The Solution to Bed Bug Bites – Professional Pest Control
Bed Bug Up Close and Personal
Are you having trouble sleeping at night? It could be bed bugs. Bed bugs, which are tiny critters measuring about quarter of an inch, have always been a universal problem. These creatures hide in the crevices and cracks of the beds in the morning then come out a night to feast on human blood, often targeting a person’s upper body such as the neck, arms, and shoulders. It is not only annoying to have your sleep disrupted in the wee hours in the morning, it also quite dangerous since the insect bites they leave can lead to inflammation and infection.
The solution to the problem? A professional pest control company.
Pest control professionals are equipped with knowledge and equipment that will ensure of safe and effective control of bed bug infestation. First, they will inspect thoroughly the area suspected to be infested with bed bugs. They will locate all potential harborage and breeding grounds in the premises. They will then use a registered insecticide to get rid of the problem. The insecticide formulation will depend on the gravity of the infestation. For example, for less serious situations, synthetic pyrethroid insecticide is commonly used. For rooms that are heavily infested with bed bugs, a fogging machine may be used to achieve a more favorable result.
It is important to remember that you cannot carry out chemical treatments on your own. Doing this will put your health and safety as well as those of the other house occupants at risk. Of course, you can partake in the pest management and control through non-chemical methods such as by washing all clothing and bed linens thoroughly, covering mattresses in sealed plastic bags, and vacuuming all the areas surrounding the bed, particularly the area where the carpet and wall meets. These measures would help, although they won’t get rid of the bed bug population entirely. So while doing all these, it is still a must to contact a reputable pest control company who will exterminated these creatures effectively.
To do that, you’ll need to locate pest control professionals in your area through the internet, local newspaper, phone book, and personal recommendations. Then you have to interview the exterminator. Ask about the exterminator’s license and experience with bed bugs. It is imperative to choose a qualified and licensed company that specializes in safe bed bug control. It would also be an added point if the exterminator is a member of any national, state, or local pest-management organizations.
Next, inquire about the extermination work. Companies have different extermination methods but most of them usually utilize the integrated pest management approach, which would consist of a minimum of two treatment visits and a follow-up checkup. In some cases, the exterminator would have to visit more than three times.
Moreover, find out if the company provides liability insurance. This is very important to protect your property and furniture against accidental damage that may emerge during the process of extermination. If not, you would end up using your own money to pay for damages. Make sure you devote efforts and time to find a reputable pest management company that will offer you the best service at a good value.
Where To Look For Bed Bugs
Bed bugs are increasingly becoming a huge problem with residents. These small wingless insects feed only upon blood of warm-blooded animals. The color of bed bugs varies from white or light tan or brown or burnt orange. The bed bug might appear to be dark red or black mass when the host’s blood is filled in its body. The bed bugs appear to be in oval shape flattened from top to bottom, and the hatchling bed bugs appear to be in the size of a poppy seed. Bed bugs generally come out of their hiding places only during the night when the hosts are asleep.
Generally bed bugs can be found in abundance in rooms where people sleep. Using the advantage of the flattened body shape these bugs can hide themselves in the bed or other furniture used for sleeping and conceals themselves in cracks, crevices in the room and in the furniture. The bed bugs love to hang out in the inconspicuous areas in the mattress and pillow covers. If an individual has a pop ceiling in their house, then it is one of the major hide out for a bed bug. The other important hide out of the bed bug includes the wall corners, window sills and in the curtain folds.
There are also few other tight spots which is used by bed bugs to hide or lay eggs. The tight spot includes night stands and lamps. If an individual uses carpet in the bedroom there are of course high chances of bed bugs infesting the carpet too. The other favored hiding places include bed frame, mattress, and box spring. If the bed room is cluttered with so many clothes and other stuffs it offers additional sites for the bugs to hide in.
The bed bugs are not fast movers and so it is not difficult for a person to track them down. However one has to keep in mind that bed bugs can move from apartment to apartment through holes in walls where wire and pipe pass. These insects can live without feeding for months together and so it can be present even in a clean or a vacant apartment. One can find out if the area is infested or not by carefully examining the room for bed bugs and signs of bed bug activity. If the room is heavily infested by bed bugs one can feel a peculiar coriander-like odor.
Prevent Bed Bugs
Bed bugs are very tiny and elusive. This is why they are very hard to detect. They do not feed daily because they are able to live for weeks until they need to feed again. This makes them hard to spot.
You will only learn that your home is infested with bed bugs particularly the mattress and the bed when you find that you have bed bug insect bites. These bed bug bite marks are irritatingly itchy.
Given these facts, bed bugs should not be dismissed as just some harmless insects because they are parasites and do not impose a great threat to human health. To stop bed bugs’ biting, you should go to the root of the problem and prevent bed bugs from living in your home.
The first thing you need to do is to do some surveillance in your home. Check for your beds, mattresses, couches, cracks, crevices or wherever you think bed bugs can nest. While finding live ones would be unlikely, you should be able to see some droppings and some skin sheds. These are enough evidences to perform bed bug extermination.
Treatment for bed bugs range from insecticides, bed bug powder and steam cleaners.
It is advisable that you contact a professional. Professional pest control is the best way to eliminate those pesky bed bugs. However, they may cost a little more than doing it yourself. Whatever method you prefer, it all boils down to one thing and it is about doing what it takes to prevent bed bugs from living in your home.
Prevention is crucial. Bed Bugs are an emotional and traumatic problem that is extremely hard to deal with once you get them. It is expensive and timely consuming and emotional draining to fight bed bugs. Please practice prevention.