Bed Bugs and Fleas – Best Tips

BEDBUGS

Bedbugs are usually found in old buildings which are not well cared for.  Bedbugs are wingless, red-brown in color, an need moisture. During the day they hide in beds, under carpets and rugs, in the cracks in old furniture and in walls.  At night they leave their hiding places in search of food: human blood.  In most cases their bites are only perceived the following morning, the marks forming straight lines of red dots.  If the person bitten is particularly sensitive, the itchy red spots can last for several weeks.  In addition to treating the bites themselves with ice and soothing creams and lotions, the bedbugs should be destroyed, and if necessary an exterminator should be called to fumigate the furniture.

TREATMENT

The same treatment is recommended the bites of bedbugs as for mosquito bites.

FLEAS

These insects are parasites, usually living on mammals and birds.  House pets like cats and dogs can serve as their natural breeding grounds.  Humans are rarely affected by fleas, and then only when the animal is very heavily infested.

Fleas often remain on the rugs or sofas where pets sleep, and if their usual host is absent they will exploit humans to insure their food supply.  Fleas are also found on lawns and in sandboxes where infested animals have been.  Flea bites generally appear as swollen, very itchy red spots, concentrated on the legs, usually during hot weather and most frequently on children.  Whenever such a concentration of red spots is found, the pet and the area around the house should be examined carefully, and anti-flea measures taken.  The cat or dog should wear an anti-flea collar, which will keep the pet free of fleas as long as the collar is worn.

TREATMENT

The same treatment is recommended flea bites as for mosquito bites.  Flea bites will continue until the fleas have been gotten rid of.