Bed bugs are becoming a huge problem in the United States, making it necessary to have a whole week dedicated to awareness; and this year Bed Bug Awareness Week is from June 4th to the 10th. As part of the ‘festivities’ Quik-Kill Pest Eliminators wants you to know the facts about bed bugs; so we have devoted this blog to these elusive and often misunderstood pests.
Bed bugs can be found anywhere their main source of food lives, so you will find them in places where humans and warm-blooded animals frequent. Bed bugs frequent places like buses, trains, airports, hotels, movie theaters, hospitals, malls, and many other public places. They hide in items like furniture, clothing, luggage, purses, and linens and can be transported from one place to another very readily. Once they have infested your home, they usually come out at night to feed while you sleep which is why many people think that bed bugs live in beds; but during the day, they will hide and reproduce in the creases and crevices of mattresses, furniture, baseboards, light switches, bed frames, and even behind picture frames on your walls! Bed bugs can be found in televisions, computers, game systems and many other items throughout your home.
Bed bugs are parasites that survive on the blood of humans and other warm-blooded creatures. They can survive for several months without a blood meal. They are very small, growing to be only about 1/4 inch. The adults can be seen by the human eye, but the tiny, opaque to white eggs are barely visible and easy to miss. The adults are reddish-brown, wingless, flat, and oval-shaped resembling an apple seed with legs. Aside from discovering the bugs themselves, you may also find their shed exoskeletons and feces in areas where they frequently feed. You may also notice small brown dots on bed sheets and clothing or tiny blood droplets on clothing, furniture, and bedding. They are not considered to be dangerous to people; however, some people experience a reaction at the site of the bites which consists of very small itchy red welts.
You may think that bed bugs are only commonly found in unsanitary or unkempt places, but that is not true. Bed bugs can be present in even the most sanitary conditions because all they care about is finding their next host to feed on. They really could care less about your housekeeping abilities or lack thereof. In fact, bed bugs can be found in five-star hotels or even in hospitals!
Preventing bed bugs can be difficult; however, you can take steps whenever you leave your home to try to avoid contact with them. Inspect areas where you sleep or stay for signs of bed bugs and avoid putting bags and carry-on luggage on the floor of public places. Be sure to check hotel rooms for signs of bed bugs before bringing your luggage into them. Also, it is a good idea to check the rooms in private homes before you unpack during your visit since many people do not discover an infestation for several months and may unknowingly be harboring these pests.
Wash your clothing and vacuum luggage immediately when you return from a trip. If possible, do not purchase second-hand furniture; but if you do, vacuum it thoroughly before bringing it into your home. Wash all new and used clothing in hot water as soon as you unpack it.
Most importantly, contact a pest control professional at the first sign of a bed bug infestation. They have the experience and the knowledge of bed bug habits and habitats that are needed to get rid of bed bugs and keep them away. In Illinois, you can rely on the bed bug experts here at Quik-Kill Pest Eliminators. We are equipped with the latest tools and technologies to ensure quick, complete eradication of a bed bug infestation no matter how big or how small! Plus, we can offer you environmentally sound solutions to your bed bug infestation. If you discover bed bugs in your home or business, give Quik-Kill Pest Eliminators a call. Our experts will quickly and discreetly take care of them.