Across the country, prior to WWII, bed bugs were an epidemic that inflicted many homes and businesses. Just after WWII, bed bugs were nearly eradicated by hard-working scientists who were able to develop an effective pesticide. Afterwards, bed bugs were only known in children’s rhymes, however, in recent decades bed bugs have made a comeback. Bed bugs have been capable of the feat due to easy world traveling options. Being immune to prior treatments, along with the hazardous chemicals being banned, you need an expert to fully eliminate the bed bug population from your home or business. With this in mind, we at Pre-Empt Pest Control would like to discuss the basics of bed bugs.
What Do Bed Bugs Look Like?
Bed bugs elude homeowners mostly due to their tiny stature; an adult only gets to be about the size of an apple seed. Usually, bed bugs have flat, oval-shaped bodies that are light brown in color. However, right after a meal, they may look reddish and will appear engorged. Since both male and females look similar, the only distinction is that female’s abdomen is rounder where the male’s abdomen comes to a point. Both sexes have wing pads, but neither can fly.
Where Do Bed Bugs Come from & Hide
Being nocturnal, bed bugs are usually only active at night and come out to feed. Humans are their preferred food source, but they will choose any warm-blooded animal if absolutely necessary. Rightfully named, they are often found in the bed or surrounding it. These pests look for secure places to hide out such as nooks, cracks, crevices, and holes in beds, other furnishings, walls, and other objects. Bed bugs are commonly discovered in headboard, mattress, box springs, linens, bedding, and frames as well. Additional areas like power sockets, light switch plates, behind picture frames under floorboards, baseboards, other furniture, in alarm clocks, and so on are typical places they reside in as their numbers grow. Bed bugs are transported unknowingly and will roost public places until they are able to find a host. Bed bugs will easily infest airplanes, trains, and other public transportation. The likely areas are hotels, motels and other means of lodging. Anywhere that caters to the public is equally susceptible, even offices, medical facilities, movie theaters.
Early Signs of Bed Bugs
If you don’t know the signs, recognizing you have an infestation can be difficult. Below are a few signs of bed bugs.
– Red, itchy, and sometimes inflamed bite marks that are often in alignment on exposed skin, such as your arms and legs.
– Bed bugs will shed their skin as they cycle through their life and evolve in the various stages, which is often left in small 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 and porous surfaces it will absorb and stain.
– Rusty red stains adorning your sheets due to the blood that spilled after they detached.
Bed Bug Inspections, Control, Management & 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 suspect bed bugs, call Pre-Empt Pest Control is readily available if you suspect bed bugs are in your Las Vegas Valley home or business.
