Bedbugs have become an increasing problem in the US and other developed countries of the world. Recent entomological studies have believed this increase is a result of increased immigration and worldwide travel, and also because other forms of pest control, such as the use of DDT, has been banned due to its toxicity and danger.
Many people today are very concerned about the cancer-causing toxic chemicals in pesticides and are looking for all natural solutions to controlling bedbugs. Tea tree oil is manufactured by a steam distillation process using the leaves of the Melaleuca alterniflora plant, a native of Australia. The leaves contain many antifungal and antibacterial compounds, including terpenoids. Many have found insects, including bedbugs, do not tolerate the presence of tea tree oil and will beat a hasty retreat. Some insects can actually be destroyed using a tea tree oil bed bugs spray mixture, though this has not been proven with bedbugs.
Bedbugs are small brown insects, usually about 0.2 inches long, that feed on blood. When they bite a sleeping victim, their saliva contains a natural anesthetic so you don't feel the bite. They also have an anticoagulant in their saliva which keeps the blood from clotting so they can sip it merrily away at you while you sleep unaware.
Bedbugs have inhabited the earth for thousands of years, although they became more numerous and more problematic after the WWII. Bedbugs can be found in beds, but also in carpet, behind wallpaper, and inside household furnishings. Most people realize they have a bedbug problem when they wake up during the week and find they have bites on their bodies. These bites look like many other types of bug bites. You should wash and change the sheets and be sure the bedding is free of fleas. If there are no fleas found and you're still getting bit, bedbugs are the most likely culprit.
Bedbugs are rather hardy little creatures. They are known to multiply their numbers very rapidly and can even survive up to a year without feeding. Many experts believe using the services of a professional is the only way to rid your home of bedbugs if you have a serious infestation. But in the initial stages, when bedbugs are first noticed, there are some herbal remedies, including tea tree oil that can be helpful.
Picture of Bed Bug
To the left is a picture of bed bug. In this picture of bed bug, the insect has a swollen abdomen from feeding on blood. Normally, the bed bug would appear nearly flat. Bed bugs can go for a month or more between feeding and there is research to indicate they can survive for up to a year between feedings! That's endurance to rival even a cockroach!
Some More Photos of Bed Bugs
Here are some pictures of bed bugs of various sizes and shapes. Notice the large bed bug in the top middle of the picture. This is one swollen from feedings as opposed to the one next to it that is more flat. The average bed bug is usually no more than 3 mm wide.
Picture of Bed Bugs Eggs
This is a picture of bed bugs eggs. They are similar to ant's eggs but more glossy white. Bed bugs are prolific breeders and can multiply rapidly. That's why you need to treat your bed bug problem before they have a chance to become entrenched in your home.
So, Have You Been Bitten by Bed Bugs? Here's How to Know:
Bed bug bites marks don't appear right away after you've been bitten. Bed bug bites appear most often as long as a week, when the hapless victim begins to notice small red bumps along the skin. These bumps often follow a line or a pattern as the bed bug bites along a length of capillary, creating a linear type of pattern for the bed bug bites.
What do bed bug bites look like?
So what do bed bug bites look like? You want to look out for small red welts. The red welts may not be itchy at first for a lot of people. When first beginning to appear, the bed bug bites are small and not easy to recognize. As said before, one tell-tale sign of bed bug bites is they will occur in a regular line, a 'line of three' as experts call them. The bed bug bites cause a burning feeling on the skin after a three days or so.
The bedbug bites vary from person to person. People who tend to have allergies will show more extreme reactions from bedbug bites due to their hypersensitive systems. Others may barely notice bedbug bites. In fact, nearly 60% of people don't even notice they've got bedbug bites.
Areas of skin around the feet, hands, and face react the strongest to bedbug bites as they tend to be some of the most sensitive areas of the body. The bedbug bites are often misinterpreted as other skin issues, such as mosquito bites, scabies, or rashes.
Here are some basic facts about Bedbug bites:
As far as what do bed bug bites look like, Red bumps or welts in a linear pattern of three generally is a tell-tale sign of bedbug bites.
Small, red bumps and welts, looking a lot like mosquito bites but longer in length, and with itching and swelling in area around the bite. The swelling can be up to 20cm in diameter. The bedbug bites will eventually grow into blister-like lesions. Some lesions can swell and fill with pus.
Harsh conditions on the skin, such as swimming in highly chlorinated water, exercising, or even a warm bath can make the itching worse in the case of bedbug bites. If your skin develops a blister a few minutes after the bedbug bite should consult your physician immediately, as some people can have a severe allergic reaction to bed bug bites. There can also be the possibility of some local tissue damage.
Sometimes the rashes from bedbug bites can come and go. This is due to the way bed bugs feed, which is usually once a month or every few weeks.
If you find dark fecal spots on your sheets, you probably have bed bugs. This is because bed bugs secrete a dark substance from a gland.
The time from when someone is bitten to where the bed bug bites begin to appear is on average about 9 days.
Bed bugs like to come out at night when you are fast asleep and most vulnerable.
Bed bug bites most often occur on the feet, hands, and face. The bed bug bites will normally stay for about 3 to 4 days and then fade gradually, though previously healed bed bug bites can flare back up again at times when a person is stressed.
Scratching bed bug bites can lead to infection so don't do it!
If you find you have bed bugs, do not ignore it! If left untreated, they can multiply rapidly and be very difficult to get rid of.
Bed Bug Bites Pictures:
Here are some a bed bug bites pictures of a man with bed bug bites along his back. Notice the linear pattern of the red bumps or welts. This is due to the bed bugs feeding along the line of the capillary or vein just under the skin.
Some More Pictures of Bed Bug Bites
The bed bug bites appear like a red bump or welt, similar to a mosquito bite or many other insect bites. Again you can notice the linear type of pattern they tend to cluster into.
One simply and non-toxic way to treat a bedbug problem is to use silicon dioxide powder, which is non-toxic to both humans and their animal friends. The powder is generally available at your local home improvement store or feed store. Sprinkle the powder around the edges of the bed and on the surface of your mattress, then place the sheets over the powder. The powder will stick to the bedbugs body and cause them to be dehydrated and eventually die.
Similar to silicon dioxide powder is something called diatamaceous earth. Diatamaceous earth is basically the ground up shells of fossilized sea creatures. When it comes into contact with a bedbugs outer shell, diatamaceous earth will dry up the bed bug and dehyrdrate the bedbug until it dies. The sharp edges of diatamaceous earth shells also pierce the outer covering of the bedbug and the diatamaceous earth then gets into their system and punctures vital organs, causing them to die. This is why diatamaceous earth can be a very effective part of bedbug control.
To use a tea tree oil bed bugs mixture to rid your home and bedding of bedbugs, the following method has been effective for many people:
Put 10 to 20 drops of tea tree essential oil in a spray bottle. An 8 oz. size bottle should work well. Spray the tea tree oil bed bugs mixture onto your sheets and along the sides of the bed, even the floor surrounding the bed. Try not to get the tea tree oil bed bugs mixture on wood surfaces as tea tree oil can affect the finish on wood. The tea tree oil bed bugs mixture can be used on fabrics, curtains, linens, and so forth. Experiment with the concentration of tea tree oil bed bugs mixture. You want it to be fairly strong but not too strong as inhaling the tea tree oil bed bugs mixture can cause irritation.
Another issue to consider when trying to rid yourself of bedbugs and preventing them from returning is to take care of your home’s environment by making it clean and organized. Thoroughly clean all bedding, including sheets, blankets, coverlets, throws, etc..., any bedding that is used on your bed. Fix any tears in cushions or mattresses to prevent bedbugs from making a home where they can live and breed. Don't give them a home and they will pack up and go somewhere else!