The Reason Why Bed Bugs Exist
The reason why bed bugs exist is simple – they need human blood to survive. This means that even the cleanest homes, motels, and hotels can have them. These little creatures don’t transmit disease, though they can carry parasites. One such parasite is Trypanosoma cruzi, which can cause heart failure.
Adult female bed bugs lay their eggs in secluded areas. They can lay as many as two to four eggs per day and deposit hundreds over their lifetime. The eggs are the size of a dust spec and stick to surfaces. The eggs hatch within a week when room temperature is right. The newly emerged nymphs weigh about a quarter of an ounce and shed their skin five times before they become adults.
Bed bugs are prehistoric in origin and predate the dinosaurs. They survived the asteroid that wiped out the dinosaurs. They also inhabited caves and fed on bats. Ancient Egyptians even used the insects as snake bite remedy. The bugs are still around today, even though they don’t interact with other animals.
Bedbugs can live anywhere, and they are extremely resilient. They are highly resistant to pesticides and can move up to 4 feet per minute. They can also survive in the cleanest environments.