HOUSEHOLD MINIBEASTS

Meet the creepy critters and pesky pests that find a home in your house

- SCOTT DUTFIELD

BED BUGS BENEATH THE MATTRESS

In the US alone, one in five people has had to deal with bed bugs or knows someone that has. Two species of bed bug might be living in your home: Cimex lectularius and Cimex hemipterus. Usually found in people’s beds, these blood-sucking parasites get their name because they prefer to feed on their host while they sleep. Studies have shown that these insects are attracted to the warmth, humidity and most importantly the carbon dioxide levels that surround a sleeping host.

It’s a complete myth that the presence of bed bugs is in some way related to the cleanliness of a person’s mattress. Bed bugs aren’t limited to hiding beneath your bed sheets either – they can be found wherever they can find a food source. Due to their nocturnal nature, they prefer to dwell within the cracks and crevices of walls and floors. One surefire way to know when bed bugs are nearby is by recognising their bites. These parasites feed during the night and leave behind distinctive marks that are raised and red on white skin, or purple on darker skin. Luckily, a bed bug bite isn’t known to transmit diseases, but they can cause an allergic reaction in some people.

SOAP-EATING SILVERFISH