Unfortunately, bed bugs are a major issue for us here in Texas. Bed bugs can be extremely difficult to control and are almost impossible to get rid of on your own, without the help of professional pest control services. Hotels and dorm rooms are not the only places one can come in contact with bed bugs, they can be found in homes too. These clever hitchhikers are skilled travelers and can attach themselves to clothing or luggage to hitch a ride in your car or back to your house, then before you know it, you’ve got a real problem on your hands. You may not even know they’re there until it’s too late. A Five Star Termite & Pest Control is here to explain where to find these unwanted house guests and how to get rid of them.
Identifying Bed Bugs
Bedbugs are small, oval shaped insects that are about the size of an apple seed. Bed bugs are brownish in color, but after a blood meal their bodies swell and become a reddish color. A female bed bug can lay hundreds of eggs in her lifetime, in favorable conditions, they can produce three or more generations per year, with eggs fully developing in just a month’s time. Bed bug eggs are the size of a speck of dust and tend to be laid in clusters. Bed bugs survive off the blood of humans or animals and though they are a true nuisance, they are not known to be vectors of any diseases.
Where to Find Bed Bugs
Bed bugs prefer to take the path of least resistance and tend to stay close to their food source. This can be under a mattress, bed frame, curtains around a bed, pet beds or furniture close to these areas. They are nocturnal and come out at night to feed and satisfy their hunger. Their small, flat bodies give them the uncanny ability to fit into even the tightest of spaces and they are masters of concealing themselves. The most common sign of bed bugs are small, red, itchy welts on one’s skin or a dog that begins scratching more often than normal. The best places to begin looking if you suspect bed bug activities are your mattress and bed frame. Grab a flashlight and have a helper lift the mattress and box spring while you search underneath. They tend to hide near the seams, in cracks or along the stitching of the mattress where they can easily conceal themselves. Look along the bed frame near screws, bends, grooves or any other concealed location. Search in wrinkles or near stitches on curtains and pet beds and under and behind nightstands. Bed bugs tend to hide in groups which makes them easier to spot.
What to Do if You Find a Bed Bug
If you identify you in fact have bed bugs, you will want to call a professional pest control company who has experience and a vast knowledge of bed bugs and how to treat for them. It is near impossible to self-treat for bed bugs, especially if you have a lot of them. After your pest control technician arrives, they will first locate, then identify the type of pest you are dealing with. They will then formulate a custom pest control plan to eliminate the bed bugs and control further populations from resurfacing. Depending on the extent of the bed bug problems, treatment varies from insecticides to whole home heat treatments. It will all depend on what your pest control technician feels is best for your particular circumstance.
Bed Bug Inspections, Exclusion, Control, Removal, Management & More in Canyon Lake, Spring Branch, Bulverde, Timberwood Park, Leon Valley, Alamo Heights, New Braunfels, Selma, Live Oak, Converse, Universal City, Cibolo, Seguin, New Berlin, St Hedwig, Adkins, La Vernia, Elmendorf, Losoya, Von Ormy, Macdona & San Antonio, Texas
If you find yourself battling bed bugs in Texas, A Five Star Termite & Pest Control is your go-to bed bug specialists. We will work with you to formulate a custom pest control plan to ensure you a pest free home. If you have further questions, or need assistance identifying bed bugs in your home, give us a call!
