It’s the obsession of the moment… They wander around in the metro, on train seats or even in cinemas. Bedbugs have been getting a lot of attention in recent weeks. Even though there are numerous infestations at the moment… These little creatures are nothing new. A study published by the British journal Current Biology in 2019, demonstrated that bedbugs have been evolving on Earth for 115 million years (just that!).
These parasites can appear in all seasons. They love to live in all everyday textile objects: clothing, carpet, bedding, sofas and are very difficult to eradicate. They are most often found under mattresses or sofas, where they are protected from light. On the human body, bed bugs cause red patches, small pimples or itching. Imagine seeing a bedbug in your hair… A real nightmare! Faced with this, one question remains: can they really cling to hair?
Can bedbugs lodge and bite in our hair?
The little ones’ fear is catching lice in the schoolyard. Older children are afraid of catching bedbugs and bringing them home. The worst being, finding one pecking on the top of your head. Even though these hematophagous insects (which feed on blood) prefer dark places to reproduce, they are not likely to get into your mane. Phew!
Indeed, bed bugs have neither hooks nor claws on the end of their six legsit is then impossible for them to cling to the hair. “Bed bugs don’t like hairy areas. They prefer to bite in areas that are fuzz-free, hairless, and hair-free,” explains the company EDN (Extermination of Pests) in an article on their site. “It’s also not easy for bed bugs to move through human hair because their bodies don’t slide easily,” sues the company specializing in the eradication of parasites. Considering the movements we make on a daily basis, bedbugs therefore have no chance of being able to cling to the hair.
This explanation was confirmed by Jean-Michel Bérenger, entomologist and bedbug specialist, in an interview with Femme Actuelle. “Bed bugs don’t like hair, so they don’t take the risk of climbing on top of us to sting us.” Even if bedbugs panic public opinion, there is therefore no need to worry about the invasion of these parasites in your hair.
Read also :
⋙ Bedbugs: are they dangerous for our animals?
⋙ Bedbug bites: how to recognize it and how to avoid infestation?
⋙ Bedbugs: these strategic places to inspect to spot an infestation