Understanding Bed Bugs in Your Home
Bed bugs are insects whose sole food source is blood, and whose preferred food source is human blood. We identify bed bugs by their flat, reddish-brown, oval-shaped bodies, six legs, short antennae, and lack of wings.
After consuming a blood meal, a bed bug's appearance will change into a more capsule-like shape and turn dark red or reddish-purple. Though bed bugs are small (adults grow to about ¼ of an inch), they are large enough to be spotted with the human eye.
Bed bugs use their specialized mouthparts to bite through the skin of their sleeping hosts and consume a blood meal. Typically bed bugs are most active at night, just before dawn. Most bed bugs feed about once a week, but depending on the environment and food source availability, they can feed more or less frequently.
A healthy, well-fed female bed bug can lay around 345 eggs in its lifetime. Young bed bugs look similar to adults but are, of course, smaller in size. They go through five molts as they grow into new breeding adults. Young bed bugs require a blood meal before going through each new molt.
Are Bed Bugs a Threat to Your Health?
Currently, there is no documentation that bed bugs can transmit disease-causing pathogens through their feeding habits. Unlike other blood-feeding pests like mosquitoes, the spread of disease by bed bugs is not a threat.
However, bed bugs do bite us, so we should never tolerate their presence in our homes or businesses. People usually don't feel the process of bed bugs biting through their skin and feeding, but a delayed allergic reaction can occur. In some people, bed bug bite sites display small red itchy welts.
Bed bug bites can be uncomfortable, and scratching at the bites can lead to secondary infections. The knowledge that bed bugs are in a home also leads to sleepless nights filled with worry.
Why do I have a bed bug problem?
Bed bugs regularly become a problem in our Phoenix homes because wherever there are people, there is the potential for bed bugs. Public places are hot spots for bed bug activity, especially places where large groups of people are constantly coming and going and spending the night, like dormitories, airports, hotels, and hospitals.
After spending time somewhere where bed bugs are present, it is common for people to introduce them into their homes unintentionally. Bed bugs are hitchhiking pests, moving from structure to structure by crawling onto people or into our belongings. Because bed bugs hitchhike, they are a threat to all Phoenix homes and businesses.
Where will I find bed bugs?
After bed bugs hitchhike their way into a home, they will quickly locate a daytime hiding spot. Small dark cracks and crevices in walls, floors, and wooden furniture are common hideouts for bed bugs. Some of their other common hiding spots include:
- The seams of mattresses and box springs.
- Behind cushions of upholstered furniture.
- Behind wall hangings, baseboards, and trim.
- Inside electrical outlets.
- Under piles of clutter and dirty laundry.
Knowing their preferred hiding spots is essential so that you can regularly inspect your home for hiding bed bugs. If there is any indication you are sharing your home with these biting pests, immediately reach out for help. Our professionals will provide the home pest control necessary to quickly and completely remove the infestation from your Phoenix area home.
How do I get rid of bed bugs?
Get rid of bed bugs that have found their way into your home with the help of the professionals at Eco Valley Pest Control. We understand that each home we treat is unique, and we work with our customers to solve their pest control needs.
After figuring out your home's bed bug control needs, we will develop a customized plan of action to eliminate the infestation. We will remove unwanted bed bugs from your house and help you and your family sleep soundly once again. To learn more about pest control in Phoenix, please call today.
How can I prevent bed bugs in the future?
To help avoid introducing bed bugs into your Phoenix home, utilize the following prevention tips:
- Inspect all secondhand items for hiding bed bugs before bringing them inside.
- If possible, never purchase used mattresses or box springs for use in your home.
- When staying in a hotel, inspect it for bed bugs before bringing your luggage and other personal belongings.
- After traveling, immediately wash and dry all clothing taken on a high-heat setting.
- If you wash clothing at a laundromat, bring your clothing home to fold and never share laundry baskets.
- When at school, work, or any other public environment, keep your belongings off the ground and away from other people's things.
For local pest control for bed bugs, please reach out today.
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