What You Need To Know About Bed Bugs
Bed bugs are prolific pests that can find their way into any home or business that provides them with their favorite food source- human blood. Bed bugs are oval, reddish-brown colored insects that are flattened from top to bottom. Bed bugs are mostly nocturnal, hiding their flat bodies during the day in tight cracks and crevices.
Frequently Asked Questions About Bed Bugs
What are bed bugs?
Bed bugs are parasitic pests that feed on the blood of warm-blooded animals. Human blood is their preferred food source. Bed bugs hide during the day in tight cracks and crevices of the structures where they live and emerge at night to feed on their sleeping victims. Adult bed bugs are about the size and shape of an apple seed. They have six legs, are wingless, and are reddish-brown to mahogany in color. Adult bed bugs and their nymphs (young bed bugs) are equipped with piercing, sucking mouthparts for feeding.
Are bed bugs dangerous?
Under usual circumstances, bed bugs aren’t considered dangerous pests and aren’t known to transmit a wide variety of diseases to people. However, bed bugs do bite to feed and everyone reacts differently to their bites. Some people show no reaction, while others develop red, itchy welts. In some cases, medical attention is required to treat the bites and any secondary infections that develop. Having a bed bug infestation can be a stressful event for any person and may lead to sleepless nights and anxiety-filled days.
Why do I have a bed bug problem?
It is a common misunderstanding that bed bug infestations are caused by filth. The truth of the matter is that bed bugs are not drawn to messy, dirty areas. They can successfully live in any environment, as long as they have access to their food source – human blood. The most common way that bed bugs are introduced into a home is accidentally on you or your belongings after coming into contact with them in a public place. They can also be introduced inside used furniture, mattresses, box springs, or by migrating through walls or floors.
Where will I find bed bugs?
Bed bugs live almost exclusively with humans. They live successfully inside homes, apartment buildings, hotels, office buildings, nursing homes, schools, daycares, dormitories, hospitals, shopping centers, airports, and almost any other place where people come and go frequently. Bed bugs initially infest sleeping areas. If the infestation is allowed to grow, they will move throughout the home or business, infesting multiple rooms or areas. Bed bugs can be found hiding out in wooden furniture, walls, floors, upholstered furniture, closets, electronics, keyboards, wall voids behind switch plates and outlets, and behind wooden molding.
How do I get rid of bed bugs?
The best way to solve your property’s bed bug problem is to partner with a local pest control company. When you partner with Cantu Pest & Termite, our knowledgeable and friendly professionals will provide the comprehensive services needed to eliminate bed bugs and prevent their return. With over 30 years in the pest control industry, we are proud to provide all of our customers with dependable, affordable, and eco-friendly home pest control and commercial pest management solutions. To learn more about eliminating bed bugs and other pests from your Dallas, Fort Worth, Houston, or surrounding area home or business, reach out to Cantu!
How can I prevent bed bugs in the future?
In addition to our professional pest control services in North Dallas, the following tips can help to prevent problems with bed bugs on your Texas property:
- Regularly vacuum your home’s floors and change and wash bedding frequently.
- Know how to identify bed bugs and the signs of their presence.
- Inspect your hotel for signs of bed bugs before bringing luggage and other belongings into it.
- When out and about in public places, keep bags, coats, luggage, and purses up off the ground.
- Do not purchase used furniture, mattresses, and box springs for use within your home.
- At school or in your workplace, keep your personal belongings away from other people’s belongings.
- After returning home from a trip or purchasing new clothing, wash and dry the clothes on the highest heat setting.