An Overview of Bed Bugs from a Pest Control Professional

What about bed bugs?

One of the most feared parasites, bed bugs are a pain to find. They spread quickly and are not picky when it comes to sucking blood. From roadside motels to five-star hotels, any location can experience a problem. Here are some facts about bed bugs, as well as how to spot and treat an infestation.

(Not so funny) Fun Facts

Cimex lectularius, also known as bedbugs, are reddish-brown in color. They are small, 1 to 7 mm in size, and flat, oval in shape. Driven out of hiding by the carbon dioxide emitted from the breath of humans and animals, they live off the blood of sleeping victims. Although they take 5 to 15 minutes to feed, they can survive for months on a single meal. They are found all over the world, in all environments. Although they produce annoying bites, they are not known to spread any disease and pose no known long-term physical threat to victims. Also, unlike many pests that die or hibernate during colder temperatures, bed bugs are quite hardy, able to survive in freezing temperatures of up to 120 degrees.

Brotherhood of the traveling bugs?

For the most part, you will find bed bugs in and around bedrooms. They hide during the day in places like mattress seams, box springs, bed frames, headboards, dressers, interior cracks or crevices, behind wallpaper, or any other clutter or objects around a bed. Although they like to stay within 8 feet of the sleeping area, they are quite capable of traveling with a host. They can squeeze into the seams of luggage and folded clothing, and continue on their journey. This makes diligence when traveling very important.

If you are traveling by way of a hotel, cruise ship, plane, Airbnb, bus, train, boarding house or any other public accommodation, it is recommended to check for bed bugs before sleeping or sitting in bed. The best way to check a mattress is to lift the sheets from one corner of the bed, looking for blood, strange colored spots or dots, strange odors, or any other abnormal physical excrement. Never leave your bags or sit on a bed before checking in.

I’ve been a bit!

Bed bug bites often look a lot like mosquito bites, i.e. red bumps, except they are a bit smaller. They can be random or in a straight line and take a few days to develop. Known side effects of these common pests include insomnia and anxiety. After a few days, they can be moderately to more severely itchy for some. Others don’t even realize they’ve been bitten, making infestations quite difficult to tackle at times.

So, you have an infestation…

It’s okay, don’t panic! You have done nothing wrong and this problem can be fixed. If you are a renter, it is recommended that you contact your landlord immediately if you suspect an infestation. If you are a home or business owner, you should contact an experienced pest control professional directly at 877-DEAD-BUG. Expert help is the best way to eliminate a bed bug problem, as these pests are elusive and often extremely difficult to eradicate without outside intervention.

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