Why bed bugs stink - what and how do bed bugs smell. Grass (cilantro) and noble brandy, why bed bugs smell

Reader Question:

Inna

For some time now, friends and acquaintances, when they enter our apartment, notice the appearance of a specific smell, reminiscent of the aroma of cognac or stale berries. I thought it was just their imagination, or the smell was coming from the "vestibule" - the anteroom in the closed common corridor of the entrance hall. But yesterday I also smelled something unpleasant. And it happened not when entering the apartment, when you suddenly open the door, and immediately felt everything that the owners live. I noticed the stench while doing business in my husband's office.
There's a couch in the room, where we sometimes have to sleep if we have relatives coming over for a sleepover. Just the other day they moved out. I started looking for it, of course, and found bedbugs inside the frame. And the condition of the sofa was terrible: the walls inside were all black, there were a lot of parasites. It's a shame about the sofa, it's leather, but I will have to throw it away. Also found traces of insects and in our bedroom. Here I decided to fight for the furniture, cleaning with different products. I began to wonder why bed bugs stink. Maybe there is a way to avoid such a nuisance as the appearance of a specific smell at home. Thank you for the answer. Inna.

The author of the portal answers the question:

The physiological, natural cause of the odor. Close-up photo of a bed bug

Home parasites reach in 6-8 mm in lengthThe species is characterized by brown coloration as an adult or milky-white at the stage of maturity. Representatives of the species are characterized by a brown coloration as an adult or milky-white at the stage of larvae.

They have 3 pairs of limbs, no wings, and the back is segmented.

The basis of the principle of the existence of such insects - communication with each other, the ability to transmit information in various situations. This function is realized through the secretion by the glands of a special secretion. The substance is characterized by a specific smell. If you wonder what it smells like bedbugsIn the first place, the aroma of old cognac is mentioned. Less common is the notion that the secret secret secreted by bed bugs smells like sour raspberries.

The intensity of the odor is low if the room is small parasites. A few weeks after infection, there are pronounced signs of the presence of insects. This is due to the fact that a large number of parasites, as they exist, simultaneously secrete a special secretion.

The pheromone contains elements of the alkane class and aldehydes. But the parasite begins to stink when the secret gets into the air.

Is bedbug stench dangerous to humans

Smell by itself does not contribute to the development of negative reactions, diseases, pathological conditions. However, as its intensity increases, the risk of signs of human allergy increases. Symptoms:

• sneezing;
• allergic rhinitis;
• itchy throat;
• respiratory dysfunction, up to and including asthma attack (in people with high sensitivity).

At the same time there are signs of allergy to parasite bites. A strong odor indicates that there are already a lot of bed bugs in the room. They will bite the victim, resulting in a large number of red spots on the body. Sometimes these conditions cause complications even in people who are not prone to developing allergies. So, an increase in the intensity of the odor causes harm not directly, but indirectly.

In addition, it is unpleasant to be in a room that smells of the sweet, cloying secretion of insects.

Why Bedbugs Stink

This is a physiological feature. If you wonder why bed bugs stink, you need to learn more about the principles of interaction of such parasites. They "communicate" with each other, find the source of food by perceiving scents. This is facilitated by a sensitive sense of smell. Bed bugs emit pheromones in different cases:

• in mating;
• when a danger arises: if a person detects them or the process of poisoning begins, bed bugs tend to hide in a safe place, they may even leave the object if they do not find a suitable area.

Do bed bugs smell?

Thus, bedwetting parasites also release pheromones during reproduction, as do members of other species.

Do house bugs smell if you squash them?

When the integrity of the chitinous membrane is broken, substances are released into the air that are characterized by an unpleasant odor. However, house bugs are not the smelly ones. Even when pressed, they do not emit as strong an odor as predators or herbivores do when their shells are breached.

In the latter case, the odor from a single pest will be much more pronounced than if a whole colony of house insects is mechanically damaged.

In addition, crushing them is not so easy in a hungry state. Parasites are injured without much effort on the part of the person, only if they have received a portion of food, the body has increased several times. Then it is possible to accidentally crush the parasite. But it should be taken into account that in this case a sharp smell will not be released, but gradually it will be felt intensifying in the room.

What grass smells like bedbugs

In addition, cilantro is believed to be a good honeybee.

The plant is widely popular in spite of its specific aroma. Thus, during flowering, a bedbug odor appears. This is no coincidence. The name "cilantro" translates from Greek as "bedbug"(cinnamon). Everyone knows about this property of greens, but its use in cooking is not always welcome. For example, cilantro is not often used in European cuisine.

The Stinkiest Bedbugs

Not all pests emit an intense odor. There are more than 40,000 species of bed bugs in the semiparasitic category. One of the most unpleasant at close acquaintance are street bugs. But even among them there is a group of the stinkiest - these are members of the shield family. They live in the open countryside and feed on plants. For protection, such insects have a hard shell, a bright coloring, as well as a strong unpleasant smell. And the substances that are released can cause harm to small insects.

All of these signs help warn natural enemies of the danger that awaits those on the attack.

To protect against such an invasion, it is sufficient to install mosquito nets on the windows.

Bedbugs and cognac: what a noble beverage should smell like

The opinion that such insects and liquor have the same smell is based on associations. Those who have tasted cognac claim that it smells exactly like bedbugs. Others believe that it is the insects that smell of such an alcoholic beverage. In fact, the truth is somewhere in the middle.

The insects exude an odor that is somewhat reminiscent of cognac.

Previously, the liquor was aged in oak barrels for 15-20 years. During this time it absorbed tannins and other substances contained in the wood. As a result, it acquired a characteristic aroma. But the smell of bedbugs also resembles other aromas, such as spoiled raspberries and almonds.

Variety of stink bugs

Representatives of almost all species of these insects are capable of leaving an unpleasant impression upon "acquaintance". Only water pests do not have such a function. Among garden pests there are representatives of some species, which emit a specific smell:

1. Berry Shield. This insect is an interesting color: with a glossy sheen, reddish-brown hue with yellowish undertones, punctuated on the sides. The body length is up to 12 mm. Shieldworms attack plants of various species, including vegetable crops, berry bushes, as well as technical plants, ornamental flowers, grains, and oil-bearing varieties. They will exude an odor if there is a source of danger nearby. Then the berries will be spoiled. Many people are familiar with the situation when an outwardly undamaged raspberry turns out to be completely spoiled if you try it.
2. Turtle Bug. These bugs stink just as much as their counterparts of other species. In terms of body length, the insect corresponds to the Berry Shieldmouse, but differs in other features - the color is faded (light brown), the shell is rounded, resembling that of a tortoise. These insects have wings, thanks to which they move significant distances. Bed bugs of this species prefer to live on grain crops. They contribute to lower wheat yields.
3. Soldier Bug. This insect also exudes a specific odor, but it is less intense than other pests. The insect can be recognized by its black-red, narrow body. It is considered conditionally nonhazardous, because soldiers live on tree trunks, near fences, on stumps. Such insects smell much stronger when crushed than in life.

What to do if a stink bug has bitten a cat

ParasitesThe couch dwellers can attack not only humans but also animals. However, they only consider alternative food sources if there are no other sources of blood. True stink bugs (plant eaters) are not in the habit of attacking warm-blooded creatures. This is because they don't have a powerful enough mouthpiece to do so. So, if a cat has been bitten by a bedbug, it's likely that a predator pest has done so.

Bed bugs of this group can bite large creatures, but they do so only in self-defense.

If it appears that an insect has attacked the cat, you should treat the bite site with an antiseptic. You can also go to the veterinarian when signs of allergy appear in the pet. But in most cases such bites quickly go away without consequences.

How to get rid of the stinky smell in the house

Bed bugs ruin furniture. They leave behind numerous dark stains - excrement. As well as the release of pheromones, this factor contributes to the appearance of an unpleasant smell. It can be completely eliminated only if traces of insects have been removed. But in case of an acute need, the smell can be masked. To do this, use improvised means.

Folk methods

When it is not possible to reduce the concentration of the parasite secretion (for example, during the poisoning process or during the preservation phase of the apartment after treatment), use recipes:

• irrigate surfaces with a solution based on essential oils, you can add a few drops in 1 liter of liquid or 1 tsp. in a glass of water, the concentration of the aromatic component will be higher in the second case;
• herbs that smell pleasant, such as lavender, are placed around the apartment; in addition, this method will help scare away parasites;
• use citrus fruits to improve the aroma of the house, you can use fresh peels, it spreads inside upholstered furniture, cabinets.

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Council of Experts

Anna

Entomologist, researcher. Work experience of 16 years.

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- if you crush a bedbug, immediately there will be an unpleasant smell, even domestic individuals are not recommended to crush, a more effective method - disinsection, to wait until you can do the cleaning, you can partially clean surfaces (where the most traces of insects);
- General cleaning to eliminate the smell cannot be performed earlier than 2 weeks after spraying the insecticide, as this will reduce the effectiveness of the treatment, at this stage the smell will have to be tolerated or aids (fragrances, essential oils) will have to be used;
- The best way to mask an unpleasant odor is to use a combination of strong-smelling substances (different types of essential oils).

Conclusion

Many bedbug species are capable of creating intolerable conditions in the home. Physiology contributes to this. Features:

1. Insects secrete special substances characterized by an intense odor. This occurs during mating and in order to warn fellow insects of danger.
2. The smell of pests is not dangerous to humans if small amounts of pheromones are released into the air and they have a short effect on the body. In other cases, high concentrations of such substances can cause allergies.
3. Only water bugs do not emit a specific smell. Domestic parasites, on the other hand, like outdoor ones, have this function. Garden insects have a higher intensity of smell.