that they run very slowly, they cannot crawl more than one and a half to two meters during the night.

Therefore, they must be either on the mattress or on the sofa or bed on which the person sleeps.

Later, adult bugs can already hide for a day or more, up to neighboring rooms and even neighbors in the apartment, but the larvae are almost right on the sleeping places. Here they are quite easy to process with a tool and kill.

At the same time, the larvae concentrate in relatively calm places where no light enters and people rarely look in. For example, on clothes and directly on bedding, in pillows and blankets, they are extremely rare.

Most of all they are found on the seams of mattresses and upholstery of sofas. The larvae are very small and the space under the overhanging seam is quite enough for them to hide and stay here during the day, digest blood and prepare for the next feeding. Here, under the seams of the mattresses, they should be looked for first of all, and then inspect the soft elements of the sofa, its internal cavities, the bed frame, armrests and fasteners.

Starting from the second instar, the larvae can already hide behind skirting boards and under loose wallpaper and behind ceiling moldings – here they also need to be looked for, even if all these decorative elements need to be removed for this.

It is clear that the longer you delay with re-treatment, the larger the larvae will become during this time and the farther from the sofa and bed they will be able to escape after being bitten. Therefore, the more time passes after the first treatment, the more voluminous and large-scale the second pest control will have to be.

At the same time, the larvae die from all the same drugs that effectively poison adult bugs.

At what temperature do bedbug larvae die

In one video, we checked at what temperature the bugs and their larvae die. Then we found out that at +45 degrees they die in 45 minutes, and at +50 – in 10 minutes:

In fact, if you want to get rid of bedbugs, you can use a heat gun or a steam generator. The heat gun allows you to bring the temperature in the room to +50 – +55 degrees and keep it at this level for an hour and a half. This will be enough for both the bugs and their larvae to die. And with a steam generator, you can process the nests and hiding places of bedbugs directly – parasites die instantly under a stream of hot steam.

By the way, the ferry can also kill bedbug eggs. True, it is very difficult and not always possible to get a jet of steam to those places where eggs and small larvae are located, but if all available shelters are processed, then there will be no larvae or viable eggs left.

If you find larvae and eggs of bedbugs on various mattress covers, covers, bed linen, then they can be washed at a water temperature of 55-60 degrees. Such a wash for 20-30 minutes kills all parasites.

It is believed that bedbugs can be killed by low temperatures. For example, take out the sofa with them in the cold, or freeze the apartment. In reality, this is not so. Adult bugs die at -17 per day, small nymphs freeze to death already at -10, but you try to keep this minus temperature indoors for at least a few hours, not to mention a few days. Yes, and so that the water risers do not burst … You can take the sofa outside so that the bugs die at sub-zero temperatures, but those insects that remain in the apartment will not die in this case.

In other words, the destruction of bedbug larvae is no different from the persecution of adult parasites and occurs with the same pest control. As a parasite victim, you just need to know that these larvae may look very different from adult bed bugs: they can be tiny and unobtrusive, like microscopic yellow spiders. They can be translucent yellowish, they can be crimson red, they can be a millimeter long, and they can be up to 4 mm. Nymphs of older ages may look like adult bugs and differ only in a slightly lighter color. They just don’t jump – if you find jumping insects in bed, then you know – these are fleas. But whatever they are, they bite you, they cause an allergy in a person, and they will eventually turn into adults and give life to several hundred more bedbugs each.

Be that as it may, your mattress, bed or sofa should be completely free of insects. If someone lives here, then with a high probability these are bedbugs and they must be dealt with immediately in order to prevent mass reproduction.

If you don’t know if you have bedbugs on your couch, or not bedbugs, or if you are being bitten, but you can’t figure out who it is, then immediately call the pest control service and call a specialist. He knows exactly where to look for bedbugs, how they look and what needs to be done so that after 2-3 hours they will not be left in the apartment. To call a Dezincity specialist, leave a request here: https://dezincity.ru/klopy/

Beetles that cure AIDS

YEREVAN, May 23 – News-Armenia. Despite the development of medicine, many still continue to heal their wounds with what crawls under their feet. Beetles, worms, snails, bees are used. Sellers of such drugs claim that absolutely everything can be cured, writes Life.ru.

Bugs

Doctors do not recognize the black beetle. But some say that it saves from AIDS, cancer, bronchial asthma and Parkinson’s disease.

“After 10-15 days of taking the beetles, the pains characteristic of cancer disappear, and in diabetics the level of glucose in the blood rapidly decreases” – this is how beetle pharmacies advertise their goods on the Internet.

They also tell how to take such a medicine: the main thing is maximum freshness, that is, the beetle must be alive. Take a beetle and swallow. You can drink kefir. Once in the stomach, a little doctor in a black tailcoat will die, releasing useful substances.

Life’s correspondent asked how many lives the bugs had already saved, and the consultant of the virtual outlet said:

“One of my clients had throat cancer of the last stage, the doctors said that there were about six months left, there was no hope. He was already coughing up blood. He started to use these beetles, he felt very much better, began to walk normally, stopped taking medication for pressure, in general, he was on the mend, but the disease took its toll. throat cancer, the doctors said, two years left, he began to use these bugs and was cured. He has been living for 10 years already. He came to the hospital, the doctors are in shock: how is it?! And like this! “, – he said.

However, adherents of traditional medicine stand their ground, considering this method absolutely untenable – the beetle in the stomach will die, digest and leave the body. It does not contain any anti-cancer ingredients.

Worms

If we generalize the ancient and modern ideas about earthworms, it turns out that they are not inferior to beetles in terms of usefulness. Uzbek scientists undertook to confirm this theory – their article was published in the scientific journal “Actual problems of the humanities and natural sciences”.

“Earthworms in pea soup strongly strengthen the flesh. If boiled in sesame oil and eaten, they cure severe sore throats and chronic coughs. Earthworms boiled in water and injected into the ear with goose fat cure earaches,” says in publications.

Modern doctors, of course, are skeptical about burying something rotten in the eyes or nose. Even if there is something useful in the worms’ juice, the “medicine” must pass a quality examination, they explain. But in the work of Uzbek scientists, it is emphasized that earthworms are now “in the phase of study” in medicine. We are talking about how to isolate useful substances from them chemically.

“Experiments on animals have shown that erythrocruorin (a type of hemoglobin in invertebrates) of earthworms has prospects for use as a blood substitute for massive blood loss,” the paper says.

Bees

Bees will give you their branded injections – and everything will pass: swine flu, migraine, insomnia, gout, stomach ulcer, hernia and many other diseases. Already after the first sessions of bee stinging, the symptoms of influenza quickly decrease, the severity of rhinitis decreases, breathing becomes easier, coughing disappears. Body temperature normalizes, muscle pain disappears a few hours after stinging.

But don’t just go to the apiary and make the bees angry. With self-bee treatment, you can get anaphylactic shock (an allergic reaction that can end in death), heart spasms, pressure surges. In addition, before substituting for the sting, it is imperative to check whether your body tolerates bee venom.

Snails

Place a couple of giant Achatina snails on your face – they slowly crawl, moving their “horns”, turning their heads back and forth, looking into your eyes and nostrils. After such a procedure, old age will come to you also slowly, because snails give eternal youth, says the website of one of the Moscow beauty salons. Their healing mucus is massage, peeling and nutrition.

Leeches

The leech is the only animal that official medicine has equated with drugs.