Bed bugs, bed bugs, bed bugs- yes, we are still talking about bed bugs. The reason that we are continuing to talk about and inform people about bed bugs is because they are still very much an issue in homes and businesses all across the United States. Knowing as much as you can about these tiny blood-sucking pests is the first step to making sure that they don’t move into your home and start feeding on you and your family!
One of the best and most accurate descriptions of an adult bed bug is an apple seed with legs. Adults grow to be about ¼ of an inch in length and are brownish-red in color, becoming redder in color after recently feeding. Bed bugs are parasitic pests whose favorite host, unfortunately for us, is humans.
The flat oval body shape of the bed bug allows them to hide virtually unnoticed during the day in the cracks of walls and wooden furniture, behind picture frames, underneath of baseboards and floorboards, and under and in the seams of box springs and mattresses. They will then come out at night to feed on their hosts- us.
Bed bugs do not fly or jump, so instead they hitchhike their way from one host to another by climbing onto people or into their belongings. Airports, hotels, motels, libraries, movie theaters, and shopping centers are all common places that people come into contact with and accidentally introduce bed bugs into a home.
Bed bugs leave behind several signs that they have entered into a home, knowing what these signs are will help to identify a problem as quickly as possible and allow treatment to begin sooner rather than later!
Signs of a bed bug infestation in a home include:
- Bed bugs are not neat eaters, and as they feed they will leave behind droplets of blood on your sheets and linens.
- You may also notice black flecks on your sheets, mattresses, and box springs. This is fecal matter that they leave behind after feeding.
- In the case of a larger infestation, you may start to notice a sickly sweet odor in your home.
- While not as common and more difficult to spot, some homeowners will find piles of shed exoskeletons or eggs that the adult bed bugs deposit.
- Waking up in the morning with unexplained bug bites similar to mosquito bites can be a sign also, however, this sign alone isn’t a very reliable indicator, since their bites look very similar to other insect bites.
If bed bugs have accidentally been introduced into your home you should call a professional bed bug control expert as quickly as possible. At American Pest Solutions we can get rid of all the bed bugs, nymphs, and eggs living in your home through our professional bed bug control services.
Our technicians will first find and locate the bed bugs living in your home with the help of our K-9 bed bug detection dogs. These specially trained dogs are fast, non-invasive, and very accurate in detecting bed bugs; whether you have tens or hundreds living in your home they will find them! If bed bugs are detected, our trained technicians will provide you with bed bug control services. This includes a balance of non-chemical controls, insecticide treatments, and chemical pesticides to provide you with a safe and effective long-term control over bed bugs!
For more information about bed bugs, our services, or to schedule a free evaluation, contact the bed bug experts at American Pest Solutions today!