Dust mites and bed bugs –two totally different types of pests!
Dust mites
Dusts mites live in our carpets, upholstered furniture,
stuffed animals, drapes and mattresses.
They are akin to the spider and about .25 to .3 mm long. They are not visible to the naked eye. Dust
mites feed on human skin cells but they don’t always stop there. If we are messy eaters they will feast on
crumbs and sugary bits carelessly dropped between the sheets.
And like everything that eats, it poops. Dust mite excretions is the trigger behind
our allergic reactions. Some people
breathe in this allergen and have no ill effect, but for others who suffer with
COPD, asthma or respiratory issues, dust mites can bring about a mild to severe
adverse reaction.
Dust mites live everywhere that people live. The love warm,
moist places like your bedding and carpets.
A female dust mite can produce up to 300 eggs during its 80
to 90 day lifespan and excrete over 200 times its body weight in poop. Are you grossed out yet? I am!
It is the most common household allergen, affecting 10% of
the population and is the number one cause of perennial allergic rhinitis. The elderly and kids are the most susceptible
to these allergens.
Bed bugs
Bed bugs are six-legged repulsive, parasitic insects. They are about the size of a tick and reddish
in color. And like the tick, they are
bloodsucking insects, feeding off of you.
They mainly come out at night but are not strictly nocturnal.
Bed bugs love all beds because of the warmth and moistness but
mostly an infestation will only take place in dirty/messy homes or hotels. Clutter affords them a great place to hide
and frequent guests provide food and the chance to spread. They travel
anywhere, usually by catching a ride in pillows, stuffed animals, or clothing.
If you have an infestation you will notice small, itchy
bites all over your skin when you wake. They
love to wait until dark to come out from their hiding place, feed off of you
and then return to their nesting spot to sleep off their meal. One good thing is that they lack the enzymes
to create an allergic reaction in people.
Of course, just the knowledge that tiny vampire-like creatures are
sucking on your blood while you are sleeping is probably enough to give you an
allergic reaction.
How to stop the bugs?
Bed bugs are very difficult to get rid of without
professional help. If you live in a rental
speak to your landlord. If you own, contact
a reputable service who has experience in eliminating these nasty
creatures.
If you are a frequent traveler, bag your clothing in
air-tight bags and only take in what you need for the day. Keep your luggage elevated. If you are staying at a motel and awake to
red, itchy bites report them ASAP to the manager.
Dust mites are much easier to keep at bay. You can purchase good dust mite covers for
your bed and buy cleaning products especially designed to alter the natural
qualities of the dust mite allergen. Heat works wonders, too! Wash your bedding in hot water and dry on the
highest temperature. Vacuum and dust regularly.
