What are bed bugs?
Bed bugs got their name from their habit of feeding on our blood while we are sleeping. Knowing what bed bugs are and how to identify them is important because these pests can find their way into any home or business. They are excellent hitchhikers and move across towns, cities, and countries with ease on people and our belongings. Bed bugs feed on the blood of mammals, but humans are their preferred source of blood. If we are not available, they can survive for a few months without a blood meal, or they will feed on the blood of our pets or other animals, such as rodents.
What, exactly, a bed bug looks like depends on whether or not it has recently fed. Before feeding, an adult bed bug has a reddish-brown, oval-shaped, wingless body that is flat from top to bottom; this allows it to easily hide out of sight in tight cracks and crevices. They have short antennae, six legs. After feeding, their bodies become elongated and swollen, turning a deep purplish-red.
Are bed bugs dangerous?
While bed bugs are capable of harboring disease-causing pathogens, the spread of disease to people by bed bugs is not currently a big concern. The most significant medical concern when it comes to bed bugs is their itchy bites becoming infected, due to excessive itching. Additionally, the presence of bed bugs often causes sleepless nights and heightened anxiety for people whose homes they have invaded.
Why do I have a bed bug problem?
Bed bugs are a type of pest that can hitchhike their way into any home after a person unknowingly comes into contact with them. Bed bugs do not discriminate. As long as there’s a food source, the environment they are in doesn’t matter to them; however, bed bugs do like to hide in areas of clutter, and while homes with a lot of clutter won’t attract bed bugs, clutter can allow a bed bug infestation to develop unnoticed.
In addition to hitchhiking on people, luggage, purses, or other belongings, bed bugs move into homes on used furniture, mattresses, and electronics. In an apartment or other multi-unit buildings, they can move from unit to unit through the walls and floors using wires and pipes as a highway system.
Where will I find bed bugs?
Though a bed bug infestation often originates in a home’s sleeping areas, over time, bed bugs will travel through walls and floors and into other areas of a house. Inside our homes, common hiding spots for bed bugs include cracks in walls, floors, and wooden furniture. They also hide in the seams of mattresses and box springs, behind wood trim, in upholstered furniture, in keyboards, behind wall hangings, and inside wall voids behind outlets.
People can come into contact with bed bugs in a variety of places, including the homes of friends or relatives who are experiencing an infestation. Many public places also house bed bugs, including airports, schools, movie theaters, libraries, shopping centers, hospitals, and office buildings.
How do I get rid of bed bugs?
Get rid of bed bugs from your residential or commercial property with the help of the local experts at All Star Pest Control. We will eliminate bed bugs and other pests from your home or business and provide the follow-up services needed to prevent them from returning. We work closely with our customers to ensure that we meet all their pest control needs.
All Star Pest Control offers exceptional bed bug control services, using the most modern technology and products available. If you are ready to protect your Omaha, Nebraska home or business from pests, reach out to All Star Pest Control today. Our results are guaranteed!
How can I prevent bed bugs in the future?
The best way to prevent future problems with bed bugs is to partner with the professionals at All Star Pest Control. It is also important to implement the following prevention tips:
- Keep your home free of clutter to limit bed bug hiding spots.
- Never let dirty laundry pile up on the floor; bed bugs like to hide under piles of dirty laundry.
- Regularly vacuum your home’s floors, upholstered furniture, and the seams of mattresses.
- Place bed bug-proof covers on mattresses and box springs.
- Avoid buying used mattresses, box springs, or furniture for your home.
- In public places, keep personal belongings away from other people’s belongings, and off the ground.
- Always inspect your hotel room for signs of bed bugs before bringing luggage inside.
- After returning from travel, immediately wash all clothing taken on the highest heat settings the fabrics can handle.