Signs, Treatment, And Elimination Of Bed Bugs

The truth is, there is really no shame in having a bed bug infestation. Even 5-star hotels get infested too. People may have even gotten their bed bugs from staying in these plush hotels, for all we know. Bites are not dangerous in themselves. They are itchy, can cause some pain, and do not look too pleasing, but these bites do not cause diseases. This does not mean, however, that the bed bugs themselves pose no danger. In fact, some government agencies, like the Environmental Protection Agency, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the Center For Disease Control consider bed bugs as high health risks. Why they are that dangerous will be discussed later on.  

What Do Bed Bugs Look Like?

Bed bugs are bloodsucking nocturnal insects, so you would not see much of them during the day. Bed bugs are oval in shape, they are the size of an apple seed which is about ⅚ mm long, with flat bodies, and are brown, red, or yellow in color. Their flat bodies do bloat and turn red after a blood meal. -They are said to be attracted to the heat of the human body. The female bed bugs lay over a hundred eggs over their lifetime, and they spread very fast so immediate detection and extermination are very important.

Bed Bugs See Colors And Can Be Repelled By Them

They are also attracted to certain colors too. Scientists in 2016 have learned that bed bugs show a preference for certain colors, and hide in areas with their color of preference. They have found out that red or black colors. They found this out during a study conducted at the University of Florida and Union College. They placed bed bugs on a Petri dish with different colored cards. They saw that bed bugs approached the red and black cards. This could suggest that we should probably avoid red and black colored mattresses. This makes sense since red is the color of blood, which is what they feed on. Black is associated with darkness, which also describes the places where they like to hide. Bed bugs’ least favorite colors are green and yellow because they appear to be too bright for the bed bugs.

Bed Bug Resurgence

Once thought of as having disappeared from the face of the earth, bed bugs now have found a way to thrive. Not only are they thriving now, but according to f, “we are in the midst of a worldwide bed bug resurgence.” For one, bed bugs have developed resistance from insecticides, just like cockroaches. They have simply evolved and became much stronger. Modern technology has also played a huge part in this resurgence. Travel has improved, and many Americans have been traveling to all parts of the world at a much higher rate. Bed bugs are expert hitchhikers, so a chance encounter with them in any place that is infested by these bugs may result in people carrying them back to their homes. Modern homes now also are equipped with central heating which makes the environment ideal for bed bugs. 

How Can These Tiny Insects Be High Health Risks?

Bed bugs have become a major cause for concern in the United States and have emerged as a top health hazard. Even though they do not transmit diseases, much like mosquitoes, cockroaches, and flies do, they present so many health risks to humans. 

Bed bugs feed at night while we sleep. We do not get disturbed while they suck blood from us because they secrete enzymes that are anesthetic so that they can suck peacefully. Bed bug bites appear in a straight line, which differentiates them from mosquito bites. However, these bites appear after about a week or two, so bites are not accurate indicators of infestation. Bites are itchy and can be painful, but they do not transmit diseases. Bed bug bites usually vanish on their own. 

The real danger of having bed bugs is that infestation affects the mental health of many people. One danger of having bed bugs is that it causes insomnia. According to Merriam-Webster, insomnia is “a sleep disorder that can be caused by psychological and medical conditions, abnormal sleep habits, a specific substance, and certain biological factors.” People start to develop insomnia due to the fact that they know the bed bugs are just around the corner, ready to bite them if they fall asleep. That would be a terrible thought. They would find it difficult to fall asleep, or wake up in the middle of the night and not be able to fall asleep anymore. 

Having no sleep puts a person in a stressful situation. Stress is defined again by Merriam-Webster as “a physical, mental, chemical, or emotional factor that causes bodily or mental factor in disease causation.” It affects a person’s productivity whether at work or at home. It affects how they function throughout the day. It could also lead to depression. Depression is having a feeling of extreme sadness and loneliness caused by many factors. People who are diagnosed with this disorder need professional care. If a person with depression is left untreated, it may lead to serious family problems, substance abuse, and even suicide.  

Signs That You Have Bed Bugs

Early detection of bed bugs is critical because finding out about them later will result in many difficult forms of treatment. Like I said earlier, bed bug bites are not accurate determinants at all, because these bites appear only after several days, in which case it would have been too late. Bed bugs spread rather quickly. Signs that you may have an infestation include seeing blood spots on your mattress, which means you may have squashed some of them while you sleep. You may also find tiny white eggs at the crevices of your mattresses or furniture because these are the areas in which they like to hide. There might also be tiny black spots, which are their feces. Mottled shells that have been shed are also sure signs of bed bugs. Look for them at their favorite hiding places like bed frames, headboards, and box springs. However, they are not confined to these places and they may scatter all over your bedroom.

What To Do If Bitten By A Bed Bug?

Bed bugs disappear on their own, but that does not mean we can just let them pass. For immediate relief, apply an ice pack on the areas that are bitten. For the pain and swelling, run cold water on your skin. Clean the area using soap and water. You may also put a small amount of apple cider vinegar into a cotton ball and apply it on the affected area and soak in for a few minutes. Then rinse with soap and water.  

Management

Once you have a bed bug infestation, the best course of action would be to call the best pest control management in the Carolinas. Go-Forth Pest Control is your best bet against these pests. Still, there are some things you can still do to get rid of them. These are:

1. Use your vacuum cleaner to suck up these bugs. After that, throw away the bag immediately.
2. Wash your bedding and even your clothes that are infested at 60 degrees centigrade. This would kill the bed bugs.   
3. If your furniture is way beyond redemption due to having too many bed bugs on them, throw them out. Make sure to mark these with “Bed bugs” or something to avoid having other people picking them up and using them for their homes.  

If you cannot control the bed bugs yourself anymore, then it is time for Go-Forth Pest Control to step in.  

Why Go-Forth Pest Control?

Here at Go-Forth, we understand that no home or pest is the same, so there is no cookie-cutter solution. At Go-Forth Pest Control, we have professional technicians who will examine your home to evaluate your specific needs. We will identify points of entry and make treatments as necessary. We only use state of the art equipment to keep up with these ever-evolving pests. Go-Forth Pest Control is a family-owned company that has excellent experience in pest extermination, pests like bed bugs, termites, mosquitoes, cockroaches, and mice. They have friendly professionals who are highly skilled and well-trained. They also employ family-friendly and pet-friendly methods of extermination, so you are assured of your family’s safety.

Go-Forth Pest Control has earned the trust of residents and businesses here in North Carolina for more Just check us on Google and Facebook. For more information, or to set an appointment, just call 336-841-6111. Our friendly operators are standing by.