Sleep Tight, Don't Let the Bedbugs Bite! Posted: September 3,
2010 Just reading about bedbugs may make you start itching, but
they're working their way across the country - they've already
hit Columbus - so at the risk of totally grossing you out,
here's everything you need to know about these creepy little
critters. What are they? Bed bugs (Cimex Lectularius) are
external parasites that feed on blood. Adults are reddish-brown,
oval-shaped and about the size of an apple seed. They prefer
human blood, but can feed off of rodents, bats, birds, and pets
in a pinch. They can live 12-18 months and can survive up to a
year without a meal. They can't fly. They feed at night and hide
during the day. Where do they hide? Bedbugs rarely hang out on
the surfaces of beds or chairs. They like cracks and crevices in
mattresses, cushions, bed frames, and floor boards. Female bed
bugs deposit 1-12 eggs per day in these areas, which hatch in
4-10 days. Can they hurt me? Not really. The bites themselves
are usually painless, bu