HOUSEHOLD MINIBEASTS
How It Works UK|Issue 178
Meet the creepy critters and pesky pests that find a home in your house
SCOTT DUTFIELD
HOUSEHOLD MINIBEASTS

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

Bu hikaye How It Works UK dergisinin Issue 178 sayısından alınmıştır.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

Bu hikaye How It Works UK dergisinin Issue 178 sayısından alınmıştır.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

HOW IT WORKS UK DERGISINDEN DAHA FAZLA HIKAYETümünü görüntüle
THE POWER OF WATER
How It Works UK

THE POWER OF WATER

We're hooked on fossil fuels. But hydroelectric power is becoming an increasingly important replacement for coal and oil

time-read
4 dak  |
Issue 195
EXPLORING THE MOON'S CAVES
How It Works UK

EXPLORING THE MOON'S CAVES

Earth's rocky neighbour is home to a network of unexplored caves, and scientists are keen to take a peek inside

time-read
3 dak  |
Issue 195
HOW TO ELECT THE PRESIDENT
How It Works UK

HOW TO ELECT THE PRESIDENT

The campaigns, votes and elections that put someone in America's most powerful office

time-read
3 dak  |
Issue 195
WHAT IS MORNING SICKNESS?
How It Works UK

WHAT IS MORNING SICKNESS?

Why some pregnancies can cause nausea and vomiting

time-read
2 dak  |
Issue 195
20 WEIRDEST SCIENCE MYSTERIES
How It Works UK

20 WEIRDEST SCIENCE MYSTERIES

From dark matter to deep-sea crabs, science still can't fully explain these strange quirks of nature

time-read
10+ dak  |
Issue 195
THE TRIANGULUM GALAXY SHINES IN A NEW HUBBLE IMAGE
How It Works UK

THE TRIANGULUM GALAXY SHINES IN A NEW HUBBLE IMAGE

A nearby galaxy is shining with star formation in a new image from the Hubble Space Telescope.

time-read
1 min  |
Issue 195
The world's fastest charger fully powers smartphones in five minutes
How It Works UK

The world's fastest charger fully powers smartphones in five minutes

Scientists have revealed the fastest battery-charging technology in the world for smartphones, which can fully charge a smartphone in less than five minutes.

time-read
2 dak  |
Issue 195
Real-time brain stimulation slashes Parkinson's symptoms by half in trials
How It Works UK

Real-time brain stimulation slashes Parkinson's symptoms by half in trials

Brain stimulation that rapidly adjusts in real-time can dramatically reduce Parkinson’s symptoms, an early trial suggests.

time-read
2 dak  |
Issue 195
The hottest ocean temperature in 400 years threatens the Great Barrier Reef
How It Works UK

The hottest ocean temperature in 400 years threatens the Great Barrier Reef

The Great Barrier Reef is facing the hottest sea surface temperatures in four centuries.

time-read
2 dak  |
Issue 195
Massive medieval coin hoard worth about 150 sheep' discovered
How It Works UK

Massive medieval coin hoard worth about 150 sheep' discovered

Archaeologists in Germany have unearthed over 1,500 medieval silver coins after a citizen noticed what looked like ‘small metal plates’ while digging during a construction project.

time-read
2 dak  |
Issue 195