Finding bed bugs in your home is an alarming experience. These sneaky pests hide during the day and feed on their human hosts while they sleep. Unlike other blood-feeding pests like ticks and mosquitoes, bed bugs don't carry and spread diseases. However, they do leave behind unsightly bites, which cause physical discomfort and plenty of anxiety. Because these insects are extremely hard to eradicate on your own, we recommend that you use professional pest control to kill bed bugs. The following guide explains how bed bugs invade homes and why it's important to call for help with an infestation.
What Are Bed Bugs?
Bed bugs are flat, oval-shaped insects that are a mahogany brown color when unfed. After feeding, they turn more of a dark red, becoming engorged and elongated. They have six legs and two antennae. Adult bed bugs are roughly a quarter of an inch in size. They also have wing pads but do not have working wings and cannot fly. Although they are small, you can detect adult bed bugs with the naked eye. Nymphs are a bit harder to spot as they are much smaller and colorless.
Although bed bugs can feed on any warm-blooded mammal, they prefer to feed on human hosts. They are most active at night when they feed on their sleeping victims. Bed bugs draw blood after latching securely onto the skin. Their bites are usually painless, with most people not feeling them at all until afterward. Bed bugs do not carry or spread infectious diseases, but their bites do leave small, itchy, red bumps behind. It's rare for a person to need medical attention for bed bug bites. An over-the-counter anti-itch cream usually remedies itching and mild discomfort.
Finding bed bug bites on your body is a telltale sign of an infestation, and you should schedule bed bug control services immediately.
A Bed Bug Infestation Will Only Get Worse With Time
In addition to bed bug bites, here are several other ways to tell if these insects are present in your home:
- Bloodstains on bedding
- Dark brown fecal stains on mattresses, walls, or curtains
- Shed bed bug skins or molted body parts
- Eggs in the seams of furniture or mattresses (look for tiny white specs)
- Musty, unpleasant odor
The reproductive cycle of bed bugs is very rapid. Nymphs become adult insects in around 21 days. Once they reach maturity, female bed bugs can lay up to five eggs per day and several hundred during their lifetime. When treating bed bugs, it's vital to eliminate each portion of the life cycle from egg to adult. Otherwise, the infestation will persist. These bugs can also survive several days without a blood meal. This enables them to stay hidden longer.
Many do-it-yourself pest control methods fail. At the first signs of these worrisome pests, contact a provider of bed bug pest control near you.
All The Ways Bed Bugs Sneak Their Way Into Our Homes
Bed bugs are sneaky pests and will hide just about anywhere. Here are some of the places and ways bed bugs transfer from person to person:
- Secondhand furniture
- Thrifted clothing
- Hospitals
- Gyms and locker rooms
- Movie theaters
- Public transportation (buses and trains)
- Airplanes and airports
- Inside luggage
- Hotel rooms
- Shared laundry facilities
If you've discovered bed bugs in your home, contact an expert in bed bug pest control in Columbia, like The Original Bugman Pest Elimination, Inc.
The Most Effective Bed Bug Control Solution For Your Home
Don't let bed bugs keep you up at night. The Original Bugman Pest Elimination, Inc. has been serving the Columbia area for over three decades. We'll perform a thorough inspection to assess your bed bug infestation and work with you on a customized treatment solution. Our highly-trained technicians will commit to getting rid of pests for good. Your satisfaction is guaranteed. For more information or to schedule an appointment, contact us today.
Schedule Your Free Inspection
Complete the form below to schedule your no-obligation inspection.