Bed Bug Alert: Fighting Bed Bugs in the State of New Jersey

For many Americans, there is nothing more painfully irritating than getting bitten by bed bugs. Each year, thousands of people get bit by these miniscule pests, which are so small that they often go unnoticed until they bite. The common bed bug, or the Cimex lectularius, is a small parasitic insect that belongs to the cimicidae family. It feeds exclusively on blood, particularly human blood, although some members of the species have also been known to feed on the blood of other warm-blooded animals.

Bed bugs are so named because of their proclivity to reside in warm areas near or inside beds, bed sheets, mattresses, and other sleeping areas. These insects are mainly active at night, and are also attracted by the carbon dioxide that humans exhale while sleeping. They are highly elusive and difficult to see with the naked eye, as they would often prefer to live in cracks and small crevices. The average adult is light brown to reddish in color, flattened, and has a basic oval shape. They can grow to a length of four to five millimeters, and have a lifespan of approximately a year, although this can vary depending on the species. When crushed, bed bugs emit their characteristic foul odor. Bed bugs can survive without a blood meal for about a year, although they would normally try to feed within five to ten days.

A bed bug’s bite is generally painless, because each bite delivers a small amount of anesthetic and anticoagulants. However, bed bug bites are known to have a number of adverse effects such as severe itching and inflammation of the skin, as well as various allergic reactions. Bed bugs have been regarded as human parasites for thousands of years. As the number of bed bug infestations of human habitats rise, the number of bed bug bites and other related conditions such as rashes and skin inflammations also increase. Many public establishments such as movie theaters and restaurants have been closed down because of uncontrollable and repeated bed bug infestations. Despite their small size, bed bugs have proven to be one of the biggest pest problems in the US.

In the US, bed bug infestations have become a recurring problem in many states since the 1990’s, even though it was believed that they have been eradicated in most developed countries in the 1940’s. In New Jersey, a state where the population density is one of the country’s largest, the number of bed bug infestations is once again on the rise. Bed bugs quickly spread from one home to another simply by stowing away on clothes or luggage. Many places in New Jersey other than people’s residences, such as movie theaters, offices, and restaurants, can be a place where bed bugs live in, just waiting to be brought home by an unsuspecting host. In recent years, infestations by NJ bed bugs have increased significantly, which is one reason why NJ bed bugs are the focus of attention for many exterminators and pest control companies in the state today.