Unfortunately, no homes or office buildings are safe from bed bugs–not even clean ones! Bed bugs are attracted to carbon dioxide, sweat, and blood. They can also jump on your clothing, shoes, and backpack or bag on a simple walk through the park and get transported into your home unnoticed.
Fortunately, there are some things you can do to help prevent them. Here’s a simple guide to preventing bed bugs in Lewisville. However, if you’ve already seen them, don’t try to control bed bugs without professional pest control services. These common pests are surprisingly resilient and adaptable making them very difficult to eliminate on your own.
What Are Bed Bugs?
It helps to know what you’re up against when dealing with this kind of infestation. Bed bugs are parasitic pests that feed on the blood of warm-blooded animals, like humans, cats, and dogs. They’re also nocturnal, so they are most active overnight but feed whenever possible.
They have a brownish-orange color people liken to rust. Their bodies are small, flat, and oval-shaped which closely resemble an apple seed in both shape and color. These pests can penetrate human skin with their two proboscises, which are best described as elongated, tubular mouthparts for sucking.
The following are signs of a bed bug infestation:
- A row or cluster of about three bites on the skin
- Live adult bed bugs anywhere in the home
- Small and pale yellow eggs
- Pale yellow egg shells
- Yellowish skins that young bed bugs shed
- Bed bug droppings (small dark spots)
- Reddish stains/blood stains on your mattress or sheets
If you notice any of the above signs, call a pest control technician right away!
Why Are Bed Bugs a Problem?
Bed bugs are not super dangerous pests, but they pose hygiene issues and cause discomfort in your home. They do not often transmit diseases to humans or pets but it’s very unsettling to have them in your home.
Bed bug bites can cause varying reactions. Some people do not react, while others, can develop red, itchy welts. These people can also develop secondary infections from scratching.
Whether you are allergic or not, a bed bug infestation in your home can cause anxiety and difficulty sleeping. Bed bugs reproduce rapidly, so it’s hard to eliminate them without professional pest control services. Additionally, their eggs are highly resilient to most over the counter treatments so it’s common to end up with a recurring infestation if they’re not properly exterminated.
Effective Tips for Preventing Bed Bugs
Eradicating bed bugs yourself can be a bad idea, especially when there’s an infestation. However, there are some effective ways to prevent bed bug infestations from happening in the first place, which can be a lifesaver for those who fear creepy crawlers.
Here are some tips that’ll help you keep your home free from bed bugs.
- Know what bed bugs look like
- Learn the signs of an infestation
- Check hotel rooms before bringing personal items in
- Change and wash bedding regularly
- Keep personal items off the ground in public
- Keep personal items away from strangers’ items
- Vacuum and sweep floors regularly
- Wash clothes on high heat
- Wash any new clothes
- Avoid used furniture, mattresses, and box springs
How Do I Get Rid of Bed Bugs?
Eliminating bed bug infestations can be a nightmare, so it’s best to call commercial pest control services or residential pest control services to handle the infestation. Call expert pest control technicians like Romney Pest Control if you identify or suspect an infestation.
For more information on eliminating bed bugs and other dangerous pests from your Lewisville or Texas property, contact us today!
