For the entomologist Nugnes of the Cnr “hygiene represents a fundamental prevention tool”
The bedbug is more widespread. Then there are the better known mites, the rarer fleas, the small wasps that accompany woodworms in rooms with beams or antique furnishings and even beetles, in the presence of situations of extreme discomfort. Not to mention fungi and mold. There are several unwanted and undesirable guests in our beds, in addition to the bug that rose to the ‘honor’ of the news after the alarms in France and, in our home, the reports in Milan. Entomologist Francesco Nugnes, from the Institute for the Sustainable Protection of Plants of the Cnr of Portici (Naples), gave the picture to Adnkronos Salute.
“Bed bugs are actually more widespread and in this period we have had proof of this: it also ‘deserved’ many pages of newspapers”, recalls Nugnes. But infesting the beds “there may also be mites, arachnids cousins of spiders, which with their bites can cause abrasions on the skin and allergies in sensitive people. their presence”. Also in this case, as for bedbugs, “rather high hygiene represents a fundamental prevention tool. And in the presence of strong ‘colonizations’, it is necessary to turn to disinfestation specialists who intervene with targeted methodologies and products. Currently, for example, liquid nitrogen is particularly effective, although it can only be used by authorized and specialized technicians.”
The presence of mites, continues the expert, “can also be linked to wool mattresses or pillows, which, to be used safely, should always be adequately treated”. The presence of these tiny and invisible ‘spiders’ may be suspected due to “red skin or small wheals”, i.e. a localized swelling of the skin. The behavior found in some cities certainly contributes to the spread of bedbugs and mites recover old furnishings or even mattresses thrown away, but then taken to other homes, thus spreading the infestation. However, when you go to a hotel we don’t know, the advice is to look at the corners of the mattresses to see if there are small dark spots (traces of bedbug faeces) which indicate the presence of any infestations”. In more limited cases, always to very poor hygiene, “we can find fleas in the bed, even if these insects need the host’s body to live on – specifies the entomologist – while bedbugs and mites live close to humans”.
With extreme situations, of great discomfort, “in beds where one has the habit of eating and where there may be residues of meat food, it is also possible to find beetles that eat meat or that also attack fur. But these are truly extreme conditions limit,” Nugnes points out. A more particular case is that of a small wasp, domestic scleroderma, which can be found on the beds of houses where there are beams or large wooden furniture. “If there are woodworms – warns the expert – there may be a woodworm parasite, a wasp that looks like an ant, and which in some cases can fall onto the bed and sting humans”. Finally, “again due to poor hygiene and maintenance of the bed, mold and fungi can also find refuge on mattresses, blankets and sheets. But this is another field”, concludes Nugnes.
Source-www.adnkronos.com