When it comes to tormenting pests, few would disagree that bed bugs should be on the top of the list–if such a list actually existed. There is something extremely unsettling about having multiple bugs crawling on us while we’re sleeping. And these bugs aren’t content to just crawl on us. They attach and feed multiple times. That is just not okay–at all. If you agree, take a moment to read down through this quick list of important bed bug facts everyone should know.
Bed Bug Facts
- Bed bugs are hitchhikers. Entomologists use terminology like, passive dispersal, to describe how bed bugs get from your neighbor’s house to your house, but it simply means that they hitchhike. They climb into or lay their eggs in items that are worn or carried. Anyone can bring them into your home, even you.
- When it comes to bed bug prevention, we’re all in this together. Keeping bed bugs out of your home is a team effort. Since they are hitchhikers, you’re not going to stop them by having a pest professional put a perimeter barrier in place. You have to educate the people who come and go from your home so that everyone is on the same page.
- Bed bugs don’t just live in motels and hotels. You’ve probably heard that bed bugs often come back home with people after a vacation. While this is true, it isn’t the only way bed bugs will come into your home because infestations are being found in an ever-increasing number of business types. You can get them when you borrow a library book. You can get them when your college kids come home for the holidays. You can get them when you grandparents visit from the senior living center. You can get them after your young kids have a sleepover. They can come in the mail from a clothing retailer. The list goes on and on. It is important to understand that these blood-eating pests can come from practically anywhere.
- Bed bugs don’t just feed at night. Immature nymphs can feed in the daytime. They do, however, prefer to do this in the darkness. This has led to infestations in movie theaters, taxi cabs, and more. Any business that offers a place for people to sit down in the dark can have a bed bug infestation. Bites from bed bugs are often undetectable.
- Bed bugs are a growing problem. At the end of the 1990s, a bed bug infestation in the United States was unheard of. Now they are a pest that every pest control professional deals with all the time. Some pest control companies do several heat treatments a week.
What You Can Do To Protect Against Bed Bugs
- Know what a bed bug looks like in all stages of development. Bed bug eggs are 1mm in length, pale white, and are often in batches. Bed bugs begin life as an immature nymph that is pale white in color and mostly transparent. If an immature nymph has had a blood meal, you will see the bright red blood in its abdomen. As bed bugs develop they become tan and then finally a rusty brown color. Unfed bed bugs are flat and oval-shaped. Fed bed bugs are bloated and pill-shaped. All bed bugs have six legs, two antennae, and horizontal creases on the abdomen.
- Know what signs bed bugs leave. If there is an infestation, you should see black streaks, black patches, black droppings, white eggs, shed insects skins, brown or tan blood stains, or the presence of bed bugs. You may also notice a foul odor.
- Know where bed bugs hide. These insects do not like to be seen. They establish themselves in stitching, holes, recesses, creases, seams, pockets, and other hiding places. While they prefer beds, they can also be found in walls, baseboards, carpet edges, outlets, furniture, electronics, and more.
If you ever find bed bugs in your home, contact a professional. These pests are notoriously difficult to eliminate without an education in pest control and an understanding of their habits and habitats. For residents in East Texas, reach out to Innovative Pest Control. We offer bed bug solutions you can count on.
Categories:
- Bed Bug Control,
- Bed Bug Prevention,
- Bed Bugs in Texas
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