As an epidemic that inflicted many homes and businesses in the country before WWII, hardworking scientists were able to develop an effective pesticide that almost eradicated bed bugs all together in the U.S. For a time, bed bugs were only recognized in children’s rhymes. However, bed bugs have been making a comeback in recent decades. Modern bed bugs are spreading due to the simplicity of world traveling, and with their immunity to past effective treatments, they can be virtually impossible for people to eliminate without professional assistance. Today, we at Preempt Pest Control would like to elaborate on the basics of bed bugs.
What Do Bed Bugs Look Like? How Big are They?
Bed bugs are fairly small pests that only get as big as an apple seed by the time they are adults. Their bodies are usually flat, and oval shaped, as well as a light brown color. Following mealtime however, they can appear engorged and redder, and sometimes the reddish tint might linger. Being fairly similar in appearance, the only distinction is the male’s abdomen comes to a point, where the female’s abdomen is rounder. Bed bugs are flightless pests, though they will develop wing pads by the time they are an adult.
Where Do Bed Bugs Live?
Being nocturnal, they eat their meals every night and are typically active in the evening. Bed bugs prefer human hosts due to their lack of body hair compared to a furry dog or cat for example. Because they invade your bed to snack on your blood when they emerge from the daylight sanctuaries, they have acquired the name bed bugs. Typically, smaller number of bed bugs will stay close to the bed during the day, but as their numbers grow, the more they spread out in the room and even throughout the building.
Where Do Bed Bugs Hide During the Day?
To sleep during the day, bed bugs look for secure, dark places. Hiding in crevices, cracks, nooks, and holes in beds, walls, surrounding furniture and other objects found in the bedroom are common places for bed bugs. On bed, bed bugs can be anywhere mattress, linens, bedding, headboard, box springs and frames. Other known locations can also include power sockets, light switch plates, behind picture frames under floorboards, baseboards, in alarm clocks, keyboards, and other such places.
How Do You Get Bed Bugs in the First Place?
Until they are able to find a host, bed bugs are transported unknowingly and can be found in public places. Bed bugs can easily infest airplanes, trains, buses, and other public transportation. Anywhere that caters to the public is equally susceptible to bed bug infestations though medical facilities, movie theaters, and offices are among the more common. In addition to luggage, bed bugs are also bought into homes via second hand furniture or visitors.
Signs of a Bed Bug Infestation
If you don’t know the signs, knowing you have a bed bug infestation can be a challenge to deal with before it escalates. Some of the red flags are listed below.
– Sheets stained with rusty red spots due to the blood that spilled after they detached.
– They will shed their skin as they cycle through their life and evolve in the various stages, which is will leave behind small little remnants on your bed or in close proximity.
– Bed bug’s fecal matter looks blackish or brown. On nonporous surfaces their feces will mound up while on porous surfaces it will absorb and stain.
– Bite marks that are red, itchy, and sometimes inflamed. They are often in alignment on exposed skin, like your arms. As they feed, their bites are more lined up in comparison to the random spots other insects deliver.
Bed Bug Pest Inspections, Control, Removal & More in Aliante, Centennial Hills, Cimarron Springs, Desert Shores, Iron Mountain Ranch, Lone Mountain, Mountain Shadows, Peccole Ranch, Skypointe, Summerlin, Summerlin South, The Lakes, West Sahara & Greater Northwest Las Vegas, NV
If you even suspect bed bugs in your Greater Northwest Las Vegas, NV home, call Preempt Pest Control and let our qualified experts conduct a thorough inspection and custom treatment plan to eliminate them for you if there presence is confirmed.
