Don't Let The Bed Bugs Bite

The Truth Behind "Don't Let The Bed Bugs Bite"

The origin of this phrase is shrouded in the distant past, and perhaps, goes back to the time of when humaninty lived in caves and bed bugs first decided to start feasting on people.

Wherever it came from, "Don't let the bed bugs bite" holds more than a grain of truth to it.

It begins with the villain, the bed bugs. Bed bugs are bloodsucking insects that live in dark areas of your rooms like the bed, couch, draperies and carpets.

They are tiny parasites and survive on blood meals like a flea. But unlike the flea, which is more likely will to attach itself to dogs or cats, bed bugs prefer human blood.

The saying "Don't let the bed bugs bite" is actually an incorrect notion about the insect. Bed bugs do not bite, they pierce the skin with an elongated beak and uses it, like a straw, to draw blood from its prey.

This is the same method a mosquito uses, without the dangers of transmitted diseases.

The saying "Don't let the bed bugs bite" is proven to be an unheeded warning as people rarely feel the bed bug as it feeds. You can't stop them from biting, if you don't feel them...

When bed bugs feed, they release a chemical, like a mild anesthesia, that numbs the skin. That is why people are surprised to see itchy, swelling welts on their body the next day.

However, it is a good idea to follow-up on the warning in the saying "Don't let the bed bugs bite." The bites may seem harmless, but they can be embarrassing to look and you may lose sleep over it. When you don’t let the bed bugs bite, you are saving your skin from irritation and possible infections from scratching the bites.

But here is the question: How do you - don't let the bed bugs bite - when you can't even see or feel them?

One way is to check your mattress or furniture with a magnifying glass. The best time to do this is at night.

Bed bugs are nocturnal and hide during the day. Bed bugs look like flat, rounded brownish insects that could be mistake for fleas.

The saying "Don't let the bed bugs bite" has become a conventional phrase of teasing and endearment said to children by their parents.

When there are no bed bugs in the home, these words have a sweet and comical tone to them considering that the facts about it are not all true.

And the childish appeal of the saying "Don't let the bed bugs bite" is enchanced by how it rhymes with another quaint phrase, “Sleep tight.” When joined together, the saying “Sleep tight. Don’t let the bed bugs bite!” becomes a parent's way of telling their children to get to sleep.

However, the saying "Don't let the bed bugs bite" is not the most literal warning.

Bed bugs don’t bite they suck blood. We don't notice them when they are biting, so "not letting" them is almost an impossibility, unless you wear a steel armor to sleep.

This saying, "Don't let the bed bugs bite," is a cautionary phrase that reminds us to take action, if we actually do find ourselves bitten by these bugs.

There was a time, not too long ago, when bed bugs were a constant annoyance. Then, for a couple of generations, the bed bug problem was almost eradicated through the use of DDT.

Today, the bed bug is making a come back.

When I was growing up, when my parents said, "Don't let the bed bugs bite," they were teasing.

Today, you need to be vigilant and not let bed bugs into your home or they will be biting you tonight!