Bed Bug Identification & Prevention

What are bed bugs?

Bed bugs get their name because they like to hide in areas that put them near their sleeping hosts. Bed bugs bite through the skin of their hosts and feed on their blood. Human blood is the preferred food source of bed bugs, but if we aren't available, they'll also feed on the blood of cats, dogs, rodents, and birds.

Bed bugs are small insects that grow to about 1/4 of an inch long. Unfed, they are oval and reddish-brown; after eating, they become engorged and take on a more capsule-like shape. Though primarily nocturnal, they will adapt if they live in an area where their hosts are only present during the day.

Are bed bugs dangerous?

Bed bugs are not blood-feeding pests that spread pathogens that cause serious illnesses in people. Though these insects may not spread serious diseases, they cause other problems. When a person knows that they are sharing their home with bed bugs, it often causes insomnia. It is hard to sleep well knowing bugs are using you as a food source. People allergic to bed bug bites will experience an itchy red rash around the bite sites; scratching at the bite sites is uncomfortable and can lead to secondary infections.

Why do I have a bed bug problem?

Unlike many other household pests that enter our homes from our yards while out and about foraging for food and shelter, bed bugs get indoors via people or their personal items.

It is a common myth that bed bugs are only a problem in dirty houses. The truth is that these pests do not discriminate, and a bed bug infestation can take hold in any home. As long as hosts are available, bed bugs will thrive.

Where will I find bed bugs?

Bed bugs are found anywhere people live or spend significant time. You can come into contact with bed bugs in various places, including hotels, airports, apartment buildings, and laundromats. Bed bugs are known as experienced travelers, hitchhiking from place to place on people or on our belongings.

Once bed bugs are in a home, they will find a daytime hiding spot, taking advantage of tight, dark crevices. The seams of mattresses and upholstered furniture, cracks in wooden furniture, spaces behind wall hangings, and under areas of clutter are favorite hiding spots. Their ability to hide out of sight and reproduce quickly are two reasons why controlling these pests is so difficult.

How do I get rid of bed bugs?

When bed bugs find their way into your home, let the experts perform the inspection, bed bug treatments, and follow-up services necessary to eliminate them and prevent a reinfestation. Here at ProForce Pest Control, we always utilize the most up-to-date and innovative pest control options. When you partner with us, we will resolve your property's pest problem entirely. For more information about bed bug control or our other home pest control offerings, call now.

How can I prevent bed bugs in the future?

Use the following tips to keep bed bugs from finding their way into your house: 

• Regularly inspect popular bed bug hiding spots in your house.
• Use bed bug-proof covers to help keep bed bugs out of your mattresses.
• Declutter your home to reduce bed bug hiding areas.
• Regularly wash and dry your family's bedding using a high-heat setting. 
• Inspect secondhand items for hitchhiking bed bugs before bringing them into your home.

Contact us today for more information about local pest control for bed bugs.