Whether on, under or in our bed, many little creatures call it home. In addition to the famous bed bug, a dozen other of these little monsters are worth mentioning. If some are well known, others are surely to be discovered to better avoid them.
The little "stars" of our bed!
When you combine "insect" and "bed" in the same sentence, the bedbug immediately comes to mind! These heteroptera insects of the Cimicidae family are a nuisance for travelers, who often bring them home in their luggage. These critters - which are hard to get rid of - wait patiently for the night to suck our blood and leave some bite marks, some itching - and in the worst case an allergic reaction.
There are also ticks and fleas that cling to clothing - or pets - during a walk in nature, or lice whose favorite place is the scalp. In the "bed aficionados" category, let's also mention dust mites (see image below) and other spiders!
Lesser known beasties
The insects and others mentioned above are the best known for their presence on our bodies, our clothes, our animals, and therefore our beds. However, there are others, less known.
One example is the carpet beetle, which enters our homes through an open window. Appreciating textiles in general, this insect likes linen, carpets and mattresses. The small beetle is in the form of a larva and its food is wood. This one nibbles the wood of the bed by making round holes, and thus causes an important infection which can go until the collapse.
Finally, let's mention the nematode, a kind of roundworm that is often found in soil, water, sediment or even dead wood. Many species lead a life of parasites, and they are found quite often in the human intestines. At nightfall, the female is likely to emerge to lay eggs around the anus and this is where the underwear becomes infested. This can therefore also be the case for sleepwear, as well as bed sheets.
Sources: Courrier International - Notre Temps
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