National Bed Bug Prevention Day is observed every year on June 10 and rightly so. Who would’ve thought something as tiny as a bed bug could cause so many problems for human beings? What’s worse is that even though they cause us so much grief, we can’t even see them. No wonder these pests are among the most common problems experienced by people across the world. And the worst part is that they’re almost impossible to get rid of on your own! No matter how hard you try, they just keep coming back.
History of National Bed Bug Prevention Day
National Bed Bug Prevention Day was founded by Dodson Pest Control in 2019 to recognize their long history of providing treatment for bed bug infestations. Unfortunately, we’ve all had our fair share of traumatic bed bug experiences. Reports of bed bug infestations have gone through the roof in recent years. As travel becomes easier, bed bugs have become a greater problem than ever before.Bed bugs have been plaguing humanity for generations and were even mentioned by Aristotle in ancient Greece. Pliny’s “Natural History,” published in 77 A.D. in Rome, claimed that bed bugs had medicinal value in treating snake bites and ear infections. This belief in the medicinal use of bed bugs persisted until at least the 1700s when Guettard recommended using them to treat hysteria. Bed bugs were mentioned in England in 1583, although they remained rare in England until 1670. In the 1700s, people started believing that bed bugs had been brought to London with supplies of wood used to rebuild the city after the Great Fire of London in 1666 destroyed huge swathes of the city.Bed bugs were very common before the mid-1900s. According to a report in 1933 in the U.K., all houses in many areas had bed bugs to some degree. This rise in bed bug populations has been attributed to the use of electric heating, which allowed bed bugs to thrive year-round instead of only in warm weather.These pests were also a serious problem at U.S. military bases during World War II. The problem was solved by fumigation through a dangerous procedure using Zyklon Discoid. D.D.T. was used later but bedbugs have since become mostly resistant to it. The fall in bed bug populations in the 20th century has often been credited to the creation of potent pesticides.
National Bed Bug Prevention Day timeline
Bed bugs are written about in ancient Greece and are later mentioned by Aristotle.
People start suggesting that bed bugs were brought to London with supplies of wood used to rebuild the city after the Great Fire of London.
Smoke from peat is recommended as an indoor domestic fumigant against bed bugs.
An increase in travel leads to higher reported incidents of bed bug infestations.
National Bed Bug Prevention Day FAQs
Do bed bugs have teeth?
Bed bugs don’t have teeth but thin, sharp structures called stylets inside their mouths. They use these to pierce the skin and suck the blood out of humans and other warm-blooded animals.
How long do they live?
Under normal circumstances, adult bed bugs can live for about two to four months. Young ones can survive without a meal for days up to a few months. The older ones can survive longer without a meal and even up to a year under very favorable conditions.
Can they go away on their own?
Bed bugs will never go away on their own and it’s best to call a professional to exterminate them.
How to Observe National Bed Bug Prevention Day
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Call pest control
Who are you gonna call? Pest control, that’s who. Bed bugs can be tricky to get rid of and are best left to be handled by professionals. But you could also opt for natural remedies if you can’t afford to hire an exterminator.
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Raise awareness
Use your knowledge for good and read information about what causes bed bugs and how they can be prevented. Some people might not even know they have bed bugs!
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Be vigilant
Check your hotel furniture and bed for any signs of these pests, inspect your luggage when you return from your trip and wash all your clothes and linens after returning home. Regularly inspecting your furniture and bed is crucial. Also, consider getting a metal bed frame as bed bugs prefer warm wooden furniture.
5 Facts About Bed Bugs That Will Blow Your Mind
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They’re not invisible, just hard to spot
Adult bugs can be up to a quarter-inch long and you may even notice microscopic black specks, which is their fecal matter.
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They don’t just live in beds
They also hide in dark warm places like wall voids, cracks, and crevices.
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They can come out during the day
Although they’re most active at night, they can and do come out in the daytime — so switching your sleep schedule won’t help.
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They can survive a year without eating
They can live for a year without blood and reproduce very fast, making them extremely hard to kill.
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They can be expensive to kill
The average cost of bed bug removal is between $1,000 and $2,500, making it a costly affair.
Why National Bed Bug Prevention Day is Important
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Bed bugs can cause serious problems
While their bites alone can be extremely annoying, they can also ruin your sleep and pose other problems. They can cause serious mental issues like P.T.S.D, and delusional parasitosis and even make people scared of going to bed.
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They’re everywhere
They’re found in almost every part of the world. Although their presence has traditionally been seen as an issue in developing countries, it has recently been spreading rapidly in parts of the U.S., Canada, the U.K., and other parts of Europe.
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They can be prevented
Learning more about what causes bed bugs can help us tackle them more effectively. Reduce the clutter in your house, vacuum more frequently, wash your linens after a trip, and inspect your luggage after returning home.
National Bed Bug Prevention Day dates
| Year | Date | Day |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | June 10 | Saturday |
| 2024 | June 10 | Monday |
| 2025 | June 10 | Tuesday |
| 2026 | June 10 | Wednesday |
| 2027 | June 10 | Thursday |
