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Most people know someone who has had a bed bug infestation and how the experience is stressful, costly, and time-consuming. It is commonly believed that bed bugs are too small to see, but the truth is, at one-fourth of an inch long, with a flat and oval body and reddish-brown, this pest is about the size and shape of an apple seed. After a bed bug has been fed, it will become redder and swollen. With a life span of two to four months, bed bugs can reproduce, doubling and tripling in size in no time.
While bed bugs aren’t too small to see, the bugs themselves are often not the first sign of an infestation. This is because they are nocturnal and good at hiding. Usually, the first sign of a bed bug infestation is biting, which will appear as a cluster of small red bumps. Bed bugs will usually be around the hands, arms, shoulders, neck, and face.
Other signs of bed bug infestations are:
- Blood staining on sheets, which will appear reddish-brown.
- Fecal staining was found on sheets.
- A musty smell in the air.
- Nymphs look similar to bed bugs but are small and bright red as they will feed once they hatch.
- Eggs, which are approximately 1mm and white. Eggs will usually be clustered together.
Bed bug infestations are no joke, which is why all Hudson Valley residents should know how bed bugs get into a home, how to prevent them, and the most effective control methods.
How Bed Bug Infestations Happen
The unfortunate truth about bed bugs is that infestations are usually caused by people unknowingly carrying the pest into their homes. The most common ways this happens are:
- On second-hand items
- Picked up on public transportation, in restaurants, schools, theaters, and other public places
- In suitcases from traveling and staying in hotels and motels
- In a multi-unit building, bed bugs can travel from unit to unit
Because of this, bed bugs are challenging to prevent. However, the best way is to inspect any second-hand items you have purchased or belongings you have put down in a public place. When traveling, you should also thoroughly inspect your hotel room. Your luggage is at great risk, so always use the luggage rack and never place any belongings on the ground.
How Professional Bed Bug Control Works
The most effective way to get rid of a bed bug infestation is with the assistance of professionals. Getting rid of an infestation on your own is nearly impossible. Although their name suggests it, bed bugs don’t only live around beds but can spread throughout the entire home. This includes furniture joints, seams of curtains, appliances, behind wallpaper and baseboards, and even in the heads of screws.
To get rid of an infestation in its entirety, this pest has to be targeted at all stages of life, not just adults. To do this in your Hudson Valley home, you should contact Pestmaster® Services today to eliminate bed bugs.
Our bed bug control process includes:
- A free inspection to identify the pest and determine the severity of the infestation.
- A k9 inspection service that uses dogs to detect an infestation.
- Treatment is based on the inspection findings, which can include heat, chemical, and freezing methods.
- When treatment is performed on your entire house, you will receive our bed bug warranty to keep you and your family safe from this pest.
At the first sign of a bed bug infestation, you should contact the experts at Pestmaster® Services.