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![Bedbug Invasion]()
The epidemic of the summer, bedbugs bring a stigma not often experienced in modernized countries. Infestations have surged in recent years and, with limited solutions, these blood-sucking pests are here to stay.![Jar of Bugs]()
Delores Stewart displays bedbugs found in her home in Columbus, Ohio. The resurgence of bedbugs across the U.S. has homeowners and apartment dwellers taking desperate measure to eradicate the tenacious bloodsuckers, with some relying on dangerous outdoor pesticides and fly-by-night exterminators.![The Bloodsucker]()
The bedbug pierces the skin of its host with two hollow feeding tubes. With one tube it injects its saliva, which numbs the area and prevents blood clotting, then the bedbug sucks the host's blood through the other tube. This process usually lasts 5 minutes. Fortunately (and mysteriously), bedbugs cannot spread blood-borne diseases.![Caught in the Act]()
Most species of bedbugs will feed on humans only when other prey are unavailable -- which unfortunately is the case in most urban environments. The individual insects typically try to feed every five to 10 days, but can survive for up to a year between meals, which aids their stubborn tenacity.![Anatomy of a Bedbug]()
This close-up of the bedbug's exterior reveals the resilient nature of the tiny beast. Those tiny, hair-like fibers are actually sturdy sensory structures that, along with its tough exoskeleton, are all composed of chitin -- the molecule responsible for its especially strong exterior shell.![The Mouth and]()
Bedbugs use their skin-piercing mouth parts to obtain their blood meal. The purple structures on the bottom left and right are believed to be scent glands. With their shoddy vision, bedbugs must rely on these glands to find their prey: They are first attracted to carbon dioxide, but also heat, along with various chemicals.![Eye of the Bug]()
This chilling close-up reveals one of the compound eyes of the bedbug. The multipart structure makes them especially sensitive to movement.![Mother and Child]()
A full-size mother and its child sit side by side. Bedbugs will shed their skin through a molting process as they mature. They will typically molt six times before reaching adult size.![Bug-Sniffing Dogs]()
With bedbugs appearing on a scale not seen since before World War II, pest control companies are scrambling to respond. One of the strategies has been to employ bedbug-sniffing dogs -- such as Radar, seen here in a New York City demonstration by Advanced K9 Detectives.Attack of the Bedbugs
Bedbugs are taking over America. They're everywhere -- in the workplace, at the movie theater, even in the Empire State Building. Worst of all, they're invading your bedroom.
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- Attack of the Bedbugs
