Few pests generate more hate and disgust than bed bugs. These little creatures have come to be firmly associated with dirty, unkempt houses and unhygienic living conditions. Unlike most urban legends and old cowboy movies, the reality is very different. Bed bugs are not interested in your housekeeping skills or the cleanliness of your home. Finding them in your home is pure bad luck and a combination of unpleasant circumstances.
Bed bugs are tiny, apple seed-shaped insects, averaging around 1/4 inch in size. They are light mahogany in color when not filled with food, turning reddish-brown and almost doubling in size as they feed. Bed bugs survive on blood, and while any mammal can be a suitable food source, these disgusting little creatures are fond of human blood.
Let's talk about how to check for bed bugs in your home, how to prevent a bed bug infestation, and what Anderson pest control professionals believe is the best bed bug treatment available to keep your home free of these little invaders.
How To Properly Check For Bed Bugs
Unlike most other invasive insects (cockroaches are officially the fastest-moving creature on dry land), bed bugs in Anderson can't move fast or fly. Their approach to both staying alive and hunting is a superior camouflage ability; they can stay out of sight of their prey and natural predators. They enter your home as hitchhikers attached to your clothes or luggage and hide out of sight until you're asleep, and it's time to feed.
The key to stopping a bed bug infestation is to catch it early before its numbers get out of control. To check for the early signs of bed bugs in your home:
Look for reddish-brown bed bug fecal spots on your bedding.
Check the bed and surrounding area for bed bug eggs, egg shells, and molted skins.
Pay attention to bed bug bites on your skin; they're usually the first sign of an infestation.
Musty pheromone smells that bed bugs use to communicate and mark their territory.
Since bed bugs like to stay close to their food source (you), carefully check the bedding. Once done, check the bed frame and any surrounding joints and crevices for live insects and bed bug eggs. Keep in mind that bed bugs can fit in crevices less than 1/8 inch wide and only come out during the hours we are most likely to be asleep between 12 A.M and 5 A.M.
Everyday Bed Bug Prevention Tips
An effective strategy for bed bug control consists of simply preventing them from getting into your home. Start with:
Giving hotel rooms, you stay in a careful once over for signs of bed bug infestation.
Don't set luggage on the floor in public buildings.
Be very careful about bringing second-hand furniture into your home.
Toss your clothes in the wash and dry them on high when you return home.
If, regardless of your best attempts to keep these blood-feeding hitchhikers outside of your walls, you're starting to see signs of bed bugs in your home, it's time to get a professional involved.
DIY Bed Bug Control Is A Waste Of Time And Money
Over the millennia, bed bugs have been around; they've developed into world-class hitchhikers and ninja-like home infiltrators. Bed bugs can squeeze through a crack 1/8 inch wide, survive temperatures up to 120 °F, and survive up to several months waiting for their next meal.
Unlike most insects, bed bugs can live for over a year, and each female can lay up to 12 eggs each day-adding up to over 3,500 eggs waiting to hatch into disgusting little bed bugs courtesy of setting down your suitcase in a hotel room. Each bed bug egg missed during a DIY attempt at clearing up a bed bug infestation is a likely reinfestation you'll end up dealing with in the future.
Call Us At The First Sign Of Bed Bugs In Your Home
At Priority Pest & Contracting Inc, we have over 35 years of experience helping Anderson homeowners keep their homes pest free.
We utilize environmentally friendly yet effective bed bug control treatments to ensure your home is pest-free and stays that way.
If your Anderson home is infested with bed bugs, call us for an over-the-phone quote.