Contrary to popular belief, bed bugs do not prefer a clean environment over one that is unclean. Bed bugs can live virtually anywhere as long as they have access to a food source; blood meals. Therefore the statements that say filth draws bed bugs are without basis.
Nevertheless, clutter does make it simpler for these insects to conceal themselves, which may contribute to the misconceptions. They prefer a warm habitat that offers ready access to a blood meal. Unfortunately, your home is the cozy, ideal environment these blood feeders choose.
The good news is that having bed bugs in your home isn’t the end of the world. Nor does it mean you have to burn down your house to eliminate them. At Go-Forth Pest Control, we want to assure all of our clients that they are getting the best possible bed bug and pest control services. Contact your Raleigh pest control experts. We're here to serve and protect you and your home.
Checking For Bed Bugs: A Complete Guide
Bed bugs in Raleigh are undoubtedly something you want to avoid; despite your best efforts, sometimes they're unavoidable, and you may need a professional bed bug treatment to eliminate them. However, confirming that you are dealing with a bed bug infestation is necessary; this helps bed bug exterminators determine the best treatment you need.
Of course, you don't have to know everything about bed bugs, but being able to describe what the pest looks like and where you're finding the bugs will be very helpful in resolving your bed bug problem.
At Go-Forth Pest Control, we are bed bug and pest experts. We are more than happy to impart our expertise and knowledge to help you know how to spot bed bugs and where to find them in a two-step process:
- Look for evidence: After you have concluded that there is a possibility that bed bugs are causing the issue, there are specific things to search for that will assist you in establishing whether or not they are present. It is only possible to search for bed bugs by coming across them, despite their presence. The evidence that they leave behind, such as feces stains (which digested blood is), is more likely what you'll discover.
- Look for a live sample: If you feel courageous, you can do a visual inspection, but you'll likely need a magnifying glass. The bad news is that if you can see bed bugs physically, their population has grown out of control, and their colony has expanded. In your best interest, please get in touch with a bed bug control professional to conduct a licensed inspection.
When would you investigate for bed bugs? Finding a live bed bug is the only way to determine whether bed bugs have invaded. Identifying the presence of a bed bug infestation is feasible under certain circumstances. It's time to check if bed bugs are the source of the issue if you notice that you are waking up with bites on your body that weren't there when you went to bed.
How And Why Bed Bug Infestations Get Worse With Time
Although they can produce five to seven eggs daily at their busiest, female bed bugs typically only produce one egg. A bed bug egg hatches in ten to fifteen days and can start reproducing approximately six weeks later. Additionally, the average bed insect lifespan is four to six months.
These pests may initially move from room to room rather slowly, so the best time to eliminate bed bugs is as soon as possible. This point is crucial to remember because it may take as long as three to six weeks to eradicate bed bugs from your home.
However, bed bugs multiply over time, so if you don't treat them, you can find yourself dealing with a very sizable infestation in weeks or months.
As you can probably imagine, time is of the essence when dealing with these blood-feeding pests. The moment you notice any signs of bed bugs or even think you see signs of bed bugs, call Go-Forth Pest Control. It never hurts to ease your mind with an inspection. It’s better to be safe than sorry.
All The Places Bed Bugs Could Be Hiding In Your Home
Check where you suspect bed bugs by using a flashlight and an instrument with a stiff, flat edge, like a credit card or a paint scraper. Pay special attention to beds, mattresses, and other places.
When looking for evidence of a bed bug infestation, you should look for bugs, eggs, feces, or molted skin. Make sure you check the wrinkles, cracks, and crevices of any fabric or furniture in the infested area. During this inspection, you want to ensure you wear protective gloves. Here are places to look:
- Warm areas draw bed bugs: Mattresses and beds are the most common places for bed bugs to conceal themselves. Check your sheets for any signs of blood that bed bugs left behind. Ensure you give your mattress's seams, tufts, and folds a thorough inspection and any corners or crevices in your bed.
- Bed bugs congregate where people sit or lie still for extended periods: Bed bugs typically conceal themselves in upholstered furniture such as sofas, recliners, and even office chairs. It is essential not to neglect to inspect between seat cushions and underneath furniture and where the fabric connects with the legs of furniture. Also, bed bugs often conceal themselves along the edges of a room; check the carpet and baseboards.
Because of the direct nature of the treatment, it is essential to understand the location of the bed bugs in your home and the areas that do not harbor them. You will then be able to target these areas for treatment, preventing you from wasting chemicals.
In addition, don't overlook any remaining bed bugs because this could lead to an extended infestation. Here are some lesser-known areas where bed bugs tend to hide:
- Check the nightstands and dressers in your room using a flashlight and flat-edged objects. Empty each drawer so you can inspect the joints and cracks in the drawers. Always double-check the bottoms of your drawers.
- Examine curtains and drapes, window and door frames, the ceiling (particularly in corners), under loose wallpaper, outlet covers, beneath lamps, within picture frames and alarm clocks, and other household devices.
If you suspect a bed bug infestation in your home, contact Go-Forth Pest Control immediately to explore your treatment options.
Turn To The Professionals As Soon As You See A Bed Bug
If you find evidence of bed bugs, you will need expert assistance; you cannot independently eliminate an underlying infestation. Since bed bugs are resistant to pesticides, spraying them with something you buy at a hardware store or online would eradicate some of them and disperse the others, escalating your problem.
Steam, heat, and professional-grade chemicals like pesticides, powders, and other agents can eradicate bed bugs (and their eggs). Still, a qualified pest management specialist uses all these methods, occasionally requiring numerous visits and inspections to ensure complete eradication.
We'll be sure to supply a bed bug preparation document with directions you need to complete before our treatment. Then, we'll chemically treat your home, room by room, to eliminate bed bugs. We'll schedule a follow-up appointment one week after your initial treatment. During this visit, we will inspect your home for further evidence of bed bugs and re-treat if necessary.
After your final bed bug treatment, we include a 30-day warranty for your bed bug control service. Within those 30 days, if you discover bed bugs in your home, we'll re-treat them at no additional cost. We will extend your warranty for as long as you maintain your pest treatment coverage if you choose one of our pest management packages that include bed bug control. To begin your services, you can schedule an appointment with Go-Forth Pest Control, and we'll be sure to rid your home of such troublesome pests.
