There is a common phrase said to kids before going to sleep: “don’t let the bedbugs bite”. Children take it light hardly,  but now the phrase really needs to be taken seriously. A new study done by the University of Sydney has revealed that bed bugs are becoming more resistant, therefore harder to get rid of than they already were.

According to CNN, bedbugs have developed thicker skin that allows them to survive the harsh bug spray chemicals, so the more they are fought against, the more they are able to resist.

Bedbugs are blood-sucking parasites that, according to an article written by Missy Henriksen in American School and University, look similar to that of a flat apple seed. They tend to hideout in dark, hidden places with access to a food supply, such as mattresses, suitcases, boxes, wallpaper, picture frames, furniture crevices, and shoes. Their high reproductive rate makes them hard to get rid of; a female bug can lay one to five eggs in just one day. They are among many different types of infestations that can happen.

“I have never had a bedbug infestation, but we had bats once in our old house,” senior Gabi Geraci said.

As stated in an article written by D. Benson Tesdahl in Successful Meetings, the phrase “sleep tight” came from when people slept on beds of crossed ropes that sagged over time and required tightening. Often found in these beds were bed bugs, coming out at night to feast and leave red bite marks on their victims, which led to the famous phrase..

“My mom use to say ‘sleep tight, don’t let the bedbugs bite’ when I was little,” senior Sam Evanson said.

As reported by CNN, if you have an infestation, you can get a professional extermination that ranges from $200 to $1,500, but it often fails. Once you are bitten, see a doctor to get a prescription for ointment and invest in some bug spray. Infested items can be disposed of and replaced it with new, clean furniture.

As research into bed bug resistance continues, the war wages on against the persistent pests.

“Bedbug are so gross, I hope I never have to deal with them,” senior Mia Geraci said.