Everyone has heard one horror story or another about bed bugs. These pests are small but mighty and have the power to take over a home or commercial property. The Advanced Integrated Pest Management team is here with all the nitty gritty bed bug details you need to know.
What's The Deal With Bed Bugs?
Bed bugs are small, flat, brown insects that feed on the blood of people and animals. They are usually active at night when their prey is sleeping, making it easier to target. If a bed bug chooses to make itself at home in your space, you'll feel and see its mark on your skin. The area will feel itchy and appear red on lighter skin and purplish on darker skin.
Bed Bug Reproduction
A female bed bug will lay between 5-12 eggs per day, and it takes less than 21 days for eggs to develop into adults. Bed bug nymphs will go through five immature stages, shedding new exoskeletons as they develop into fully grown adults. All stages of bed bugs feed on human blood for 3-10 minutes, during which time bed bug saliva is injected into the hosts. Although painless, many people develop allergic reactions and secondary bacterial infections from scratching bite wounds.
How Bed Bugs Spread
Now that we know a little more about bed bugs, let's talk about how they spread from place to place. Bed bugs crawl about slowly, looking for opportunities to hitchhike to their next destination. They tuck themselves tightly onto clothing, furniture, and suitcases in search of a new place until a new host comes around. Once on their new host, they will begin the reproduction cycle again. They are excellent hiders and often go undetected until there is an infestation.
Signs of an Infestation
If you think you might have bed bugs, there are a few key signs to look for. Bed bugs leave behind digested blood that looks like small, reddish-brown stains on your sheets, pillowcases, and in the creases of mattresses and furniture. You might also see molted skins or eggs in the creases of your mattress, furniture, and clothing. If you are also seeing clusters of itchy and red bites on your skin, it's time to call in the professionals.
Bed Bug Eradication
A bed bug infestation can be a real headache. Bed bug eradication should be left to professionals. Home remedies often exacerbate infestations, causing them to get bigger and spread to other areas in your home or building.
If you believe your home or commercial property is infested, give the Advanced Integrated Pest Management team a call as soon as possible! Our thorough heat remediation treatment is fast, environmentally friendly, economical, and effective! Contact us online or by calling (855) 768-0615 to schedule your service today.