Top 5 Bed Bug Myths Debunked
False information about bed bugs can spread even faster than the bed bugs themselves do. Can they fly? Can you get rabies from a bed bug bite? Do they even exist, or are they just a bedtime warning made up to scare children? Spoiler alert: none of these myths are true! There are plenty more rumors that tend to fly around (no pun intended!) about bed bugs, and we’re here to set the record straight on what’s true and what’s false. Let’s start with the first one. Bed bugs are real!
Myth #1: Bed Bugs Are a Story Made Up to Scare Children
Chances are, when you were a kid, you probably heard the phrase “Goodnight, don’t let the bed bugs bite!”. Because this phrase is used so often with kids, some people think that bed bugs are a myth, similar to the boogeyman or monsters under the bed. Unfortunately, bed bugs are very real, and they do bite.
Myth #2: Bed Bugs Can Fly
It’s a common misconception that bed bugs can fly. They do not have wings, so they can’t fly. They actually can’t even jump, since they don’t have powerful hind legs like fleas do. They do crawl about one meter per minute using their six legs, so crawling is their main mode of transportation. They can also get onto human beings’ clothing or belongings, using them for transportation and crawling off when they reach their destination.
Myth #3: Bed Bug Bites Can Make You Sick
It’s not unreasonable to assume that bed bugs can carry diseases- after all, many other bugs do- but the likelihood of a bed bug bite making you sick is very, very low. At times, a bed bug bite can cause slight anemia, but bed bugs do not transmit other diseases such as rabies or West Nile virus to humans. They do carry some pathogens, but there is no evidence that they can transfer those pathogens to humans, through biting or otherwise.
Myth #4: Bed Bugs Can Live a Year Without Drinking Blood
How long a bed bug can go without drinking blood (or eating, depending on how you look at it) depends largely on the individual bed bug. They can go anywhere between 20 days and 400 days without drinking blood, with an average of about five months. They typically drink three times their weight in blood in a single sitting. Since bed bugs are small, this usually isn’t enough blood to cause you any problems besides a red, itchy welt.
Myth #5: Bed Bugs Only Inhabit Dirty Houses
There’s a persistent rumor that dirty houses are the only ones at risk for bed bugs. Bed bugs actually don’t care how clean or dirty your home is. They aren’t attracted to dirt, they’re attracted to humans. They want to live near you so that they can easily access their “prey” at night while you’re sleeping, no matter where or how you live. Keep in mind that someone having bed bugs does not mean they don’t maintain their home- bed bugs are not an indication of someone’s lifestyle.
Bed Bug Barbeque’s Effectiveness is No Myth!
COVID-19 has changed the way we live our lives recently, and it’s all happened fast. We want you to take comfort in the knowledge that Bed Bug Barbeque is still here for you and your family. If you think you have bed bugs or are interested in a home heat sanitation treatment, contact Bed Bug Barbeque, LLC in Lakewood, Ohio! We use heat treatment to eradicate bed bugs and we offer entire home sanitation heat treatments. This safe, effective treatment is completed in less than 12 hours, and Bed Bug Barbeque, LLC offers a 60-day warranty for you to verify for yourself that your bed bugs are fully eradicated. Contact Bed Bug Barbeque, LLC today for a FREE quote at (216) 221-1227 or through our website, and check out our other bed bug informational resources on identification, prevention, and eradication.
