Bed bugs, the very thought of them makes you’re feel itchy and crawly, in fact, you probably have already scratched yourself three times in reading this blog. Bed bugs can infest your bed so easily, they hitch rides in luggage or on persons and can spread like wild fire. But what do you if you suspect the presence of bed bugs? Stewart Termite & Pest Control would like to share some tips and advice on the subject, so here we go.
Bed Bug Identification
– Bed bugs are small, oval and have brownish coloring. Right after feeding they look more red and their bodies are swollen.
– They prefer to snack on people or animals.
– Adults are flat and about the size of apple seed.
– They do not fly.
– They skitter quickly over most surfaces, including walls and ceilings.
– As mentioned before, bed bugs are very transmittal, they can jump in luggage from traveling and backpacks from school children. Bed bugs hunker down in couches and beds, clothing, and other such places. If a credit card can fit through a slot or crack, so can a bed bug. Bed bugs don’t have nests or hives, but they do congregate together. Their favorite spot to dwell is near their food source. So your bed is the most likely place where they will be setting up shop. Mattresses, box springs, head boards, and bed frames so they have easy access to their feast. As their family grows however, they might look for expanding real estate, and find other crevices, nooks and crannies to hide in, and could eventually spread out throughout your home, apartment complexes or hotel/motels. They don’t need filth to thrive, so even the most pristine living conditions could still have bed bugs, especially since all they feast on is blood.
– Bed bug bites are not sporadic on your body, and are usually found in a straight line. There bites swell and are red and itchy.
Signs of a Bed Bug Infestation
– Small blood stains on sheets and pillow cases.
– Bed bug waste that is rusty brown in color, or carcasses found throughout the room or bed.
– Bite marks, mostly found along the arm and shoulder.
How to Get Rid of Bed Bugs
1. Wash all bedding, curtains, clothing on the hottest wash cycle, and dry them on the hottest setting. Things like stuffed animals, shoes, and other such items, can be thrown in the dryer for 30 minutes on the highest setting to scorch the little blood suckers.
2. Use a stiff brush to agitate the mattress to loosen any hiding bugs or their eggs.
3. Vacuum thoroughly with meticulous detail, in every corner and seam, front and back and all 4 sides, follow suit with the box spring, bed frame and headboard.
4. Vacuum the room well, hitting the cracks, holes and crevices, once cleaned, seal them up.
5. Make sure any normal stacked piles, especially around the bed, are tidied up.
Bed Bug Inspection & Treatmetn
With a bed bug infestation, there is a possibility you can be successful in lessoning their population, however, for the amount of work that needs to be invested, it is a safer bet to call in the big guns and get rid of bed bugs entirely. Hire Stewart Termite & Pest Control to terminate the annoying pests, and keep the infestations at bay with routine visits. Call today to schedule a bed bug inspection and begin a custom treatment plan!