For centuries, bed bugs have plagued people while they sleep. The widespread use of DDT largely put a stop to bed bug infestations after World War II, but these pests definitely have made a comeback in recent years.
This is partially because people travel more than they used to, but it also is credited to people being less vigilant about such infestations today than they were in decades past.
Bed bug infestations may occur in apartments, single-family dwellings, hotels and dorms. However, these are not the only places where these pests may be encountered. Bed bugs have made themselves at home in shelters, schools, libraries, nursing homes, hospitals, offices and theaters. They may be picked up while on public transportation or while visiting a municipal building.
With bed bugs becoming a more widespread problem, it clearly is time for people to draw a hard line against these infestations by calling an exterminator.
WHAT DO BED BUGS LOOK LIKE?
These small, parasitic insects typically are a brownish color. Their flat bodies are shaped like an oval and measure approximately three-sixteenths of an inch. Because of their similar appearance, bed bugs commonly are mistaken for cockroaches, ticks or carpet beetles.
Bed bugs do not have wings, and they cannot jump like fleas do. However, they are capable of rapid crawling over any surface, including ceilings.
Bed bug eggs are difficult to find because they are approximately the size of a speck of dust and whitish in color. This makes it easy for them to be overlooked when people try DIY control methods. Accordingly, infestations may be inadvertently allowed to continue unless treatment is performed by a professional.
WHAT DO BED BUGS EAT?
Bed bugs have only one food source: Blood that they obtain from mammals. Although people are preferred as a source of blood, bed bugs also may feed on rodents, dogs, cats and birds.
After a blood meal, bed bugs look redder and their bodies become rounder. They are capable of surviving for months without a meal, which can make these infestations particularly persistent and difficult to control with anything less than the most stringent methods.
WHERE DO BED BUGS HIDE?
As they are capable of fitting into crevices that are no wider than a toothpick, bed bugs are well-adapted to hide. Another adaptation that makes these pests difficult to locate is that they do not construct nests or choose a single spot in which to congregate.
Instead, bed bugs spend the day hidden, usually in close proximity to the places where people sleep at night. During an infestation, these pests are likely to be found in headboards, foot boards, box springs, mattresses and bed frames. Stains and dark spots often discolor these items, giving away the presence of the insects.
On mattresses, bed bugs are most likely to be seen along seams and creases. Box springs offer many hiding places, with the upper seams and the bottom edge of the box spring where it sits on the frame being particularly favorable. Each crevice of bed frames, headboards and footboards can provide a good hiding spot. These items may need to be dismantled to determine the extent of the infestation.
When infestations are allowed to persist, then bed bugs may begin to hide in places that are farther away from beds. This includes bedside tables, light switch plates, remote controls, books and light fixtures.
DAMAGE CAUSED BY BED BUGS
Rodents and termites may cause more destruction to property, but bed bugs do make a mess out of beds, sofas and other places where people relax. During an infestation, mattresses, box springs and other infested items will show dry, dark spots that are bed bug excrement. These stains can be difficult to remove.
Similarly, people who are enduring a bed bug infestation may see their sheets and pajamas stained with red, rusty stains. These stains appear after bed bugs that are engorged by blood are inadvertently crushed.
Living with a bed bug infestation can be extremely challenging. Most people are made uneasy by the idea of blood-sucking parasites feeding on them at night. This knowledge takes an emotional and psychological toll.
ARE BED BUGS AGGRESSIVE?
Bed bugs are among the few pests that are guaranteed to bite each time that people encounter them. Accordingly, this can make them seem aggressive. The good news is that these pests are small, and their bites tend not to be painful.
Still, bed bug infestations are notoriously difficult to treat unless professional control methods are utilized. This can make people feel as though their bed bug problem is never ending.
DO BED BUGS CARRY DISEASE?
Bed bugs are most active when people are sleeping at night, and their biting and feeding usually go undetected until the morning. Fortunately, bed bugs are not known to spread diseases to people with these bites.
While bed bug bites usually are initially painless, they can transform into itchy welts. They may be distinguished from flea bites because of their location. Fleas tend to focus on biting around the person's ankles while bed bugs will bite any exposed skin.
HOW TO DETECT BED BUGS
Signs of a bed bug presence include:
• Dry, dark spots on mattresses and box springs • Reddish, rusty spots on pillowcases, sheets and pajamas • Shed skins or discarded egg shells in the bedroom • A musty odor emitted by the insects' scent glands when the problem is particularly advanced • Waking up with red, itchy spots
HOW TO PREVENT BED BUGS
To help project against a bed bug infestation the following steps should be taken:
• Examine secondhand furniture, clothing and other items before bringing them home • Check hotel rooms for an infestation before settling in • Encase box springs and mattresses in special protective covers • Eliminate clutter to minimize bed bug hiding spots • Ensure that door sweeps are installed in multi-family units • Seal any cracks in walls or around light sockets and baseboards
PROVEN BED BUG CONTROL EFFECTIVENESS
Although technological advances have been made in the fight against bed bugs, conventional bed bug extermination methods still prove to be among the most effective in eradicating infestations for several key reasons.
Firstly, the conventional bed bug method utilizes a crack and crevice treatment process designed to eradicate bed bugs in places most other treatment methods are not able to penetrate.
Secondly, the standard method for bed bug extermination employs the use of materials that not only kill existing bed bugs, but offer residual protection against future infestations.
AFFORDABLE BED BUG ERADICATION
Professional bed bug control is typically the only reliable, guaranteed method for ending an infestation. Studies indicate that this species is largely immune to many of the pest control treatments that are available to the public. In most cases, do-it-yourself products ultimately prove to be a time-consuming and hopeless task.
Newtown Termite & Pest Control, Inc. is a certified pest control company that has been providing homes and businesses with bed bug extermination for nearly 30 years.
As a certified exterminator we have access to all of the professional-grade products that are currently available for residential and commercial use. That is why we can offer our 100% assurance guarantee. It provides for follow-up treatments as needed to ensure your complete satisfaction.
Speak with a certified bed bug control professional who can answer all of your questions.
