Bedbugs Overview
Bedbugs, also known as Cimex lectularius, are small, wingless insects that feed on human blood. Usually at night while a person sleeps. Despite their name, bedbugs can infest many areas, including mattresses, bed frames, furniture, clothing, curtains, and cracks in walls or floors.
They are not known to transmit diseases, but they can cause significant physical discomfort and emotional distress. Their bites often result in itchy welts, skin irritation, and in some cases, allergic reactions or secondary infections from scratching.
Bedbugs are flat, oval-shaped, and reddish-brown in colour. Adults are about the size of an apple seed, while younger nymphs are smaller and lighter in shade. They are hardy pests, capable of surviving for months without feeding and hiding in extremely small crevices. Which makes them difficult to detect and eliminate.
Common signs of bedbugs include:
- Red, itchy bites in a line or cluster
- Small blood stains on bedding or pillowcases
- Dark or rusty spots of bedbug excrement on sheets or mattresses
- Musty odour from bedbug scent glands
- Shed skins or eggs in mattress seams and cracks
While bedbugs are often associated with poor hygiene or poverty, they can infest any environment. Including clean, well-maintained homes, hotels, and public transport. In South Africa, rising urban density, shared housing, and increased travel have contributed to a resurgence in bedbug infestations. Furthermore, particularly in hostels, shelters, and densely populated city flats.
Though bedbugs don’t spread disease, their presence can cause anxiety, insomnia, embarrassment, and stress. Particularly, in households with children, elderly individuals, or people with allergies.
Prompt detection and proper treatment are critical for controlling bedbug infestations and preventing them from spreading to neighbouring homes or public spaces.
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