Bed bugs are small insects that feed on the blood of humans and animals. Red, itchy bites on your skin are evidence of their presence, but these pests can still be tricky to identify. Managing their populations is also challenging because they swiftly multiply and can conceal themselves in various areas. Learn how to identify bed bugs, ways to avoid an infestation, and what Caliber Pest Service can do about these pests.
How Do Bed Bugs Operate? What Are Signs of Infestation?
One way of identifying bed bugs is to find the insects themselves. These bugs have oval, reddish-brown bodies that are about ¼ inch long. When unfed, they appear flat and mahogany in color. After a blood meal, their bodies become elongated, swollen, and take on a reddish hue.
Unlike many other pests, bed bugs aren’t attracted to food particles or clutter. Whether your home is messy or neat, these creepy crawlers can become an issue for you. They are prevalent in many areas where people congregate, including hotels, bus stations, nursing homes, and airports. Once they make it onto your bags or clothes, they’ll follow you around. When they get settled, it’s usually in things like:
- Wallpaper
- Fabrics
- Wood trim
- Upholstery
- Flooring
- Couches
- Electronics
- Mattresses
- Appliances
As mentioned earlier, bed bugs are going to nibble on you. Bed bug bites are often aligned in a linear formation or zig-zag pattern. Stains are another infestation hint. You’ll see blood drops and reddish-brown blemishes on your surfaces and fabrics. Black or brown marks from feces may be visible as well. You may also notice bed bug eggs, egg shells, or molt skins scattered around your home.
How Can You Prevent Bed Bugs?
Bed bugs can potentially be brought into any home, especially if you travel frequently. To help reduce your chances of a bed bug infestation, try these tips when you travel or visit busy locations:
- Don’t put your luggage directly on the floor.
- Look for bed bugs when in a hotel. Be sure to check mattress seams, headboards, and linens.
- Get protective covers or plastic bags to put your luggage in.
- Wash your travel clothes in hot water and dry them with high heat for at least 20 minutes.
It’s also important to take preventative measures at home, as catching bed bugs early on can help limit the spread of these pests. Try these bed bug control tips:
- Using a flashlight, scan head and footboards, box springs, and mattress seams. Remember to go beneath beds too. Do this often.
- Examine laundry piles, purses, bags, drawer interiors, and furniture regularly.
- Search second-hand items, like upholstery and appliances, for signals of infestation.
Following these best practices should help limit the likelihood of a bed bug infestation. If you do notice signs of bed bugs in your home, contact a pest control professional as soon as possible.
What Can Caliber Pest Service Do About Bed Bugs?
If you’re considering retail products or “do-it-yourself” methods to approach your bed bug problem, think again. Over-the-counter products are expensive and aren’t very effective for infestations. Common DIY solutions, such as rubbing alcohol, are hazardous to employ. Overall, these options won’t be effective because every egg, nymph, and adult bed bug has to be eradicated.
For the most effective bed bug solutions, partner with the Bronx pest control professionals at Caliber Pest Service. The team at Caliber Pest Service has powerful treatments to eliminate the entire bed bug population from your home. Call us today to get started!
