It's a bad reflection on immigration and international travel, but these could have contributed to the recent resurgence of the pesky bed bug in homes, hotels and transportation. PreWorld War II Americans were familiar with these insects but thanks to DDT, bed bug populations have nearly disappeared in the 40s and the 50s. During this period, bed bugs flourished in other parts of the world like Asia, Africa, Europe and Central and South America.

Most of today's younger generation have never even encountered a bed bug. However, true to its resilient characteristic, bed bugs are slowly letting us take notice of their presence. Other than hitching a ride on an international traveller's luggage, their reappearance may also be blamed partly on some changes in the practice of pest control and the use of weaker pesticides.

Meet the bugs

Bed bugs belong to the family Cimicidae and are tiny, flat, reddishbrown insects with small wings and a disagreeable odor. They resemble ticks and are sometimes mistaken for such. They are nocturnal insects and will only come out to feed, normally on blood from warmblooded animals like bats and birds and yes, humans. If the environment is right, bed bugs can produce up to four generations in one year.

Adult bugs are about 1 /4 inch long while young nymphs are much smaller and have a lighter color. Female bugs lay eggs in hidden crevices, averaging about five eggs a day. The eggs appear white and are extremely tiny, resembling specks of dust. When hatched, little bed bugs become nymphs which undergo five moltings before becoming adults.

Even as nymphs, bed bugs are already fed with blood to survive. A bed bug can complete its life cycle from egg to adult in about 30 days, as long as temperature and environment are favourable. In her lifetime, a female bed bug can lay as much as 500 eggs.

They cannot fly, but are fast surface crawlers, able to cover distances in a short time. Their flat bodies enable them to slip through tight cracks and crevices, allowing them to hide in the most impossible to reach places, including between mattresses, seams and box springs.

Bed bugs do not nest but instead prefer to hide in groups in common places. They prefer to stay in areas where access to food (that's us) is convenient. However, they are quite capable and willing to cross several feet of distance just to get to their meal.

How to know if you have bed bugs

Other than the telltale bites, the presence of dark spots and stains on areas where there are tiny cracks is a dead giveaway that bed bugs have landed. You might also find molted skins, tiny eggs and egg shells. You might also find some bloody spots on mattresses, sheets, chairs and walls. A bad infestation will give your home a musty smell, although this is often unnoticeable.

Why the bites should concern you a little

Bed bugs usually attack at night during sleep. A person will never feel their bite and feeding can last for as long as 10 minutes. They go for exposed areas of skin the face, neck, arms, hands and shoulders. Reactions to bites depend on each individual. Some develop a red swelling immediately while others don't have any symptoms or signs at all.

It is highly unlikely for bed bugs to transmit diseases through their bites. The only concern about them is that their bites produce annoying allergic reactions like redness, swelling and itching. To combat these, corticosteroids and antihistamines are used to alleviate symptoms, coupled with antibiotics to help prevent infection.

The myth of the bed bugs

These insects can drink their body weight in blood during a feeding that lasts five minutes. When full, they can survive for long periods without feeding. Nymphs can survive for several months while adults can go as long as a year.

This fact is missed by people who think that 'starving' the bed bugs will kill them. Some landlords even assure new tenants that a bug infested apartment is already safe to occupy because it remained vacant for several months. This is an unfortunate belief, because bed bugs are so much tougher than that.

A measure of control

Only a thorough inspection and application of pesticide can exterminate bed bugs. Since they hide in difficult to reach places, it is extremely important that these areas are treated. For a more complete treatment, it would be wise to get the help of professionals. They are more experienced in determining bed bug areas and using the right kind of pest control methods to rid you of bed bugs.

Bed bugs are one of the oldest bugs known to annoy humans and are in fact referred to in classical Greek texts dating back to Aristotle's time. The fact that they have continued to live among us is testament to their resilience. Like cockroaches, bed bugs may never be completely eradicated. All we need to do is try to control their population and apply treatment when necessity calls for it.