A healthy sleep schedule is one of the most important things to maintain, and if there’s one type of pest that can ruin your bedtime, it’s bed bugs. These pests don’t make your bed uncomfortable, but Hawaii residents quickly find it hard to fall asleep when they realize these blood-sucking pests keep biting them every night.
Are bed bugs dangerous? It depends on who you ask, but let’s discuss the possible ways that bed bugs can cause problems in your Hawaii household, and what you can do to keep them out.
Bed Bug Identification Guide
If there’s one word to describe these obnoxious insects, it’s small. Bed bugs typically measure only around 4.5mm long. Bed bugs have flat, apple seed-shaped bodies that range between red and brown. They are wingless, have six legs, and though they often go undetected in households, you may see them at dawn or dusk near your bed or furniture.
Since these insects are so small and don’t move very fast, how did they end up in your home? Bed bugs are “hitchhikers,” meaning they travel by latching on to things. A very likely scenario is that you picked bed bugs (or their eggs) up in a highly-populated area, such as on public transportation, in an office setting, at a doctor’s office, or in the grocery store. The pests went home with you then found a dark corner to hide in until sundown. Bed bugs can also be picked up through online shopping, hitching a ride in packages or cardboard boxes.
So, Are Bed Bugs Dangerous?
Bed bugs rely on mammal blood for nourishment, which is why they bite you in your sleep. Since these pests are drawing your blood, it makes sense to ask the question: can bed bugs transmit disease? Researchers are still trying to figure this out. There is no conclusive evidence that bed bugs host any sort of transmissible diseases, but entomologists have a lot to learn about these tiny critters.
Although these pests may not carry any human pathogens, prolonged bed bug infestations can eventually lead to anemia as a result of losing blood and nutrients. Bed bugs also bring a psychological toll with them. Having a bed bug infestation can result in insomnia and mental health concerns. Finally, scratching at bug bites can lead to secondary infections, especially if your scratches start to draw blood. Although we don’t know everything about the health tolls that bed bugs carry, one thing is clear: homeowners want to prevent these pests from getting indoors.
Bed Bug Prevention Tips
Once these tiny hitchhikers make their way into your home, they’re incredibly hard to get out. Because bed bugs are so small, they can hide in just about any crack or crevice. So, how do you keep bed bugs at bay? Consider the following:
- Reduce household clutter. Bed bugs hide where it’s dark and cool, so piles of clothes or other objects make great daytime hiding spots.
- Vacuum regularly. These pests are likely to hang out in carpeting and areas around your furniture, and a good vacuum can certainly pick many of them up.
Inspect your bags and packages when you get home. Since bed bugs hitchhike from public spaces, it’s good practice to examine any new objects that enter your house.
- Buy a mattress encasement. An encasement zips on top of your mattress so that, in case you do get bed bugs, you can wash the encasement without the risk of bed bugs camping out on your mattress.
While these tips can certainly lower your risk of an infestation, bed bugs are persistent and hard to detect, so sometimes they slip inside without you noticing. If this happens to your Hawaii home, contact the pest professionals at Bullseye K-9 Detection.