Why bedbugs do not bite everyone: reasons, interesting facts

Bedbugs are ectoparasites whose food source is exclusively human blood. There is a widespread belief in society that blood-sucking insects attack only some family members, ignoring others.

To support this theoretical statement, one can cite facts such as the absence of bite marks on some people and many marks on the skin of children. In fact, the myth that bedbugs bite some people and not others is another mass misconception.

Parasites do not show selectivity when choosing a victim, but it is still possible to identify some factors that will reduce the likelihood of an attack by bed bugs.

Who do bloodsuckers prefer?

Many people are interested in why bedbugs bite some people and not others. These insects feed only on blood. To get it, they attack sleeping people. Why don't bedbugs bite everyone? This is due to the fact that pests have their own preferences. Most often they attack people who do not recognize pajama suits. Those sleeping without blankets are also victims. In these cases, insects do not need to look for open areas of the body. Sleepers are attacked so that they can drink blood.

The explanation why bedbugs do not bite everyone is also associated with age. Children are often victims. Moreover, the younger the age, the greater the risk. Children's skin is thin and delicate, which makes it easier for them to find insect food. Why bedbugs do not bite everyone depends on gender. Insects often attack women. Their skin is much thinner than that of men. Pests smell blood well. Men are bitten less frequently by bedbugs. But blood type does not affect this.

Why do bedbugs bite children more often?

Despite the fact that bedbugs bite everyone and not selectively, children are more susceptible to attack by parasites. This is due to thin skin, the absence of sharp specific odors of hygiene products, and increased blood flow.

In addition, babies often throw off the blanket in their sleep, which provides parasites with unhindered access to the skin.

All statements given above are not based on scientifically proven facts . Arthropods attack all people, focusing on the carbon dioxide released by humans during sleep.

Myths about the selectivity of bloodsuckers are a consequence of the fact that some people have less sensitive skin on which bite marks do not remain. As for children, traces of parasite attacks on children's skin are characterized by severe symptoms.

Danger

When considering the topic of why bedbugs do not bite all people, you should familiarize yourself with the signs of damage. This is not difficult to determine. There will be a trail of red spots on the skin. The affected area is itchy. But you should not scratch it, so as not to cause an infection, which leads to more pain and causes inflammation.

To eliminate the consequences of bites, use water and soap. After washing the skin, treat the painful area with natural oil or soothing ointment. Alcohol-containing formulations are suitable. Antihistamines can help reduce inflammation:

"Diazolin." "Diphenhydramine." "Suprastin".

But before taking these medications, it is advisable to consult a doctor. When choosing a room to sleep in, you should inspect the space and the bed. This should be done especially in inexpensive hotels.

After sleep, some people notice chains of swelling on themselves. This is bed bug damage. They lead to pain and itching. If you don't touch them, they will disappear. The reason bed bugs don't bite some people has to do with timing. These bloodsuckers are active at 3-5 am. At other times they hide.

The principle of choosing victims for bedbugs

The bedbug is a parasite that is difficult to remove. This is determined by its specific behavior and characteristics of leading a hidden parasitic lifestyle. This behavior imposes quite a lot of restrictions on the parasite. For example, bedbugs rarely move from apartment to apartment unless there are compelling reasons for this - hunger/cold/chemicals. They most often nest right under the bed, in folds of fabric or under the carpet. An important criterion for choosing a position is proximity to the food source - to a person.

But few people miss the fact that it is not only the distance to “feeding” that is important to the parasite.

Actually, this is precisely the reason for such pickiness when choosing a victim. Bedbugs can bite a small child or wife to the point of complete redness, but at the same time they will not touch the husband and his parents. This, by the way, is where many myths regarding the pickiness of bedbugs were born. Some argue that parasites ignore those who abuse alcohol heavily, while others claim that they do not bite sick people or those with AIDS or a very rare blood type. But this is all nonsense. Bedbugs are not sophisticated gentlemen in monocles, but ordinary parasites. Bed bugs (or as they are also called “linen bugs”) don’t care what kind of blood you have, what you are infected with and how much alcohol you pour into yourself every day. No, I'm lying - they care. Bedbugs happily eat drunk people, because they sleep very soundly and hardly move in their sleep.

And they care about how much carbon dioxide you emit at night, how far away your bed is, your age, and even your smell. The fact is that when choosing a victim, they always rely on smell. But let's take it in order.

Why do bedbugs choose a victim and do not bite everyone?

1. Logistics

Having settled in a crack in the floor or in a sofa in the living room, bedbugs will travel at night to where one of the people is closest. Logistics is the first and most significant reason why parasites navigate and set goals. Simply put, they don't have to cross the entire hallway to get to the other end of the house to get at someone in particular. However, over time, bedbugs will definitely get to everyone. After successful reproduction, their offspring will rush to take new places in the living space, still focusing on distance.

2. Skin thickness

Age is also a selection criterion. Almost always, bed bugs look for victims with delicate skin. This makes it easier for them to pierce it and eat without making many punctures and, in fact, taking less risk. Of course, all children and women whose skin is naturally thinner and softer are included in the priority list. Therefore, if the parasite gets to the bed where a husband and wife are sleeping, the wife will be the first to get it. It’s not a fact that the husband won’t get a couple of bites, but the wife will definitely have more punctures and they will be much more painful. In this regard, children are in first place on the list of priorities, so often they become victims of the parasite, and the matter does not reach adults.

3. Smells

The sense of smell is the tool with which bed bugs not only make their way to victims, but also navigate in space. Any pungent odor brings them out of their normal state, interfering not only with hunting, but also with reproduction. All so-called “probable irritants” necessarily have a complex and persistent odor. Therefore, all means that can repel bedbugs essentially work. It’s worth clarifying: you won’t be able to fool the parasite for long, and it certainly can’t be removed in this way. Over time, even bedbugs will no longer be afraid of pungent aromas; they will definitely bite everyone for whom odors do not cause so much discomfort. The order of adaptation depends on the concentration and conditions, but in general you can keep the parasite in shock for up to a week.

Therefore, any strong smell: perfume, eau de toilette, deodorants, the smell of soap, alcohol, etc. - everything repels the parasite. As a result, the focus shifts towards those who are not enveloped in a strong aroma. Most often, this is why a wife who has put on pomade at night may not get a single puncture, but the husband lying next to him on the sofa will turn into one continuous pulsating ulcer.

All that's left is to add 2 + 2

Here are three most important points that you must put together in your head, applying them to existing conditions. If you haven’t missed anything, then you can predict the situation regarding infection and victims almost like Nastradamus. True, you will first have to discover the nests of parasites and their roosting sites - places where they wait all day for dusk to set in.

⇒ Well, since you have read this material to the end, I think it would be useful to go through the rest of the related ones:

• The most unexpected places to look for bedbugs.
• How to get rid of bedbugs without chemicals.
• Everything about essential oils for bedbugs.
• Bedbug traps that really help.

Harm

The article shows all the reasons why bed bugs do not bite all people. These blood-sucking parasites are considered carriers of various diseases. But there is no evidence of this fact. This is due to the fact that the proboscis of insects is divided into 2 jaws; blood cannot be infected, since it passes through only 1 tubule. But you still shouldn’t take risks.

Due to night attacks, people cannot get enough sleep and rest because the wounds itch and hurt. Therefore, bedbugs are one of the unpleasant insects. It should be destroyed as quickly as possible. If you delay this process, the house will turn into a bug infestation, and it will be very difficult to sleep at night.

Is it better to sleep dressed?

Bed bugs, of course, prefer to bite an exposed person, since it is difficult for them to get under pajama clothes or a blanket, attacking an open area of ​​the body.

Because of this, children are most susceptible to attacks, since they sleep chaotically and constantly throw off the blanket and do not like to wear pajamas.

IMPORTANT! About 70 percent of people do not feel the consequences of bites.

Bedbugs initially live in mattresses and beds, but only until their population grows to enormous sizes - in which case it is difficult not to notice them. But in this case it is quite difficult to remove them and you will need to order the services of exterminators.

Causes of odor

Why don't some people get bitten by bedbugs? This may be due to the presence of rough skin. Through it, insects cannot sense blood. Therefore, men are rarely bitten by bedbugs. These pests also bring a characteristic smell into the room: cloying and tart, similar to almonds or rotten raspberries.

The smell can intensify in areas where parasites are concentrated. Usually these are sleeping places, storage of old linen, book racks, paintings and boxes. Pests can also lay their eggs in electronic devices.

These insects have glands, which is why they produce a smell. The glands secrete a component whose purpose has not been fully identified. It is assumed that this smell is required for the reproduction of parasites and protection from enemies.

Lifestyle

The bedbugs in the Bed Guests house hide in their nests during the day because they cannot tolerate sunlight.
They intensify their activities after dark, when everyone is asleep and cannot see what is happening around them. Bedbugs bite only at night, or closer to the morning. They come out to bite between 3 a.m. and 8 a.m. At the initial stage of infestation of a room, there are bedbugs, but they do not bite. Food reserves last an adult for a maximum of 10 days. Once at a new place of residence, the female develops the territory, chooses a place for the nest, and lays eggs. And only after some time it crawls onto the human body. The first evidence of the presence of parasitic fauna appears, but several bites on the body do not always attract the proper attention of humans.

When do the bites go away?

Why aren't some people bitten by bedbugs? The reason may be that the person sleeps in pajamas and under a blanket. In other cases, people become victims of these pests. Therefore, you should familiarize yourself with them in more detail.

The size of bedbugs is 3-8 mm, this depends on their saturation with blood. By the color of the pest you can determine when it last ate. If it is scarlet, then the blood was obtained recently. Black indicates hunger and the need for night hunting.

Feeding method: bites people and warm-blooded animals. To do this, the pest uses a proboscis that pierces the body and sucks out blood. The bug senses blood circulation and human warmth. There are a pair of channels inside the proboscis.

The first is used to inject saliva, which provides pain relief. The second channel is used for blood absorption. The pest pierces the body and finds a blood vessel with its proboscis. Due to the anesthesia, the bite is not felt, so it is difficult to catch the parasite.

Appearance and causes of cockroach bites

Having discovered a bite wound on the body, many mistakenly blame bedbugs, but they leave slightly different bite marks - itchy swellings arranged in a path.

Cockroaches eat away the epidermis, so the wounds are deep, slightly covered with a thin crust, seem torn at the edges and do not heal for a very long time. Under a microscope, the site of a Prussian bite resembles scars after the removal of a mature pimple or boil, in the recesses of which bruises and areas of partially dried lymph fluid are visible.

With the naked eye, you can mistake a cockroach bite for a manifestation of dermatitis, but upon closer inspection, it becomes obvious that the bite is located in the center of the reddened area of ​​​​the skin, which is not typical for ordinary skin inflammation. Most often, a single lesion of the epidermis is noted, but sometimes cockroaches act in a group, dispersed throughout the body of a sleeping person. The wounds are dense to the touch.

Insects do not hesitate to bite the nasolabial space of infants, because droplets of milk often remain in the corners of their lips. Adult cockroaches rarely bite only if there are good reasons:

• people and their food were absent from the dwelling for a long time, and the water was not turned on;
• recent attempts have been made to exterminate cockroaches and therefore there is no suitable food;
• The number of cockroaches in the room has reached a critical level and they lack their usual food.

Due to the lack of need to maintain a comfortable blood temperature, cold-blooded Prussians can survive without food and water for up to forty days, and their black relatives can survive almost twice as long.

Of course, they will not wait for the deadline, but will make attempts to feast on pieces of human skin containing liquid:

• on lips and eyelids. Insects are attracted to the thin skin of these areas of the body;
• in the area of ​​the inner thighs. Delicate skin and moist secretions are what cockroaches need;
• in the area of ​​the fingertips and earlobes.

Cockroaches bite wherever they need to, there can be from one to a dozen bites until they get enough. Adults do not feel the moment of a bite, especially during sleep, but children are more sensitive to damage and may cry, experiencing discomfort.

Cockroach bite marks are characterized by a large area of ​​inflamed skin around the wound.

Consequences

The duration of healing of a bite depends on the characteristics of the organism. Also important is the strength of the immune system, the tendency to allergies, as well as the characteristics of the skin. Some people experience a severe allergic reaction that goes away within 5-7 days. And a person with not very sensitive skin feels discomfort only for a day.

If long chains do not go away for weeks, you should consult a dermatologist or use folk remedies. It is preferable to use antihistamines. An unpleasant consequence is infection of the scratches.

There is an assumption that bed bugs carry tuberculosis, smallpox, hepatitis B and other dangerous diseases. But this has not been confirmed for sure. It has been proven that waste products contain rickettsia - microscopic intracellular pests from bacteria.

Where do bedbugs hide during the day?

Your daily bedbug search plan may be carried out in stages. Lift the mattress and look below

The best way to look for bed bugs during the day is to lift or turn your mattress over. Most bed bugs live on the mattress and not anywhere else in the room.

Generally speaking, the infestation wants to be within one and a half meters of where you sleep. Being so close means they don't have to make dangerous trips to find you, cross the floor and get lost.

So you can lift the mattress to see if you can find it.

It's easy to do:

• If you find bed bugs disgusting, wear rubber gloves.
• If you intend to do a thorough inspection, remove the sheets from the bed and place them in a plastic bag before sealing them. Later, empty the bag directly into the washing machine to prevent bed bugs from spreading throughout your home.
• Check the mattress from all sides. If the infestation is severe, you will see plenty of evidence of bed bugs without even lifting the mattress. Look for shed shells, dead bed bugs, feces (black spots) and small blood stains.
• Gently lift each side of the mattress to see if any bed bugs are visible. They are more likely to cluster in the corners and edges rather than in the center of the mattress.
• Alternatively, turn the mattress completely over. However, it is better to lift each side one by one.
• Keep in mind that you will not see the bed bugs themselves. But there are many signs of bed bugs on a mattress other than the bed bugs themselves.
• You should also look for fecal stains, which are caused by the dark black digested blood that bedbugs leave behind as their excrement. There may also be fresh blood that appeared immediately after you were bitten.

Inspect the furniture near the bed

Checking adjacent furniture is also required. A bed bug will usually choose a mattress anywhere else, but if you just brought bed bugs with you, they could be hiding in several different items

In particular, pay attention to any furniture made of wood. Wooden furniture has cracks and joints that bedbugs love to crawl into.

To inspect furniture for bed bugs, follow the same rough procedure as above. Do not take anything into or out of the room

This can spread bed bugs around her. So, look around the cabinets or nightstands where they are usually located. A quick look around. For example, a bedbug could be hiding in a crack between a furniture leg and the carpet. Remove every furniture drawer (if applicable). Inspect the box itself, especially the underside. And inspect the space where the box was inside the furniture. Repeat for each box. Turn over a piece of furniture. If bed bugs start pouring out from there, be prepared to see some of them scatter when you disturb them. Repeat this process until you have inspected everything. You should know that bed bugs typically don't infest nearby furniture before they infest your mattress. So, if you've checked your mattress and can't find bed bugs, chances are you won't find it in your bedroom furniture.

Look at other furniture throughout the house

• There may be bed bugs on your couch. This is especially true if you regularly nap on the couch if you sleep on it at night.
• If you bought your couch from someone else or received it from a friend or neighbor, it is even more likely to have bed bugs.
• To check your sofa for bed bugs, follow the same procedure:
• If the sofa cushions are removable, remove them. Check them from top to bottom, especially any seams or zippers. To be sure there are no bed bugs, unzip your sofa cushion and look inside. You could even wash the covers.
• Check the area where the sofa cushions were before. There will most likely be crumbs and the like. Such food is not interesting for apartment bugs, because they only feed on blood.
• Turn the sofa upside down and inspect the wood or metal structure underneath. This is where bedbugs are most likely to be, if any.

Animal bites

Bed bugs feed 98% on human blood. Can they bite pets? They rarely do this, which is due to several reasons.

Many animals have thick fur, which makes their path to the skin difficult, and sometimes even impossible. Even if the bug gets on the wool, it will be quite difficult to get to the food source. Animal skin is thick and dense with many sebaceous glands, which is difficult to bite through.

Many pets are nocturnal. They have developed sensory organs, 10 times better than those of humans. Therefore, they notice and destroy bedbugs.

Animals have a strong individual smell that is different from humans. Bedbugs are able to perceive odors. Probably, this smell does not cause appetite in the bug, provided that human blood is supplied in sufficient quantities.

There is also another danger. Stray cats or dogs that a person brings home can bring these insects. Therefore, pets should be washed with antiparasitic shampoo and the ears should be thoroughly treated.

Selection of a potential victim. Who do bed parasites prey on?

Nature has defined several rules that form the basis for the life activity of insects. Thanks to this, bedbugs remain alive after biting the owner and can leave him without hindrance.

Definition of a victim

The insect makes a choice taking into account factors:

• thin outer coverings of the human body: insects smell because they have a highly developed sense of smell;
• low hairiness of the skin or absence of hair, which facilitates the process of puncturing the skin, and at the same time makes it safe for the parasite to leave the human body;
• a person sleeps without clothes or blankets: the bloodsucker attacks those who have the habit of sleeping without unnecessary things.

Bedbugs are mainly active at night

Features of vital activity and lifestyle of parasites

Bed parasites emerge from hiding at night. During the daytime, such pests rest. In fact, sleep for them means being at peace. At this time they do not feed and do not crawl out of their shelters. Bedbugs feel safe when they are in a nest. In addition, they have some degree of photophobia. They do not tolerate not only solar radiation, but also artificial light. But this is not a strict condition for the existence of insects.

What to do?

To protect yourself from bedbugs, you should take precautions. Parasites hide under the mattress, in the upholstery of the sofa, in the pillows. To protect against parasites, the following measures are taken:

It is necessary to block their entry routes. They enter apartment buildings through sockets, ventilation, cracks, gaps in walls, ceilings, floors, as well as windows and doors. They must be sealed with cement, nets, and rubber seals. Household appliances and furniture should be inspected. It will be possible to completely eliminate pests when the nursery is identified. Fresh bunches of wormwood should be placed in the corners of the apartment. Parasites cannot tolerate this smell because it hides a person's scent and makes it difficult to find a victim. Tansy, rosemary, chamomile and calamus inflorescences have the same effect. When washing bedding, add a few drops of tea tree oil. Before going to bed, it is advisable to use a shower gel that has a lavender scent. You can simply rub essential oil into your skin. Parasites don't bite then. Also, this method has a positive effect on a person: the product calms, relieves irritability and headaches.

Chemical agents can also be used when growing a family. Plants and oils are used only as repellents to repel adult insects, but they do not affect eggs.

Fighting methods

Over the entire period of the fight against these parasites, several effective methods have been developed that contribute to the complete removal of bedbugs:

1. Application of insecticides. The most common and reliable. The result is visible after the first treatment. Modern poison is absolutely safe for humans and their pets.
2. Fever. It is based on the use of a steam generator directly on the habitats of individuals. In rare cases, a burner is used. In addition, you can heat the apartment to sixty degrees and then the pests will die in a couple of hours.
3. Reduced temperature. Freezing is suitable in the winter season. In this case, upholstered furniture, mattresses and bedding are placed in the cold for several hours.
4. Physical impact. Insects are destroyed using improvised means.

It should be remembered that since bedbugs constantly move from one room to another, you can completely get rid of them only by poisoning all neighboring apartments at the same time.

How to completely eliminate bedbugs?

It is difficult to completely eliminate insects. Traditional methods are suitable for minor bedbug infestations. But in other cases, this helps only for a while, and then the pests appear again.

If the infestation is severe, it is advisable to contact the SES or a commercial pest control company. Only in this case will it be possible to carry out successful work on eliminating pests.

Source

Difficulties in dealing with bedbugs

It is incredibly difficult to completely get rid of insects without the help of professional insecticides. Only strong odors can temporarily repel bedbugs. You are less likely to be attacked by parasites if you use perfume or essential oils with strong scents at night. Traditional methods help only with a small infestation of bedbugs, and if you feel the presence of a large number of pests, then no perfume will help.

Treat bites promptly to avoid infection and treat the area with insecticides. The safety of the whole family is in your hands and remember that young children are especially sensitive to bites!

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The most important facts about bed bug bites

Do bedbug bites itch?

During a bite - no. You don't feel anything. You don't feel pain when you bite because the bedbugs inject a temporary analgesic under your skin to help keep you from feeling pain.

How long do bedbugs bite?

From 3 to 10 minutes - this is how long one full feeding lasts. It starts with the appearance of medium to large spots (swollen or flat) on any part of the human body (the most common places include the face, neck, arms and hands). Also, with the appearance of spots, itching and redness appear.

Bites from house bugs are often confused with bites from other insects. Sometimes they are mistaken for infectious rashes on the human body or even for injuries. And the true reason is determined in the very last place. There are cases when dermatologists confused bedbug bites on the body with chicken pox or an allergic reaction. Although for experienced entomologists, recognizing bites after bedbugs is not particularly difficult, since they have a distinct, specific appearance. It will not be superfluous to know the characteristics of bites for ordinary residents of apartments or private houses. The faster you recognize the presence of parasites in the room, the more effective the fight against these insects will be.

Parasites cannot tolerate strong odors. They confuse the insects. The bug cannot detect a person, and being in such a room becomes unbearable.

Allergy to bedbug bites

The saliva of young individuals is considered the most dangerous. The allergen, penetrating inside, quickly spreads throughout the body. An allergic reaction can be local or general, worsening the condition of the entire body.

Allergy to bedbugs differs from other reactions in the following manifestations:

1. In case of allergies, the bite mark exceeds 1 centimeter in diameter.
2. A rash appears.
3. Bite marks last for more than a week.
4. Severe itching appears.

In addition to visual signs, other symptoms indicate the appearance of an allergy:

1. Nasal congestion or severe runny nose.
2. Dizziness, severe headache.
3. Weakness.
4. Labored breathing.

In rare cases, anaphylactic shock or Quincke's edema may occur.

Reproduction method: who knows what

If you feel discomfort at night - check your bed, if there are such objects, then bloodsuckers have multiplied

How bed bugs reproduce is also of interest. Traumatic insemination of a female occurs when the male pierces the abdominal part of her body. The inability to distinguish a bloodsucker of the opposite sex leads to repeated “piercing” of anyone and anywhere: both females and males in completely different places. And then, eggs similar to grains of rice are laid in the seams of pillows, folds of bed linen, under covers, etc. The hungry larvae that appear after 2-3 weeks begin to actively bite and suck human blood.