by Effie Moore Salem

Created on: September 27, 2010   Last Updated: October 18, 2010

Be suspicious of bed bug if you have red raised bumps on your arms and legs at night. These will be itchy yet otherwise hardly noticeable. Bed bugs, once scarcely a problem in the United States, are back and gaining fast control of beds everywhere. They are not easily identified. Once relatively unseen, and only then in areas free of pesticides and other toxins, they are making a comeback due to a resistant strain that no longer succumbs to the usual methods of bug eradication. They are hitching rides in suitcases and on clothes and on humans from places where they are more prevalent and have been allowed to roam wild.

How do they differ from other household pests? Are they pose health risk? They differ in that they are smaller, faster and are usually able to keep out of sight of detection. Since they feed on human blood they are to be suspected when a small itchy rash path is localized in some area. That could mean your arm, your calf, your backside has been a host for their mealtime. If several have been feasting on your blood, there may be several areas of little raised bumps and itchy patches all over your body.

As of yet, there are no health risk. And as for distinguishing them from the other bugs, they are smaller and the one identifying mark will be their habit, in the seams of the mattresses.  In years past, it was a common practice to routinely check mattresses for bed bugs. In the corners seemed to be a favorite hiding place.

They are about the size of an apple seed, are reddish brown, especially if they have just eaten. Apparently, if they are pale, closer to white than rust colored, it means they are hungry and are in need of your blood. The best way to protect yourself is be suspicious of their hideouts. When traveling, before you open your suitcase, inspect the mattress and other hiding places in the room. Look for their presence, and if found announce the fact to the establishment. Or leave and find a place where they have not taken up housekeeping. Don't stay around and make possible their next human roast!

How then do you recognize them. If the new adults bugs are the size of apple seeds, then the newly hatched ones are tiny yellow or white specks. The eggs are white and are in clusters of about fifty, more or less. In order to better detect them, use a magnifying glass when inspecting for their habitats. If found, they probably will only be totally eradicated by a pest control expert. They will be so plentiful before they are even detected

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