What happens when you squish a bed bug? Squeezing bed bugs is a popular way to try and get rid of them, but it turns out that this might not be the best idea. In fact, squeezing bed bugs can actually attract more of them, as it ruptures their bodies and spreads their blood. If you really want to get rid of bed bugs from your home, there are better ways to do it.
In this article, I will explain not only what happens when you squish a bed bug but also other aspects of getting rid of bed bugs. So, keep reading to understand how to keep your sleeping space free of bugs!
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What happens when you squish a bed bug?
I understand that squishing a bed bug might sound appealing. But you probably shouldn’t. I would even go so far as to say that nothing good can come out of squishing a bed bug. Here are two things that are bound to happen if you squish a bed bug.
Squshing bed bugs leave stains.
Bed bugs live off your blood. Therefore, the chances are that any bed bug you see in your bed will be filled with your blood. Now, if you squish a bed bug that has just finished feeding, it will leave a big bloodstain on your bedsheet.
Now, you might think that just having bed bugs is, in itself, terrible. And you wouldn’t be wrong. But I assure you that the bloodstain is going to make things worse. For starters, you now have a stain on your lovely bedsheet that will be difficult to get rid of.
But more importantly, blood attracts more bed bugs. Therefore, you will have to now deal with an increasing bed bug population in your house! All because you couldn’t resist squishing that first bed bug.
Squishing bed bugs could cause itchiness and infection.
When you squish a bed bug, its blood and other bodily fluids can spread on your skin. If the bug is carrying any diseases or parasites, this could also cause an infection.
Additionally, the act of squishing a bed bug could cause them to release their scent
Are bed bug exoskeletons hard or soft?
The exoskeleton of a bed bug is stiff and helps protect the bug from predators and other environmental hazards.
This hard exoskeleton essentially helps protect them from fights with predators. The shell is tough and helps keep the bugs safe while they are eating or hiding.
The exoskeleton, even though stiff, is not strong enough to resist being squished by human beings. Therefore, you will be able to squish adult bed bugs as well as young bed bugs. However, you will need a different method to deal with bed bug eggs.
Bed bug eggs are cemented to a surface and are impossible to remove without destroying them.
Bedbugs have the ability to secrete a sticky substance that helps them ensure that their eggs stay stuck to where they lay them. This could be on wooden surfaces, on your bedsheets, or any other place where the bedbugs lay their eggs.
However, we have already established that squishing bed bugs is not the best way to get rid of them.
Can you easily squish bedbug eggs?
Bedbug eggs are very tough and difficult to pick up and squish. This is because they are covered in a protective outer shell, and mother bedbugs glue them to their laying spot, helping them survive attempts to dislocate them.
It is important to be aware of this when trying to get rid of bedbugs, as it can be difficult to eliminate all the eggs.
When you find bed bug eggs, it is important to remove them quickly. Pinching a tissue over the egg and placing it on top will help bring the egg onto the tissue paper so that you can throw it.
Make sure to seal off the area where the eggs were found and contact a professional exterminator to complete a full-fledged treatment for bedbugs., which could attract more bugs.
How to treat your house for bed bug eggs?
There are a variety of ways to treat your house for bed bug eggs. One popular method is to use heat. Bed bugs will die when the temperature in their environment reaches a certain point.
Another common treatment is pesticides. There are a variety of pesticides that can be used, and it is important to select the right one for the specific bed bug infestation. I have included the three most effective ways to treat your house for bed bugs below.
Treatment with heat
The best way to eliminate or get rid of bed bugs is through heat treatment. It is the most effective and least expensive method. You can either do it yourself or hire a professional to do it for you.
If you hire a professional exterminator to do it, the treatment is bound to be faster and more effective. This is essential because, in one treatment itself, the heat will spread to the darkest corners of your house and smoke these pests out.
Further, using heat also means that you don’t have to introduce poisonous chemicals into your home, which puts you and your family at risk. That said, heat treatment is also one of the most expensive forms of treatment for bed bugs.
Treatment with insecticide
Insecticide sprays are the most common way to get rid of bed bugs, but they may not be successful if only one treatment is used. If bed bugs are not eliminated the first time around, the insecticide sprays must be repeated until all of them are gone.
The direct advantage of this method is that compared to heat treatment, this method is extremely easy on your pocket. However, you may not be able to get all the bugs even with repeated treatments because it is not advisable to spray insecticides everywhere.
Treatment with diatomaceous earth or DE
Diatomaceous Earth is a natural powder that can kill bed bugs. It is made up of tiny fossilized creatures called diatoms. Once you spray or sprinkle this powder in the areas where bed bugs are active, you will only have to wait for about three days before the bed bugs are dead.
You can sprinkle DE under your bed, on your window sill, or in any other area that you suspect of having high activity of bed bugs. However, it must be removed after use as it can also harm humans and pets if ingested.
Do bed bugs stink when and if you squish them?
When bed bugs are squished, they release alarm pheromones that will attract other bed bugs and make them run away. This is done as a way to warn others of potential danger.
Additionally, the stink from a squished bed bug is caused by their excrement, and when it dries, it becomes an irritant.
It is worth remembering that bed bugs use their sense of smell to figure out what’s around them. This includes locating food and mates, as well as detecting danger.
When threatened or squished, they release a foul-smelling liquid that can often be smelled from a distance.
What else should you know about killing bed bugs and their smell?
When you squish a bed bug, its innards and blood will explode out, and it is said to be quite a gruesome sight. Bed bugs can also be killed with heat, cold, or pesticides. It is important to note that when a bed bug dies, its carcass will release an unpleasant odor.
Bed bugs are one of the few insects that emit ‘alarm pheromones.’ These chemicals are released to warn other bed bugs that something is wrong and that they need to run for their lives.
The scent of these pheromones is similar to that of conventional odors, but they may contain a few more chemicals. It will have an aroma that is similar to coriander or rotting garments in general.
When you try to kill bed bugs yourself, you may not be successful and end up leaving stains and an unpleasant smell. If this is the case, it is best to call a professional exterminator who will have the tools and knowledge to get rid of the bed bugs for good.
Can you and should you pop or burst a bed bug bite?
Bed bug bites, along with other insect bites, are typically round, red, and itchy. They are different from spots in that they usually have a small dot in the center. It is generally recommended that you do not pop these bites, as it can lead to infection.
When bed bugs bite you, they inject a small amount of saliva into the skin in order to numb the area. This histamine response causes swelling, itchiness, and redness associated with bed bug bites.
When it comes to bed bug bites, popping them is not only a useless endeavor – it can also be dangerous. Bed bugs inject an anesthetic and anticoagulant when they bite, so popping the bite can lead to infection.
In fact, pressure can’t even build up in bed bug bites because of the anesthetic. So don’t bother popping them – just leave them alone, and they’ll go away on their own.
When you have the misfortune of getting bitten by a bed bug, the immediate response is often to try and pop the bite. This usually just results in the release of whitish fluid or pus from the bite.
Unfortunately, popping the bite won’t make it go away any faster – and may even lead to infection.
Conclusion
Bed bugs are a problem, and there’s no doubting that. But squishing a bed bug is not the solution to your bedtime woes. Spraying or using proper treatments for bed bugs is more effective than squashing the bugs themselves!
