How do you identify chigger bites. What are the most effective treatments for chigger bites. How can you prevent chigger bites while enjoying outdoor activities. What are the key differences between chigger bites and other insect bites. When should you seek medical attention for chigger bites.

Understanding Chiggers: Tiny Mites with a Big Bite

Chiggers, often referred to as “berry bugs” or “red bugs,” are microscopic mites that inhabit large portions of the United States, including the South, Great Plains, and Mid-Atlantic regions. Despite their bright red coloration, these tiny arachnids measure only about the size of a salt grain, making them nearly invisible to the naked eye.

Dr. Lee Townsend, professor emeritus of entomology at the University of Kentucky, explains, “Chiggers are a type of immature mite that spend time feeding on small mammals, and also on humans.” It’s important to note that while all chiggers are mites, not all mites are chiggers. Only certain species bite during their larval stage, earning the chigger moniker.

How do chiggers feed?

Unlike blood-sucking insects such as mosquitoes and ticks, chiggers have a different approach to feeding. They target skin cells and tissue, using their saliva to break down and digest these cellular components. This feeding process is what triggers the intense skin reaction associated with chigger bites.

Identifying Chigger Bites: Key Characteristics and Differences

Distinguishing chigger bites from other insect bites can be challenging, as individual reactions may vary. However, certain characteristics can help identify chigger bites more accurately:

• Intense itching: Chigger bites are notorious for causing extreme itchiness, often described as more intense than most other insect bites.
• Clustered appearance: Chiggers typically feed in groups, resulting in clusters of red welts rather than isolated bumps.
• Location preferences: These mites gravitate towards warm, moist areas of the body, such as sock lines, waistbands, armpits, and behind the knees.
• Delayed reaction: Unlike immediate mosquito bite swelling, chigger bite symptoms may take several hours to appear.

Dr. Michael Merchant, professor of entomology at Texas A&M University, notes, “If you see a pattern of bites only where your sock was, that’s probably chiggers.” This distinctive pattern can be a telltale sign of chigger activity.

Treating Chigger Bites: Relief and Recovery

While chigger bites can be uncomfortable and unsightly, they typically resolve on their own within a week, often in just a few days. The mites detach once they’ve finished feeding, leaving behind irritated skin that begins to heal.

What are effective home remedies for chigger bites?

Several home treatments can help alleviate the discomfort associated with chigger bites:

1. Hot shower: Taking a hot shower and thoroughly soaping the affected areas can remove any remaining chiggers and provide relief.
2. Calamine lotion: Applying topical calamine cream can help reduce itching.
3. Cold compresses: Using cold compresses on affected areas can numb the skin and reduce inflammation.
4. Oral antihistamines: Over-the-counter antihistamines like diphenhydramine (Benadryl) or cetirizine (Zyrtec) can help manage itching and swelling.
5. Rubbing alcohol: Applying rubbing alcohol to bites may provide temporary relief and help prevent infection.

When should you seek medical attention for chigger bites?

In most cases, chigger bites do not require medical intervention. However, there are situations where professional care may be necessary:

• Signs of infection: If swelling or redness worsens after several days, or if you notice fever or flu-like symptoms.
• Severe reactions: Hives, vomiting, or nausea may indicate a more serious allergic response.
• Persistent discomfort: If over-the-counter treatments fail to provide relief, a doctor can prescribe stronger medications.

In cases of severe itching or discomfort, doctors may prescribe topical steroids or even administer dilute steroid injections to provide relief.

Preventing Chigger Bites: Strategies for Outdoor Enthusiasts

Understanding chigger habitats and behavior is key to avoiding bites while enjoying outdoor activities. Chiggers thrive in shaded, overgrown areas with high humidity, such as forests and wild fields. They are less common in well-maintained, landscaped areas.

How can you protect yourself from chigger bites?

Implement these preventive measures to reduce your risk of chigger bites:

• Wear appropriate clothing: Long sleeves, long pants, and closed-toe shoes can create a barrier between your skin and chiggers.
• Use insect repellents: Apply EPA-approved repellents containing DEET, picaridin, or IR3535 to exposed skin and clothing.
• Treat clothing: Consider using permethrin-treated clothing or applying permethrin to your outdoor gear.
• Avoid high-risk areas: Stay on cleared trails and avoid brushing against tall grasses or overgrown vegetation.
• Shower after outdoor activities: Take a hot shower and thoroughly wash your clothes after spending time in chigger-prone areas.

Chiggers and Disease Transmission: Understanding the Risks

Unlike some other biting insects, chiggers in the United States do not transmit diseases to humans. Dr. Townsend confirms, “Chiggers can transmit diseases in some other parts of the world, but not here.” This fact provides some reassurance to those concerned about potential health risks associated with chigger bites.

What is the primary health concern with chigger bites?

The main health risk associated with chigger bites is the potential for secondary bacterial infections. These can occur if you scratch the bites excessively, breaking the skin and allowing bacteria to enter. To minimize this risk, avoid scratching bites and keep the affected areas clean and dry.

Chiggers vs. Other Biting Insects: Comparative Analysis

Understanding the differences between chigger bites and those of other insects can help in proper identification and treatment. Here’s a comparative look at some common biting pests:

Misconceptions About Chiggers: Debunking Common Myths

Several myths and misconceptions surround chiggers and their bites. Let’s address some of these to provide a clearer understanding of these tiny arachnids:

Do chiggers burrow under the skin?

Contrary to popular belief, chiggers do not burrow under the skin or lay eggs in human flesh. They attach to the skin surface and feed on dissolved skin cells before dropping off naturally.

Can you suffocate chiggers with nail polish?

Applying nail polish to chigger bites is an ineffective treatment. By the time bites appear, chiggers have already detached from the skin. Instead, focus on managing symptoms and preventing infection.

Are all red, itchy bites from chiggers?

Not all red, itchy bites are caused by chiggers. Various insects and environmental factors can produce similar symptoms. Consider the bite pattern, location, and your recent outdoor activities when attempting to identify the cause.

The Ecological Role of Chiggers: Beyond the Bite

While chiggers may be a nuisance to humans, they play an important role in their ecosystems. Understanding their place in the natural world can provide a broader perspective on these tiny creatures.

What is the ecological importance of chiggers?

Chiggers serve several ecological functions:

• Soil health: As part of the mite family, chiggers contribute to soil aeration and decomposition processes.
• Food source: They are a food source for various predatory insects and small animals.
• Population control: Chiggers help regulate populations of small mammals by feeding on them.

By fulfilling these roles, chiggers contribute to the balance and biodiversity of their habitats, despite their reputation as pests to humans.

Chiggers Around the World: Global Distribution and Variations

While this article focuses primarily on chiggers in the United States, it’s worth noting that these mites exist worldwide, with variations in species and behavior across different regions.

How do chiggers differ across global regions?

Chigger species vary globally, with some notable differences:

• Asia: Some Asian chigger species can transmit scrub typhus, a potentially serious bacterial infection.
• Australia: The Australian “scrub itch mite” causes similar symptoms to North American chiggers but belongs to a different genus.
• Europe: European chiggers are less common and typically cause milder reactions compared to their American counterparts.

These regional variations highlight the importance of understanding local chigger species and their potential health impacts when traveling or relocating to different parts of the world.

Innovative Approaches to Chigger Control and Management

As our understanding of chiggers and their behavior evolves, new strategies for control and management are emerging. These innovative approaches aim to reduce chigger populations and minimize human-chigger interactions in a sustainable manner.

What are some cutting-edge methods for chigger control?

Researchers and pest management professionals are exploring several promising avenues:

• Biological control: Introducing natural predators of chiggers to help regulate their populations.
• Habitat modification: Altering landscapes to make them less hospitable to chiggers without harming beneficial organisms.
• Pheromone traps: Developing traps that use chemical signals to attract and capture chiggers before they can bite.
• Plant-based repellents: Investigating natural compounds from plants that may repel chiggers effectively.

These approaches aim to provide more targeted and environmentally friendly alternatives to traditional chemical control methods.

The Future of Chigger Research: Emerging Trends and Potential Breakthroughs

As scientific understanding of chiggers continues to advance, new areas of research are opening up. These studies may lead to improved prevention, treatment, and management strategies for chigger bites.

What are some promising areas of chigger research?

Current and future research directions include:

• Genomic studies: Analyzing chigger DNA to better understand their biology and behavior.
• Improved diagnostics: Developing more accurate methods for identifying chigger bites and distinguishing them from other insect bites.
• Novel treatments: Exploring new compounds that could provide faster relief from chigger bite symptoms.
• Climate change impacts: Studying how changing environmental conditions may affect chigger populations and distribution.

These research efforts aim to enhance our ability to coexist with chiggers while minimizing their impact on human health and comfort.

How to Know When It’s a Chigger Bite

Sometimes called “berry bugs” or “red bugs,” chiggers populate large sections of the United States — including all of the South, the Great Plains, and the Mid-Atlantic. Though they’re often bright red in color, chiggers are only about the size of a grain of salt — making them almost impossible to spot either in the wild or on a person’s skin.

“Chiggers are a type of immature mite that spend time feeding on small mammals, and also on humans,” says Lee Townsend, PhD, a professor emeritus of entomology at the University of Kentucky in Lexington. Dr. Townsend says that there are many different species of mites, but only a few types that bite during their larval stage. It’s these that are referred to as chiggers. “Not all mites are chiggers, but all chiggers are mites,” he adds.

Unlike mosquitoes, ticks, and other biting bugs, chiggers don’t attach themselves to mammals in order to suck blood. Instead, chiggers feast on skin cells and tissue, Townsend explains. But much like mosquitoes and ticks, chiggers can induce a nasty skin reaction. That reaction, he says, comes from the chigger’s saliva, which they use to break down and digest the cells and tissues they devour.

RELATED: 7 Skin Conditions That Look Contagious, but Aren’t

Chigger Bites Look a Lot Like Other Bug Bites, So Here’s How to Correctly ID Them

As with all bug bites, there’s some person-to-person variation when it comes to chigger bites.

“Different people react differently to bites, so it can be really difficult to tell the difference between bites of things like mosquitoes from chiggers,” Townsend says. Especially if you’re bitten by a lone chigger, the red welt that forms may look more or less identical to a mosquito bite.

But there are bite characteristics that can show up that can help differentiate chiggers from other bugs. For one thing, chigger bites tend to take itchiness to a whole new level. “I don’t know of many things as intensely itchy as a chigger bite,” says Michael Merchant, PhD, a professor of entomology at Texas A&M University in Dallas.

Also, chiggers tend to latch onto a person’s skin in groups. You won’t be able to see them without the aid of a magnifying glass. But you may feel some irritation when they first start feeding. And the resulting bites often appear as clusters of red welts — as opposed to a single itchy lump or a red rash. (1) If you have a swath of itchy skin lumps that looks like many mosquito bites or welts, it’s a good bet you’re dealing with chiggers. (2)

Another characteristic of these bites: chiggers like to gather in areas that are hot and sweaty — like the insides of socks, at waistlines, inside armpits, or behind the knees, Dr. Merchant says. “If you see a pattern of bites only where your sock was, that’s probably chiggers,” he adds.

What Can I Do to Treat Chigger Bites and Relieve the Itching?

While itchy and uncomfortable — not to mention unsightly — chigger bites tend to resolve on their own within a week — and often within a few days. (3) “Once they’re done feeding, [chiggers] drop off on their own,” Townsend says. He recommends taking a hot shower and soaping the area thoroughly. (This can remove chiggers before they’ve had the chance to cause welts and irritation, he says.) Applying topical calamine cream can also help reduce the itch, he adds. So can cold compresses, oral antihistamines like diphenhydramine (Benadryl) or cetirizine (Zyrtec), and rubbing alcohol. (4)

RELATED: What Is an Antihistamine?

Do you need to see a doctor? In most cases, no. “Chiggers can transmit diseases in some other parts of the world, but not here,” Townsend says of domestic chiggers.

That said, chigger bites can put a person at risk for a secondary infection. That could happen if you scratch the bite (or bites) and break open the skin, allowing in bacteria, Merchant says.

If the swelling or redness around a bite is getting worse several days after it first appeared, or if you notice a fever or other flu-like symptoms, those may be signs of an infection. The same is true if the bite is leaking fluid, has developed a yellow, golden crust, or has become painful, or if you’re experiencing hives, vomiting, or nausea — see a doctor. (5)

Doctors can prescribe prescription topical steroids or even inject dilute steroids into intensely itchy bites if you don’t experience relief from over-the-counter options.

RELATED: Everything You Need to Know About Bug Bites and Disease

Yes, You Can Avoid Getting Chigger Bites and Still Enjoy the Outdoors

Chiggers usually live in shaded or overgrown areas like forests and wild fields, Townsend says. “They need shelter from the sun and they like high humidity, so they tend to like tall grasses and places where there are mice and small mammals around,” he says. “You’re not going to run into many of them out in mowed or landscaped areas.”

For that reason, keeping yards or outdoor areas well-tended and free of overgrowth and brush are effective ways to keep chigger populations to a minimum. Staying on walking paths — as opposed to making your way through tall grass or wilder areas — is another way to avoid picking up chiggers. (6)

If you’re going to be tramping through woods or picking fruit in a field, those are times when you’ll want to take extra precautions to guard yourself against chiggers. Townsend recommends wearing long pants and tucking them into your socks. “Repellents also help,” he says, mentioning common types like DEET, which is also used to repel mosquitoes and ticks. Be sure to use those repellents on your shoes and lower legs — places chiggers tend to latch on.

And again, taking a hot, soapy shower after you’ve been in chigger-infested areas can help remove them before they cause skin irritation, Townsend says.

Chiggers are a nuisance — and their bites can be incredibly itchy. But if you can resist scratching those bites, they don’t cause any long-term issues or health complications.

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All About Bedbugs | Everyday Health

Medically Reviewed

Good night, sleep tight. Don’t let the bedbugs bite.

The popular children’s rhyme gets it right: Bedbugs do most commonly feed on humans at night while they’re sleeping (though they can sometimes bite during the day), and they’re the type of pest you really don’t want to have to deal with. (1)

Bedbugs (or Cimex lectularius and Cimex hemipterus, their scientific names) are blood-feeding parasites that can be found all around the world. You mostly hear about them in urban areas or places with a great deal of occupant turnover, such as hotels, apartment buildings, and college dormitories, because that’s where they spread most easily. (1)

Bedbugs were nearly extinct after World War II thanks to the use of dichloro-diphenyl-trichloroethane (DDT). The United States banned DDT in 1972 because of its negative environmental effects, and the less-effective pesticides that came after it, along with a rise in international travel and immigration, has contributed to the bedbug resurgence we’re experiencing today. (3)

What Do Bedbugs Look Like, and How Do I Know I Have Them?

Bedbugs are reddish-brown insects that feed on blood, primarily blood from humans. (4) Bedbugs crawl, but cannot fly or jump like many other insects do. (1) Also unlike cockroaches and flies, bedbugs have no relationship with cleanliness and can be found in the cleanest homes and hotel rooms, says Scott Svenheim, an associate certified entomologist with Truly Nolen Pest Control in Tucson, Arizona.

“Many people believe that bedbugs are too small to see with the naked eye,” adds Jerry Lazarus, president of Braman Termite & Pest Elimination. Not so: Adult bedbugs range in size from 1 to 7 millimeters. But they’re very good at hiding. To spot them, you’ll have to catch them moving to or from their hiding spots, which can be hard to do, since they’re most active while people are sleeping. They have six legs and their bodies are small and flat, which makes it easy for them to hide within the cracks and crevices of your home.

Female bedbugs produce about one egg per day. The eggs are white and are very hard to see without magnification, Lazarus says. The eggs take about one week to hatch in rooms that are between 70 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit (F). The nymphs that hatch from those eggs look like adult bedbugs, but they’re smaller and are translucent until they have their first blood meal, Svenheim says. (1) The nymphs take about five weeks to mature, and during those five weeks they shed their skin five times, each time after feeding. (5)

Learn More About How to Know You Have Bedbugs

Bedbug Bites Can Be Intensely Itchy — or You May Not Even Notice Them

Bedbugs are sneaky insects. They bite in the middle of the night (usually about one hour before dawn), injecting an anesthetic and an anticoagulant that makes it painless and unlikely that you’ll feel a thing. After feeding for about five minutes, the bugs will retreat back to their hiding places.

For most people, the first sign of bedbugs is bites on the body. The bites will show up in any place that’s exposed while you sleep, such as the arms, legs, back, and neck.

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You could have a single bite, but more often it’s three bites in a row, forming somewhat of a line—what’s colloquially called “breakfast, lunch, and dinner” and is a telltale sign of bedbugs.

Bites can look different from person to person. “In some people, they can cause allergic reactions, although some people don’t react at all,” Lazarus says. In most cases, a bedbug bite looks a lot like a mosquito bite — a red, itchy bump on your skin that appears within 24 hours of your being bitten.

Though the idea of having bedbugs in your home can be troubling, the bugs themselves don’t pose a threat to your health (nor do their bites). (1) “These bites can’t spread disease to humans, but they can be itchy and uncomfortable,” says Steve Durham, president of EnviroCon Termite & Pest in Tomball, Texas.

You likely won’t need to visit a doctor as a result of getting bitten by a bedbug. (6) Usually, the bites will heal within two weeks on their own, though you may want to apply an anti-itch cream or corticosteroid cream to the area to relieve itchiness. (7)

If you experience an allergic reaction or the area shows signs of infection, such as if the area oozes pus, it may be time to visit a dermatologist. He or she will likely prescribe an antihistamine and corticosteroid to treat an allergic reaction, or an antiseptic or antibiotic ointment for an infection.

Learn More About Identifying and Treating Bedbug Bites

Bedbugs Are Notoriously Tough to Get Rid Of (But You CAN Do It)

“One of the main reasons people fear bedbug infestations more than most other pests is because they are notoriously tough to get rid of,” Durham says. That’s why many people turn to professionals for help. “Most do-it-yourself attempts end in failure and frustration, since over-the-counter products can be misapplied and infested areas can be easily missed,” Lazarus says. “Often, this means spending a lot of your own money and time and still having a problem.” (Plus, failure to correctly use DIY extermination products can be dangerous to your health and those you live with.)

If you decide to go the professional route, there are three common treatment options the pest control expert may take:

1. Insecticide Application Use of insecticides is the most common route to get rid of bedbugs. Treating bedbugs this way requires preparation, such as washing bedding and clothing and placing items that can’t be washed in garbage bags out in the hot sun. Sometimes, a few rounds of insecticides are needed to get rid of the bedbug population entirely.
2. Heat Remediation A pest control professional will heat the infected space to temperatures that kill bedbugs, usually between 120 and 130 degrees F. This method requires much less prep work than insecticide application and usually will successfully eliminate the bedbugs and the eggs on the first treatment, so there’s likely no need for a follow-up visit.
3. Fumigation This option is less commonly available. It works by injecting a vacated building with a gas that kills the bedbugs inside.

You can also try to apply insecticides yourself, though the products available to professionals are usually more effective than those available to consumers. When choosing a product, look for one that is registered with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and specifically lists bedbugs on the label. (8) You’ll likely need to do a few rounds of treatment, because it can be very difficult to find and kill bedbug eggs.

To successfully get rid of bedbugs, you need to be extremely thorough. “Bedbugs are excellent at hiding and will be in places where most people wouldn’t check — behind peeling wallpaper, in the rails of drawers, in hollow curtain rods, and in electronics,” Lazarus says. If even just one bedbug is left behind, you’ll still be in trouble, Durham says.

Learn More About How to Get Rid of Bedbugs

The Insecticides Used to Kill Bedbugs Can Be Harmful to People (and Pets), Too, if Used Incorrectly

It’s important to approach bedbug treatment carefully, because insecticides that are used to kill bedbugs can also be harmful to you if you’re exposed to unsafe levels. Symptoms of unsafe pesticide exposure include vomiting, dizziness, headaches, and trouble breathing. (9)

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When they’re used safely and according to the label, insecticides shouldn’t pose a threat to you or any other family members or pets you live with, Lazarus says. Insecticides are sold as dusts, liquids, aerosols, and foggers. There are also organic and natural products on the market, though some research has found they’re not as effective at killing bedbugs as traditional insecticides. (10)

If you hire a professional to treat the bedbugs in your home, you’ll want to ask them a few safety-related questions, including:

• What insecticides do you plan to use? You can look up the products yourself (or consult your doctor or vet about them) to see if there are any precautions you need to take. (11)
• Do you have a list of references? Call the references to ask about their experience working with this company.
• Are you a certified, licensed pesticide applicator or a licensed technician?
• Do you use integrated pest management techniques? This effective approach attacks bedbugs from all angles and treats them with a combination of heat, steam, and insecticides. (12)

Watch out for insecticide products sold over the internet that come from outside the U.S. — they may contain ingredients that have been banned by the EPA, which could mean health (and potentially legal) issues for you. (13)

Learn More About How to Deal With Bedbugs Safely

To Prevent Getting Bedbugs, Be Smart About How They Spread

Bedbugs are excellent hitchhikers. They grab onto luggage and purses or find hiding spots within folded clothes to make it back to your home. Getting them is just bad luck. “There is no real reason one person would get bedbugs over someone else,” Svenheim says. “It’s just being in the wrong place at the wrong time where bedbugs exist. ”

And they can exist everywhere, from restaurant booths to seats at the movie theater to changing rooms at the mall. “It’s really about being educated about what they are, how you can get them, and doing things the right way to prevent you from bringing them back to your house,” says Eric Braun, a board-certified entomologist and technical services manager for the national pest control company Rentokil.

There are some precautions you can take to minimize the chances that you’ll end up taking home a bedbug on your next trip.

• When you check into a hotel room or settle into a home rental, inspect the space for pepper-like stains on the bedsheets and mattress seams, Lazarus says. That’s a sign of bedbug activity. If you think your room may have bedbugs, ask for a new room that’s not next to or directly above or below your original room, Lazarus suggests.
• Keep your luggage away from the bed and off the floor. Braun says not to use luggage racks or unpack your clothing into the hotel room drawers. He says it’s safest to keep your luggage stored in the bathtub.
• If you notice bedbug bites while on your trip, be sure to wash the clothing from your suitcase (whether you wore it or not) and dry on hot for at least 30 minutes for the best chances to kill the bugs before they infest your home — and use a portable steamer to apply heat to suitcases and any items that cannot go in the dryer, Lazarus says.

Frequent travelers aren’t the only ones at risk of picking up a hitchhiking bedbug. People who live in apartment buildings and dormitories also have an increased risk (because higher rates of turnover and closer living quarters increase the chances bedbugs will have the opportunity to spread). Because of this, many universities recommend students wrap their mattress and box spring with a protective cover or mattress encasement to keep bedbugs out. (14) Look for ones made of high-quality cloth, which won’t tear as easily as plastic.

People living in apartments should also consider adding a door sweep to their front door to minimize the chances that bedbugs will sneak in from the communal hallway. (15) Keeping cracks around electrical work or plumbing filled also gives the bedbugs fewer places to break in. (16)

Finally, be careful not to bring bedbugs into your home through secondhand furniture by inspecting the items before you purchase them.

Learn More About How to Prevent Bedbugs

Having Bedbugs Can Come With an Emotional Toll. Here’s What to Do About It

Bedbug infestations are treatable, and the bugs themselves don’t pose a threat to your health, but having to deal with bedbugs can be very stressful.

“Having an actual bedbug infestation is pretty psychologically traumatizing in general,” says Katherine Maloy, MD, a clinical assistant professor of psychiatry at NYU Langone Health in New York City. “It’s extremely overwhelming — even just the logistics of getting your home cleaned — and it takes a very long time because the bugs have a long dormancy period in which they can go without food.” In the right conditions, bedbugs can live for more than a year without feeding.

Wondering if they’re truly gone or not can cause a lot of anxiety. People dealing with bedbugs may also experience: (17,18)

• Difficulty sleeping
• Nightmares
• Depression
• Social isolation
• Flashbacks

RELATED: When Doctors Diagnose ‘Bedbug Psychosis’

Additionally, dealing with bedbugs can make existing mental health issues worse. Researchers say the toll the experience takes on one’s mental health is similar to post-traumatic stress disorder. (19)

Dr. Maloy says if you’re dealing with bedbugs, talk to someone you trust, and visit a professional if it’s really taking a toll on your life. “It’s the same as with anything else that’s causing distress,” Maloy says. “If it’s interfering with your functioning, if it’s interfering with your life, it’s interfering with your relationships and your work, if you’re not able to function because you’re not sleeping,” she says — it’s time to seek help.

Learn More About Getting Over the Mental Distress Bedbugs Can Bring

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Editorial Sources and Fact-Checking

1. Bed Bugs. University of Kentucky College of Agriculture, Food and Environment. July 2020.
2. Deleted, August 4, 2022.
3. DDT  — A Brief History and Status. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). April 21, 2022.
4. Bed Bugs FAQs. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. September 16, 2020.
5. Bed Bug FAQs. Cornell College of Agriculture and Life Sciences.
6. Bedbugs: Diagnosis & Treatment. Mayo Clinic. April 9, 2022.
7. Bedbugs: Who Gets and Causes. American Academy of Dermatology.
8. Do-It-Yourself Bed Bug Control. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). June 1, 2022.
9. Sarwar M. Indoor Risks of Pesticide Uses Are Significantly Linked to Hazards of the Family Members. Cogent Medicine. March 9, 2016.
10. Goddard J. Long-Term Efficacy of Various Natural or “Green” Insecticides Against Bed Bugs: A Double-Blind Study. Insects. December 2014.
11. Tips for Selecting a Pest Control Service. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). July 6, 2022.
12. How to Select a Bed Bug Control Provider [PDF]. Texas A&M AgriLife Extension. June 2013.
13. Bed Bug Treatment Using Insecticides [PDF]. Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.
14. Pest Management and Vector Control for Zoonotic and Vector-Borne Disease. Indiana University.
15. Protecting Your Home From Bed Bugs. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). September 13, 2021.
16. How to Prevent Bed Bugs From Entering Your Home. University of Minnesota.
17. Burrows S, Perron S, Susser S. Suicide Following an Infestation of Bed Bugs. American Journal of Case Reports. May 29, 2013.
18. Susser SR, Perron S, Fournier M, et al. Mental Health Effects From Urban Bed Bug Infestation (Cimex Lectularius L. ): A Cross-Sectional Study. BMJ Open.
19. Goddard J, de Shazo R. Psychological Effects of Bed Bug Attacks (Cimex Lectularius L.) The American Journal of Medicine. January 1, 2012.

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Top 20 insects in an apartment and a country house: names with photos

For insects, the human home is the whole world. Here they hide, find food, multiply and die. Some of them are harmless, others cause some discomfort, others are harmful or even dangerous. And although, theoretically, any insect can get into the apartment, there are species that have firmly established themselves next to people. In most cases, a person himself creates suitable conditions for them:

• food leftovers in sinks, dishes, trash cans;
• occasional cleaning;
• presence of places with high humidity;
• gaps and cracks in skirting boards, walls, wallpaper.

Cockroaches

This is a classic type of synanthropic insect. In the dwelling you can find two main types of cockroaches – black and red . Red is more viable and actively replaces black. Prussian came to Europe in the 18th century from South Asia and is now found everywhere. Cockroaches contaminate and destroy food, can carry some diseases, and have a repulsive appearance. The growth of their numbers can be very fast and the fight against them turns into a real war. You can use dozens of folk methods or factory preparations. Among them:

• boric acid;
• various traps;
• ammonia;
• sprays, aerosols, gels and crayons.

Follow the manufacturer’s recommendations to obtain the result, and process several times . Well proven

cockroach and ant gel Offline Tarakanoff

. It is easy to apply, has a long lasting effect, and the active substance is transferred between insects.

Ants

The ants themselves do not pose a serious danger, but a huge number of scurrying small insects causes discomfort. Moreover, they penetrate into the smallest cracks and climb into almost all products. Some species inflict rather painful bites . In dwellings there are mainly black, red and red ants . The life of all ants is built around the “queen” – the main female, reproducing offspring.

Therefore, if there are many ants, following their path, you can find a place, where is the main socket . The destruction of the colony must begin from this place, since the fight against single ants is ineffective.
To remove these insects, baits with boric acid, traps and crayons are used. However, these methods do not give quick results. If it was possible to reliably establish the center of the colony, it is better to treat it with modern aerosols or sprays.

Clothes moth

Clothes moth is widespread throughout the world. Damaged clothes made of wool or silk are the hallmark of the caterpillars of this nondescript moth. At dusk or turning on the light at night, you can sometimes see a small butterfly fluttering around the apartment. These are, as a rule, males that do not pose a particular danger and do not have a gnawing mouth apparatus.
Females lay their eggs in the folds of clothing made from natural materials. This requires three conditions – the absence of drafts, humidity and a comfortable temperature. Therefore, wardrobes with winter clothes, rarely opened in summer, are an ideal place for moth development.
As a preventive measure, regular airing and drying of linen and wardrobes can be recommended. Repellent odorants work well:

• citrus peels;
• dry lavender.

In case of severe damage, it is already worth using strong insecticides. Some products, such as Dr. Klaus moth spray, have a combined effect. It can be used both for killing moths and larvae and as a long-lasting repellent.

Food moth

All kinds of cereals, dried fruits or nuts are the subject of food moth encroachments. It does not have a silvery tint on the wings, it is smaller than clothes, and the overall color may vary depending on the species. The larva is a small, white worm.

If flying small moths are found near food storage places, it is necessary to immediately revise stored cereals, flour, pasta, nuts, etc., especially those that have not been used for a long time . When larvae and cocoons are found, it is better to dispose of the products in which they are found. Storage areas should be thoroughly washed and treated with special means.

Ground beetle

Ground beetles belong to one of the largest families and live in all climatic zones . These are, as a rule, rather large beetles (as seen in the photo), running and flying well. During the year in our climate, they have time to give offspring only once.

For the most part, ground beetles are harmless to both humans and cultivated plants, although there are species that cause some damage to young plantings . The most dangerous of them is grain ground beetle , which eats grains of cereals. It is controlled with the help of pesticides. Predatory ground beetles, on the contrary, benefit by eating small pests. A beetle that has entered the house can simply be caught and released, since their numbers are rarely high.

Spider

Human attitude towards spiders is traditionally negative, due to multiple superstitions. In fact, we do not have dangerous species of these arthropods. Great inconvenience is caused by the traces of their life activity – the web , which does not characterize the owners of the house from the best side. Destroying flying insects, spiders bring undoubted benefits, but their very presence in the apartment causes discomfort.

The most effective way to deal with spiders is to keep your home clean. Destroying the web, a person forces the spider to look for more comfortable conditions elsewhere.

Silverfish

This representative of the bristletail appeared in the tropics. And in apartments, the silverfish chooses places that remind her of her ancestral home – with high humidity and a temperature of . She is nocturnal and cannot tolerate bright light . The silverfish does not fly, but runs fast enough. Its appearance resembles ancient crustaceans – a spindle-shaped, flattened body, divided into segments.

Eating sugar, flour, wood glue, paper and leather, the insect brings, albeit insignificant, harm. The damage from silverfish becomes high only when the insect population increases greatly. Moreover, it is difficult to track this, as these are extremely secretive animals.
To eliminate insects, repellents, traps and some chemicals are used.

Earwig

The most famous European earwig , which sometimes enters country houses, where it takes refuge under flower pots or plant leaves. This insect is easy to identify by paired “forceps” on the abdomen, which serve it for hunting and protection. The earwig can harm plants by eating shoots, flowers, and buds. But it also helps well in the fight against ticks, aphids and other small pests.

Pliers

These are the closest relatives of spiders, differing from them in small sizes and some nuances in the structure of the body. The most famous spider mites are serious pests of indoor plants.

The spider mite feeds on the juice of indoor plants, which in advanced cases can lead to drying. For the destruction of ticks, folk remedies and factory preparations are used.

Dust pliers

Microscopic arachnids , whose size does not exceed 0. 3 mm . This is a permanent neighbor of a person, the existence of which many do not even know. Dust mites feed on dead human skin .

It does not directly harm people, but with a high population, allergic reactions to its secretions are possible. It is unrealistic to completely remove dust mites, you can only reduce their number. To do this, you need to often carry out wet cleaning of places where dust accumulates, vacuum and wash the bed in time, clean upholstered furniture and outerwear. You can also periodically treat the surface with special tools.

Bed bugs

When bedbugs appear in the apartment, the owners understand that there is a serious problem. The neighborhood of these insects means painful bites, allergies, repulsive smell . The size of the bug depends on its filling with blood, in the normal state its length does not exceed 3 mm, after saturation it can reach 8 mm. Initially, it seems to have lived in the Middle East, but eventually spread throughout the world.

Bed bug lifespan , for an insect, large enough – about 1 year . This species is very hardy, adapts well to adverse conditions, can migrate, uses a variety of shelters and donor hosts. You can remove bedbugs yourself, using high-quality modern means. So, spray from fleas and bedbugs Dr.Klaus need to process the seams and folds of furniture, skirting boards, and other secluded places. The procedure must be carried out repeatedly, since drugs do not work on dormant eggs, and about 2 weeks pass from laying to leaving the egg.

Flea

Now there are more than 2000 species of fleas. This insect is well known to those who have pets, since most often it is cats and dogs that are its owner . Fleas feed exclusively on the blood of warm-blooded animals. With high fecundity, they reproduce very quickly and cause great inconvenience to both animals and humans. Found on all continents. For the treatment of premises, various drops, sprays and aerosol insecticides are more often used.

Cricket

In appearance, the cricket resembles a hybrid of a cockroach and a grasshopper . The homeland of the insect is the Far East and North Africa, now it is distributed everywhere, except for Antarctica. The length of an adult individual reaches 25 mm.

Everyone heard the “singing” of a cricket live or in a movie. This property of them can cause inconvenience at night. As a rule, crickets penetrate living quarters closer to autumn, remaining in fields and gardens in summer. Although they feed on organic food, they do not cause much damage due to their scarcity. Therefore, they are not engaged in a targeted fight against them.

Louse

A small parasite, up to 5 mm long, has been a satellite of man since ancient times. It causes a lot of nuisance with itchy bites and is a carrier of many dangerous diseases. The short life span of the louse is compensated by the incredible fecundity and short development cycle for such a small insect. The oral apparatus is of a piercing-sucking type.
Pediculosis, although it develops more often in unsanitary conditions, can be “found” anywhere – from the pool to shops. On a person, lice are destroyed with special ointments, gels and shampoos. Things that a pediculosis patient has come into contact with can be washed in hot water or put in plastic bags and left for a week. During this time, adults and nits die of hunger.

Book louse

One of the smallest insects, reaching only 1 mm in length. In the house, the book louse can be found in the bindings of old books, which is why it got its name. There she feeds on glue made with organic ingredients. In addition, she can eat mold and fungi. Prefers places with high humidity and temperature. The most effective treatment with aerosols and mechanical cleaning.

Fly

In houses, the most common housefly is a medium-sized two-winged fly. This insect annoys with its importunity, is a carrier of diseases, spoils food and pollutes any surface .
High fecundity and omnivorousness make its neighborhood extremely unpleasant.
The most effective means are the treatment of premises with sprayed preparations and the installation of stationary traps – tapes. Effective tapes contain fly attractants in addition to adhesive composition . has these qualities
fly tape Super Offline Muhoff .

Centipede

In damp and warm basements, in sewer niches, attics, these insect relatives can be found, quickly rearranging several pairs of legs. Centipedes, more specifically centipedes , include hundreds of species, many of which can be found at home. For humans, they do not pose a danger, although they can bite sensitively if disturbed . The main “meal” for them is rotting vegetation or other invertebrates . If you don’t like such tenants, you should clean the technical rooms more often and ventilate them.

Kozheed

The size of these beetles varies from 1 to 10 mm, depending on the species. One of the most dangerous household pests . Since the family has about 600 species, it has “specialists” in eating everything that a person has:

• powdered milk and cheese;
• cereals and pasta;
• furs and wool;
• skins and dried fish;
• any biological collections and other dehydrated organic food.

The struggle lies in the constant inspection of any natural products and the protective treatment of stored products.

Mosquitoes

In the warm season, the mosquito is perhaps the most important enemy in apartments and, especially, country houses. Small insect, due to its high numbers, can make any vacation unbearable . A flying mosquito creates a thin squeak due to the high speed of flapping its wings. Mosquitoes develop very quickly, depending on the temperature of the water, it takes from two to eight days for an adult insect to emerge from an egg.

Mosquito control methods are many, ranging from repellents applied to skin and clothing, to fumigators and glow coils. The number of mosquitoes in a country house is affected by the presence of nearby small, well-heated reservoirs.

Springtail

Small arthropods are most often found in the soil of indoor plants . Their main food is decomposing plant remains, mosses and lichens .

Sometimes tender shoots of living plants are damaged. They are very widely distributed and belong to one of the most ancient animals. Springtails are one of the humus-forming agents, therefore they even bring benefits in open ground . For an adult plant, they are not dangerous, and when growing seedlings, you need to use proven land without rotted organic matter.

Insects, as very plastic and flexible creatures, will always be next to a person. They live not only in a village house, but also in the new urban skyscrapers. However, it is possible and necessary to control their numbers and fight them, if necessary.

Insects in the bed: what are they, why do they appear?

There are many creatures in the world who prefer to stay close to a person who always has food and water available. Often people act as food for various inhabitants of the animal world. The most common situation is the occurrence of arthropods in the bed. We’ll talk about this.

Contents:

• Key features;
• Who bites us in bed?
• What do all species have in common?
• Control methods;
• Summary.

General features

Small creatures are rarely seen with the eyes. Most often, the consequences of their stay are found – these are insect bites in bed, shed scales, red spots on the sheets, eggs. In the event of an attack by blood-sucking individuals, which basically happens, the traces itch a lot. Their shape and appearance directly depends on the variety of the inhabitant of your house or apartment. Let’s take a closer look.

Insects bite in the bed, do you want to know what kind?

Mosquitoes and mosquitoes are visible to the naked eye. And they don’t sleep in the bed with us. After making sure that these two types of “vampires” are not involved in the bitten skin, one should sin on other creatures. Below is a complete list of what arthropods bite you in bed. There aren’t many of them. Look.

Blood-sucking

Fleas: It is a mistake to think that the gastronomic preferences of this type of blood-sucking animal are limited to cats and dogs. They are happy to feast on people, especially preferring small children. Look at the distinguishing features of bites:

• The attack site is mainly the legs. If you crush a flea with your hand or stomach, it will bite you with pleasure;
• Activity – attack at any time, including at night;
• Appearance – come to the apartment with pets. They can live in mattresses and sofas, because by nature they love warmth. Able to settle in rags, behind wallpaper, under floors.

Bites are erratic and itchy, much more intense than mosquito bites. Small jumpers have a fairly strong shell, so they can only be crushed by squeezing between the nails. They live from 1 to 18 months, due to which the population can increase significantly if extermination is not carried out in time.

Bed bugs: are small (3-8 mm) creatures that are not mechanically affected. They drink blood with the help of a trunk, thanks to which the traces are indistinguishable from mosquitoes. Getting rid of them with improvised means is almost impossible. Vampires operate exclusively at night, crawling out of furniture and even flower pots. One individual bites several times a night, and the face of people also suffers.

Lice: we are talking about a linen variety, which, for unknown reasons, has become more and more common. Previously, it was believed that the creature appears due to unsanitary conditions, but this theory was not confirmed. Living creatures move on things – you could spend the night in a hotel and bring it home, or a friend brought “guests” with him. Unlike ordinary lice, these do not live on a person.

Others

Bed bug on hand

Insects bite us in bed not only because they want to eat. Some species are simply defensive. Often we are asked to exterminate ants in the house. In addition to spoiling food, they also run in the face. In fact, the problem lies in the availability of food near the bed. Some put sweet tea on the bedside table, others crunch on their favorite pillow, leaving crumbs. In this case, there is no need to be afraid of cockroaches, because they are quite careful and prefer not to approach a person. Although, in the practice of the company, there were neglected cases when the mustachios fell on people from the ceiling, even if they did not bite.

What do all species have in common?

They don’t sit in one place. Some people mistakenly believe that by soaking sheets and other linen in special preparations, they will get rid of adversity. In fact, after a few days, the problem returns. Let’s evaluate the various methods of destruction.

Control methods

Household: fumigators help against mosquitoes. They require constant charging with plates or liquid. The type of drugs in most cases is unknown, and therefore can harm people. Regardless of the type of insect, stores offer approximately one set of products. Look at them:

• Sprays don’t work. Even modern installations that evaporate substances do not help for a long time. They will kill 50-60% of the individuals, but the rest will continue to breed;
• Ampoules – sold in veterinary pharmacies. They are used for washing dogs, but are also offered for processing at home. Since you won’t be able to cover the entire area, including the areas behind the baseboards, it’s not worth talking about efficiency.

The list is pointless to continue. All means have 2 drawbacks – local impact (not all insects are destroyed) and outdated formulations. Loud statements by advertisers are nothing more than an attempt to extract money from gullible people. With the same success, you can believe the banners telling about the miraculous effect of baking soda. Most likely, on some site there is already an announcement like: “Fleas ate an old woman, but it was only necessary …” and then a photo of a white-orange box is displayed. It won’t work.

Professional: at the moment it is 1 and gives a 100% result, which is confirmed by a guarantee. This is a method of processing houses and apartments using a fog generator. The method has 3 advantages described below:

• The complexity of the effect – sprayed preparations contain 2 components. These are mammalian-friendly ingredients designed to kill adults and laying eggs. As well as repellents that create a barrier against the invasion of new hordes. If a flea is on your clothes, it will prefer to jump off you than to get into the danger zone;
• Duration of exposure – the duration of the activity of substances lasts up to 2 months. Easy to clean, wash floors, etc.;
• Settling efficiency – particle size does not exceed 80 microns. They penetrate outlets and even appliances.