All of these questions have answers, and we are here to provide them. At Rid-A-Bug, we have been treating homes with bedbugs and more for years and know a thing or two about these common household pests. Consider us your bedbug experts as we guide you through the depths of knowledge that we have gathered over the years about bedbugs.
What Are Bed Bugs?
Bed bugs are in fact real, and they are small wingless insects that feed on human blood. These tiny little vampires are parasitic creatures, but unlike other parasites, they do not stay attached to the host. Similar to mosquitoes, they feed and then leave their host and hide.
Adult bed bugs are reddish brown and the size of an apple seed with an oval-shaped body. Nymphs are very tiny and are translucent in color. These creatures can be found all over the world, and like to live particularly in:
- Apartments
- Shelters
- Hotels
- Dorm Rooms
- Cruise Ships
- Buses
- Trains
- Boarding Houses
Bed bugs are notorious for being prolific at reproduction, and can quickly infest a home. Therefore it is important to catch bed bugs as early on as possible so that they do not take over your home.
Are Bed Bugs Spreaders of Disease?
Many parasites are known for spreading diseases such as Lyme disease, or malaria. Lucky for us, bed bugs do not spread diseases like other parasitic creatures. Bites from a bed bug can cause small itchy marks, and some people may be allergic to bed bugs.
One of the biggest problems with bed bug bites is that the bite itself is pretty much indistinguishable from other bug bites. The biggest indicator is that they typically bite in clusters. Each cluster usually contains 3 to 5 bites that appear in a zigzag pattern.
Bed Bugs Hiding Spots
Due to their size, bed bugs are notorious for their hiding skills. These tiny creatures will typically hide close to their food source (human blood) which is typically in furniture that a person sits or sleeps on. With that said, bed bugs don't just hide in these places.
Bed bugs can be found just about anywhere if there is an infestation. You may find them hiding in headboards, nightstands, and other furniture. Sometimes they can be found in the wallpaper, and have shown up in more surprising places like electronics.
How To Find Them
Because bed bugs are nocturnal (meaning they do most of their business at night) they can be relatively hard to find. Typically your first sign of bed bugs is what they leave behind. This could be anything from dark spots on bedding to skin casings that are shed as a bed bug matures.
Finding evidence like this can be hard, so it is important to pay attention to the seams of your mattress, your headboard, and anywhere else that they may hide.
Best Way To Get Rid of Bed Bugs
One of the biggest problems with bed bugs is that they are relatively hardy pests. They can survive for up to a year without a meal and can handle temperatures between 0 and 125 degrees Fahrenheit. Most bug sprays don't even touch bed bugs, and home remedies are often ineffective.
To eliminate a bed bug infestation, you have to get serious and use a multifaceted approach. The first thing to do is to get the house clean and reduce any clutter so that they do not have places to hide. Furthermore, it is important to wash any clothes, blankets, bedspreads, and pillowcases with hot water, and then dry them with high heat for at least 30 minutes.
While the DIY route does work, there are several precautions you must take. Foggers may have their place but can cause fire and explosions when used improperly. Foggers are also not very effective, as they can't reach all of the crevices where bed bugs like to hide.
Since bed bugs are so hard to get rid of, we recommend working with a professional pest company. Pest control experts can help you identify and locate bed bugs throughout your home while treating the house and coming up with a maintenance plan to ensure that they do not come back.
Rid-A-Bug - Answering the Call of Pest Control
If you are worried about a bed bug infestation, or any kind of pest infestation for that matter, the experts at Rid-A-Bug have your back. Not only can we help you figure out what is turning your home into a bug magnet, but we can also establish a pest control solution that works for you and your home to eradicate pests.
Our experienced technicians will quickly and accurately diagnose the type of infestation and deliver an effective and safe solution. Contact us today for a free quote!