Bed Bugs
(Cimex lectularius)
What are bed bugs?
A type of biting pest, bed bugs emerge from their daytime hiding spots to feed at night on the blood of their favorite hosts — people. Bed bugs prefer the blood of people and, as long as we’re available, they tend to ignore all animal hosts that are near. Although they are tiny, if you know what bed bugs looks like, they are easier to spot and identify. The best way to describe a bed bug is an apple seed with six legs. Their oval-shaped body is flattened from top to bottom and grows to about a quarter of an inch in length. They are wingless and are a reddish-brown color.
Are bed bugs dangerous?
Blood is the sole source of food for bed bugs, but even though bed bugs feed on blood, they are not as dangerous as other types of blood-feeding pests like ticks or mosquitoes. The spread of disease by bed bugs is not a huge concern for people. However, that doesn’t mean we should welcome these insects into our homes with open arms. Bites from bed bugs cause a range of reactions from almost no reaction to a severe allergic reaction. Also, bed bugs cause people sleepless nights and days filled with dread knowing that these pests are living with them in their home.
Why do I have a bed bug problem?
Bed bugs are a pest that can make a person’s skin crawl like almost no other. It is important to remember that bed bugs are indoor pests, and can find their way into any home at any time of the year. After coming into contact with bed bugs, they are accidentally brought into our homes either on our clothing or personal belongings. They also move inside on used things like mattresses and upholstered furniture. It is important to remember that a house that is “lived” in doesn’t attract bed bugs, just like a house that is super clean and organized won’t prevent bed bugs.
Where will I find bed bugs?
Bed bugs are found in many locations. Wherever there are people, there may be bed bugs. Homes, hotels, airports, movie theaters, shopping centers, hospitals, and schools are all places where bed bugs live and where people will come into contact with these crawling pests.
After they’re inside our homes, they first hide in sleeping areas, giving them easy access to their sleeping food sources. As the infestation grows, the bed bugs will move throughout a home, infesting multiple rooms and levels.
Common hiding spots for bed bugs include the seams of mattresses, cracks in walls, wood furniture, upholstered furniture, behind wood trim, in walls voids, in electronics, and within clutter. While a cluttered home does not attract bed bugs, clutter does help bed bugs to go unnoticed for a longer time.
How do I get rid of bed bugs?
Win the war against bed bugs and other pests with the help of an experienced professional. At Innovative Pest Solutions, we can provide fast and effective services that homeowners in the Raleigh, NC area can trust. We get rid of pests and stop them from coming back!
Protecting our customer’s home, health, and the environment are our top priorities. To learn more about our locally owned and operated company and our affordable pest solutions, reach out today! We will be happy to provide you with information about our home pest control options.
How can I prevent bed bugs in the future?
To prevent bed bugs from becoming a problem on your Raleigh, North Carolina property, partner with Innovative Pest Solutions. Also, implement the following tips to guard your home against bed bugs:
- Due to the large number of people coming and going from hotels and motels, they are a hot spot for bed bugs. Always inspect your hotel room for bed bugs before bringing personal belongings inside.
- After traveling, wash and dry all clothing you took with you on the highest heat settings the fabrics can handle.
- Do not place bags, coats, and other personal belongings on the floor in any public place.
- Take care when purchasing used items. Thoroughly inspect them for signs of bed bugs before bringing them into your home. If possible, never purchase used mattresses or upholstered furniture.
- Inside your home, keep it as clutter-free as possible to reduce hiding spots. Place bed bug-proof covers over mattresses and box springs to take away even more hiding spots from bed bugs.
- Vacuum your floors to get rid of stray bed bugs.
- Seal spaces that bed bugs can squeeze their bodies through and hide in by placing covers over outlets and repairing cracks in walls and spaces behind wood trim or baseboards.
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