Bed bugs have been around for a while, and only in the recent decade have they become something of an epidemic since the Second World War. Reaching for new methods, bed bugs have finally met their match and experts are able to effectively remove them from your home. Where most only know them from children’s rhymes, we know that people have their questions and we at Stewart Termite and Pest Control has answered the most common of the frequently asked questions.
Bed Bug FAQs; Where Do Bed Bugs Hide During the Day, Where Do They Come From & More
Q: How do you identify bed bugs?
A: Bed bugs, formally a part of the Cimicidae family, are nocturnal insects that eat the blood of warm-blooded hosts; however they are most partial to human blood. Bed bugs are oval-shaped, flat brown insects, but after eating appear reddish and engorged. Being no bigger than an apple seed by adulthood, they very adaptable and can conform to their surroundings and environment with ease.
Q: What are the bed bug basics I should know?
A: In an effort to contain them into one centralized area, avoid bringing anything in or out of the contaminated space if you believe bed bugs are present. Bed bugs will follow the host so do not start sleeping in a different bed, sofa or anywhere else. Be sure to call in a professional to ensure remove efficiency.
Q: Where do bed bugs hide during the day and where did they come from?
A: Bed bugs are found nearly everywhere in the world, but being as they prefer feasting on human hosts, they are generally more populated in developed areas. Lodging establishments, such as hotels and motels, are often the most common place people come into contact with bed bugs. During the night’s stay, bed bugs can easily slip into luggage and be carried into your home. Bed bugs can also be passed on from second hand clothing or furniture. Because bed bugs can get from apartment to apartment easily, lodging establishments and apartment complexes often have severe bed bug infestations.
Q: How do I check for bed bugs in a room?
A: Though bed bugs can be virtually anywhere in your home, it is probably more productive to check around the bed first. Check the bed in its entirety like mattress, headboard, bed frame, box spring, and bedding. Check behind furniture, behind peeling paint or wallpaper, wooden floorboards, outlets, picture frames, electronics, and so forth. There are no limitations; however, typically the bed bugs are found in places 10-20 feet of where you sleep.
Q: What are the signs you have bed bugs?
A: A few signs of bed bug infestations include; rusty colored spots (fecal matter), shed bed bug skin, musky odors, small red blood stains on the sheets, bed bug bites in alignment on exposed skin, or the bed bugs themselves.
Q: Do bed bugs have a general feeding cycle?
A: Bed bugs typically prefer human blood. They will inject two hollow tubes into the skin when they bite. One of the tubes will inject a chemical, an anti-coagulant anesthetic, which allows blood flow and with the other tube bed bugs suck the blood. Being nocturnal, they come out to feed out bed bugs will emerge at dusk to return right after eating to their hiding places. The feeding only takes about five minutes to complete.
Q: Can bed bugs make you sick?
A: Bed bugs are not linked to any known passable illnesses, but depending on your skin’s sensitivity and allergies that might be triggered by the chemical they inject, a bed bug’s bite usually appear within minutes or even hours later. The bite mark will either be inflamed or flat, possibly turn red, and is fairly itchy to most people.
Q: How do I make bed bug bites stop itching?
A: The most effective method is anti-itch cream.
Bed Bug Inspections & Treatment
If you suspect bed bugs are in your home, call Stewart Termite and Pest Control for a thorough bed bug inspection and effective treatment.