Bed Bugs: Lesson 1 (Bed Bug Facts)

Hello, and thank you for making the wise decision to read up on what is undoubtedly the most serious danger facing modern treasure hunters. In case, you were unaware, we are in the midst of a bed bug epidemic; instances of infestation have increased by over 7000% in the past 5 years!

I have plenty more facts to share, but before going any further, I should mention that all of the information presented in this article is entirely based on a conversation I recently had with a bed bug expert. I have done no further research to substantiate these claims, but I'm sure it's all fully accurate information.

Here are some basic facts:
-Bed Bugs are nocturnal creatures that feed on human blood. You can think of them as very small vampires, though I don't think they'll be reaching Twilight-level popularity any time soon.

-Despite their species' name, bed bugs do not necessarily live inside of beds. They may be lurking within walls, clothing or other furniture, and they can even travel on humans.

-A fully grown bed bug is up to 5.5mm long. That translates to approximately half a centimetre. This means, in particular, that they are visible to the naked eye, but not in the dark.

-Bed bugs have a mosquito-like head, equipped with a similar blood-sucking apparatus. The majority of its body is composed of storage space for blood. Essentially, it's a miniature blimp with a needle for a face. As you may have noticed, there is a detailed artist's rendition above.

-Despite their similarities to the mosquito, bed bugs cannot fly. In fact, they can't walk very fast either, so they tend to be easy to trap. I'll elaborate more on this in future installments, as they will focus more on preventative measures.

-If you're still curious about bed bug anatomy, here is a cross-section image depicting a view of the bug's insides:


Any questions?