Can Pest Control Get Rid Of Bed Bugs? (Gastonia Exterminators)

Residents of Gastonia have found this out the hard way, with bed bugs quickly spreading in several households in the city. This is because as people go on to live their daily lives, bed bugs continue to spread at a quick pace. Gastonia pest exterminators have reported an increase in reported incidences of bed bug infestation problems, and this is an alarming trend.

How did this happen? A couple of decades ago, bed bugs were still extinct. Their supposed “extinction'' happened in the 1950s when advances in pest control technology did the trick. There was relative peace not only in Gastonia but in all of the United States as well and it went on for four decades. But now they are back and are stronger than ever.

If you are reading this, chances are you are having the same problems as millions of household owners in America. You might be looking for the best way to control bed bugs and are wondering, “Who is the best pest control company for Gastonia NC?”

In this article, we shall discuss bed bugs, their effects, and the most effective pest control to get rid of them.

Overview Of Bed Bugs

Bed bugs are blood-sucking nocturnal insects. They usually hide in bed frames, headboards, pillowcases, and mattresses. This makes sense to them because they need to be near their source of food. They attack us as we sleep at night. We are never aware of them biting us since they inject an enzyme that acts as anesthesia while they bite. Its effects would be felt only after 7 to 14 days.

The bed bug’s body has three segments: the head, thorax, and the abdomen.  It has a pair of eyes, six legs, and two antennae attached to its head. It is brown and its body is flat, but they turn red and bloat after a blood meal. Inside the body of a male bed bug are a scent gland, a testis, and intestines. A female bed bug has scent glands, intestines, mycetoma, ovaries, ovarioles, and a genital chamber. It has piercing mouthparts called a proboscis that suck blood.   Bed bugs came here in the United States in the 1800s via ships coming from different parts of the world and immediately made their presence felt until the 20th century. Travel was the number one cause of their spread. When new pesticides were invented in the 1950’s they started to disappear until they were considered extinct, that was until the 1990s.

If travel was the number one reason for their spread then, it remains the number one reason now. The only difference is that they are far stronger now more than ever. With modern technology bringing improvements in traveling, more and more Americans go to several different places. While this is a boon to the economy, this has allowed the bed bugs to spread havoc here in the United States.

The past years have seen a surge in people calling for help. Professional pest control companies have reported that the majority of pest problems that they have responded to involve bed bugs. This new generation of bed bugs are more resistant to currently available pesticides, so they say. They have increased in numbers and scope

Bed Bug Do Bite

A bed bug bite is not painful because as we mention, they inject an enzyme that acts as anesthesia. However, it would show up as a small, flat, or raised bump on the skin after 1 to 2 weeks. Symptoms are redness, extreme itching, and swelling. Their bites appear in a straight pattern, unlike those of mosquitoes that are scattered.

Bed bug bites are very itchy, but normally no medical intervention is needed since they resolve by themselves. The face, neck, hands, and arms are the common areas of the skin that they bite because these are usually the exposed parts of the skin. But if the itching is severe, you may use oatmeal baths and cool compresses to soothe the itchiness. Steroid creams and antihistamine treatments may also be used. Other treatments include a paste made of baking soda and water.

High Health Risks

According to three U.S. government agencies, bed bugs are high health risks. This is even though they are not considered as disease vectors. According to the Center for Disease Control, the United States Department of Agriculture, and the Environmental Protection Agency, people with bed bug infestation problems are susceptible to being stressed out, anxious, sleepless nights, social isolation, and even depression.

Indeed there are several cases linking bed bugs to stress and anxiety. This may have resulted in the sleep disorder in which people are having trouble sleeping that some people have reported having. Truly, no one would be able to sleep knowing that bed bugs are just waiting to pounce on them once the lights are turned off.

Cases of social isolation have been reported as well, especially among children. Bed bug bites are embarrassing to those who have them. Sometimes, parents of children would not allow their kids to go near a child with bed bug bites.

There are also reports of cases of depression for people who have bed bugs as a result of all these effects.

Researchers have not been able to link bed bugs to any disease transmission. Some studies suggest that bed bugs can be linked to the transmission of Chagas disease in some cases, though there is no concluding evidence for this.

Where Did Bed Bugs Come From?

The leading cause of bed bug infestation is travel. Someone who has bed bugs in their home is usually those who came from another city or country. Whether they stay in 5-star hotels or a dingy motel room, the possibility of catching bed bugs is pretty high. Bed bugs are very good at hitchhiking, and they can easily latch on to luggage clothes, or anything that you might bring home with you. This is why it is always advisable for you to check the hotel or motel or any kind of room you will be staying in for bed bugs.

Another easy way bed bugs get into our homes is when we buy old items from garage sales. Inspect the things you would want to buy for bed bugs. People who live in apartment units near each other are susceptible too. Once a unit gets a bed bug, they might quickly spread to the rest of the units since bed bugs reproduce quickly.  

Where Do Bed Bugs Hide?

The first place bed bugs hide is on the bed. They hide in the headboards, bed frames, mattresses, and pillowcases. But when the infestation gets heavy, they tend to spread to the different parts of the house. They would typically hide in cracks and crevices of walls and ceilings, in drawers, electric receptacles, cabinets, and furniture.  

Signs Of Bed Bugs

To get rid of bed bugs, early detection is very important. Keep in mind that since bed bug bites do not show symptoms immediately, it is not an accurate determinant for checking for the presence of bed bugs. Below are the best signs to look for.

1. Bloodstains on the mattress resulting from crushed bed bugs as you roll around your bed.

2. Fecal stains or rust-colored dark spots on the bed or in cracks and crevices. These are human blood that they fed on.

3. The presence of egg cases or shed skin is probable signs you have bed bugs.

4. A sweet, musty odor coming from the scent glands of bed bugs.

5. Seeing a bed bug.

What Should You Do If You Have Bed Bugs?

If you already have bed bug infestation and they have spread throughout the house, your best option would be to call the professionals. Of course, you would not want just any other professional, you want only the best. Finding the best pest control management is important if you want to completely eradicate these troublesome pests in your home safely and efficiently. For their pest control needs, people from the Triangle trust only one name: Go-Forth Pest Control.

The best pest control company in Gastonia, Go-Forth Pest Control has been around since 1959, ensuring that Gastonia residents have pest-free homes. They have excellent experience in exterminating bed bugs, mosquitoes, cockroaches, rats, mice, poisonous spiders, ants, termites, flies, and many others. They have highly skilled and well-trained technicians using only state of the art equipment.

Go-Forth Pest Control has earned the trust of residents and businesses in Gastonia for more than 50 years. For more information, or to set an appointment, just dial 336-841-6111. Our friendly operators are standing by.