Bed bugs are sometimes confused with ticks, fleas, or lice because of their size and color.
It’s interesting to note that bed bugs can’t fly, but they’re quite nimble. Bed bugs are noted for their ability to move from floors, walls and, of course, beds in a hurry.
One of the stages through which bed bugs pass on their way to maturity is the nymph stage. During the nymph stage, bed bugs molt five times: they turn from brown to red as they feed, and they shed their skin during the subsequent feeding period.
Bed bugs can zip through these developmental phases in a month—meaning that many generations of a bed bug infestation can develop in your home within a year.
Since bed bugs are so tiny, they can often survive and avoid detection by slipping into tiny crevices or between cushions in your couches, chairs, and bedding. Bed bugs are also sneaky because they’re nocturnal and can bite people while they’re sleeping.
Strategies for Nipping Bed Bugs in the Bud
Even after you’ve been bitten by one, you may not identify a bed bug infestation because it’s easy to confuse a bed bug bite with an annoying mosquito, spider, or especially flea bite.
Bed Bug Infestation? Call the Professionals.
Many times you won’t notice the reaction to a bed bug bite immediately, but one of the first signs that you’re dealing with a bed bug infestation is waking up with a welt or bite that you didn’t have when you went to sleep.
Bed bugs also frequently leave stains or shed skin on your bedding, and they are known for leaving behind a musky odor.
Since bed bugs tend to only be about the width of a playing card, it’s wise to call a pest management specialist if you suspect you’re dealing with a bed bug infestation to ensure your safety and that of your family.
Eco-friendly, safe pest management treatments might be required if you know that you have a bed bug infestation and you need a permanent solution.
High and Low Temperatures Control Bed Bugs
Bed bugs can’t survive extreme heat. Temperatures in excess of about 110 degrees will kill bed bugs.
An hour of this kind of heat should put the kibosh on a bed bug problem, which is why many experts recommend steam cleaning and high-heat washing.
Temperatures lower than 50 degrees can also cut down on a bed bug infestation, but the only way to ensure that you fully eradicate a bed bug infestation is by calling the professionals at Bain Pest Control.