Daily Archives: May 7, 2020

Bed Bug Basics

Bed bugs are one of the most common pests in the United States and Texas specifically. Bed bugs survive by feeding on the blood of humans or other warm-blooded animals. Their bites can cause painful and itchy spots, but if they do not cause an allergic reaction, the bites can go unnoticed for weeks or months at a time.

When they are adults, bed bugs are still less than a quarter of an inch long, which makes them extremely difficult to see. Their body shape is an oval and they usually have a reddish-brown hue. Adult bed bugs can survive for more than a year without feeding on blood, which gives them the ability to easily travel and wait patiently before being carried to an optimal spot.

Young bed bugs are called nymphs, and they are almost completely invisible to the naked eye. Nymphs often look like specks of dust because they are clear or white and they are so small. Bed bugs love to hide in cracks and crevices, which makes it even more difficult to detect them with eyesight.

Despite their name, bed bugs can infest far more than just beds. Bed bugs infest couches, buses, cars, subways, books, and even airplanes! Hotels are some of the most common places for bed bugs to hide, but you can (unsuspectingly) bring bed bugs into your home or business from numerous places. Basically any public space could have a bed bug infestation.

For many pests, an infestation or general issue is obvious. Whether the problem is a trail of ants walking across your floor, a squirrel in your house, or even a wild hog in your backyard, you will most likely realize when a pest issue arises. That said, bed bugs and termites can be a little different.

Bed bugs are difficult to see for a large part of their lives and they are excellent at hiding, so you might not be able to see them even when they are visible to the naked eye. Moreover, the cleanliness of a house is no indicator as to whether there is a bed bug infestation. Bed bugs simply need blood to survive, so they can be present in clean and messy homes alike.

All of these factors make bed bugs extremely difficult to detect. Be sure to keep an eye out for the signs listed above, remember that bites affect people differently, and that bed bug bites can take several days to show up in many cases. If you suspect an infestation, then be sure to give us a call. At Pest Arrest in Spring, we have access to a trained bed bug detection dog. A K9 inspection is often the best way to detect a bed bug infestation.

At this point, you may be wondering what you can do about bed bugs. For most infestations, a heat treatment is simply the best way to go. Bed bugs are unable to survive sustained heat above 120 degrees Fahreinheit. Heat treatment involves heating your house above this level for a long period of time to kill the bed bugs regardless of their stage of life.

Heat treatment does not involve any chemicals, and it is extremely effective. In most cases, our team will advise undergoing multiple treatment sessions to ensure that the heat sufficiently penetrates all the areas bed bugs hide.

If you would like to get rid of your bed bug problem in Spring, Katy, or Houston, then contact Pest Arrest!

The rest is here:
Bed Bug Inspection Spring - Learn About Bed Bugs In Texas ...