The Behavior Of Bed Bugs
Bed Bugs are small insects that appear reddish-brown. Their appearance changes when they feed, but they typically look flat and have an oval shape. They're so flat and oddly shaped that you might confuse a bed bug for an apple seed.
As parasites, bed bugs feed on the blood of humans and animals. They leave behind itchy bites that tend to be very annoying. But their bites might be the least of your worries. Once bed bugs get into your home, they reproduce in vast numbers.
How They Get In
Typically, bed bug infestations occur suddenly. Most property owners don't realize that they have a problem with bed bugs until it's too late. This is because the insects sneak into your home and start reproducing with little evidence of their presence.
One of how bed bugs enter your home is by hitchhiking. They can't fly and aren't particularly fast at moving on their own. Therefore, they rely on others to get around. If you travel and stay in hotels often, you're likely to come across a bed bug. The insect could crawl into your suitcase and come home with you.
Bed bugs also populate colleges and hospitals. An overnight stay at either facility could introduce bed bugs into your own home. Generally, any high-traffic area is a bed bug hot spot.
If you live in an apartment complex or have very close neighbors, you could also have an issue with bed bugs. All it takes is for your neighbor to have a bed bug problem. The pests could crawl from your neighbor's home to yours.
Going to the thrift store may introduce bed bugs into your home. This is because the pests often hide in furniture. When you bring home that beautiful headboard or chest of drawers, you could be bringing home unwanted visitors. They could be in any of your second-hand items.
Preventing Bed Bugs
There are a few simple steps you can take to keep bed bugs away. For one, you should check all second-hand items for signs of bed bugs. Look for blood spots or dark spots in the cracks. Before you bring home an item, look everywhere for signs of live bed bugs. The insects are small and can hide in tiny crevices, so you need to thoroughly inspect your items.
Another way to prevent bed bugs is to place a mattress cover over your mattress. However, you should know that this isn't a guarantee that bed bugs will stay away. They hide in many other places. Additionally, if the cover isn't secure enough, insects may still survive. The main benefit of using the cover is being able to easily see signs of bed bugs.
By regularly vacuuming your home, you may be able to deter bed bugs. Once again, this does not guarantee a pest-free home. It merely decreases the chance of bed bugs taking over. The same is true of sealing up the exterior of your home. By using door sweeps and sealing cracks, you give your home some protection against unwanted pests. Their small size means that eliminating entry into your residence can be a challenge.
If you do bring bed bugs into the home, don't panic. Call the pest experts at Heritage Pest Control.