About 30 years ago, bed bugs were not much more than a myth mentioned in children's' goodnight rhymes. Most homeowners back then never had to deal with real live bed bugs. Nowadays, bed bugs are everywhere, a common occurrence in almost all states across America. Even here in Longview, bed bugs are becoming more and more notorious, threatening the sanity and sleep quality of the resident's whose homes they have invaded. Are you prepared if bed bugs come knocking?
How Bed Bugs Get Inside
Bed bugs don’t actually knock to get inside homes. But they do require a person to open the door for them. See, bed bugs are hitchhiking bugs. They hide on people, pets, or belongings and then get inside new places by riding in with them. If bed bugs climb into your briefcase at work, you could bring them home. If they crawl into your kid's backpack at school, your kid could bring them home. If you by chance have a service dog that wears a vest, bed bugs could hitch a ride on it.
How To Tell If Your Home Has Bed Bugs
When bed bugs invade, they do it quietly. This can make early identification difficult if you are just looking for bed bugs. If you want to identify a bed bug infestation early, the best thing you can do is look for the signs they leave behind. Here are some places we recommend you start.
- Check your skin for bites that run in a line or zig-zag pattern. They appear like this because when bed bugs feed they bite several times, moving between bites.
- Inspect bedding for bloodstains. These small red spots are left behind after bed bugs are done feeding. Small amounts of blood leaks from their mouths.
- Check cracks and crevices in your mattress and around your room for dots of black fecal matter and tiny almost see-through eggs. These are left behind by bed bugs.
As bed bugs spread and grow in populations, you may start to notice a musty smell in the air, and may even start seeing live bed bugs as their hiding areas become cramped.
How You Can Prevent Bed Bugs
Unfortunately, there is no way to completely prevent bed bugs. That is, unless you never leave your home and never have anyone else come into your home. Even a trip to the grocery store could expose you to bed bugs. The risk is small, but it is possible. That being said, here are some things you can do to minimize your chances of bringing bed bugs home with you.
- Check rooms you are planning to sleep in when on vacation or traveling for signs of bed bugs. If anything suspicious is found, change rooms.
- If you change your clothing while out, or buy used clothing, store them inside a plastic bag and wash them immediately when you get home on a high-heat setting, or put them in the dryer for half an hour on high heat. This will kill off any clinging bed bugs. (Make sure the clothing will not be ruined by washing or drying on high heat.)
- Teach your kids about bed bugs and have them check their school bags before coming inside.
- Be careful not to set items on the floor when in populated areas. Bed bugs only need around 20 minutes to crawl over and hitch a ride.
When To Call In The Professionals For Bed Bug Help
When bed bugs get into homes, getting them out can be difficult, especially if you try dealing with them alone. If you would like to save money and not waste your time struggling with elusive bed bugs, the experts here at Pest-Pro Services, Inc, are here to help.
To schedule an appointment for your home, or to ask questions about our bed bugs control services, give us a call today. We would be happy to walk you through the options and find the solution that best suits your needs.