Understanding Bed Bugs

Servall Termite & Pest Control is concerned about the rapidly growing bed bug problem in the United States. This article from prweb.com provides some insight into what to look for with bed bugs.

It is undeniable that the bed bug population has been allowed to grow out of control in recent years, and much of this is due to lack of understanding from those suffering from an infestation. There is a general belief, for example, that bed bugs are prone to infesting filthy living spaces, but this ill-informed misconception is turned on its head in light of evidence from the New York Times that these insects were recently found inhabiting the Ritz-Carlton hotel on Central Park South. Many people believe it is impossible for them to have a bed bug infestation if they have a clean house, but bed bugs are small and stealthy enough to hide just about anywhere without people noticing. Alan Constantino, the owner of Alco NY Animal and Pest Control, believes the key to combatting the rising tide of bed bug infestations is providing factual information and crafty techniques to both clients and the general public.

The first part of Alan’s plan is to inform the public about how people get bed bugs. As bed bugs are small, flat, and nocturnal, they are often very hard to see, which is compounded by the easy job they have hiding in any cracks and crevices in your home. They can hide under dressers, inside piles of old clothes, in the lining of a mattress, and even behind cracking paint.

As these insects suck blood, the best way to determine if they are in a home is the signs of their parasitism, which manifests in a small pattern of red welts caused by their bite marks. While these marks are harmless, they are unsightly and can cause mild itching. Another way to determine their presence is to find tiny spots of blood on bed sheets, caused by accidentally crushing the bugs as they feed. Besides these “symptoms”, the absolute best way to determine the presence of an infestation is to find an actual colony. Though Alan stresses finding only a single bug is not evidence for a colony, it is an important enough sign to make one start to think over what to do about bed bugs.

Upon finding a colony there are many different options for control depending on where it is. Many bed bug control methods can take advantage of the fact that they are very temperature sensitive. If they have been discovered in old clothes, for example, it is easy enough to wash the clothes and then place them in a high heat drier, killing any of the bugs that survive the wash. If discovered in a mattress, it is easier to leave it outside on a day that is too cold for the bugs to survive. If the bugs have been discovered in easy to access locations, a vacuum cleaner can be used rather easily to trap a large mass and suffocate them simultaneously. In some situations, however, it may be necessary to use pesticides if the bed bugs are in a location that is inaccessible to other methods of removal. Even if one attempts these methods on their own, Alco NY Animal and Pest Control urges people to discuss bed bug control with an experienced pest control company to ensure everything goes smoothly.

Servall Termite & Pest Control is experienced in bed bug treatment and removal. If you find you have bed bugs or think you may have them contact us today. Visit www.servallpestcontrol.com for more information about us.