Restless nights are always difficult to recover from, but how can you tell if it's not just nerves keeping you awake? Bed bugs are common pests that disrupt natural sleep patterns with their nocturnal parasitic feeding schedules, so they may not be dangerous pests, but they're certainly not harmless. Since June is Bed Bug Prevention Month, pest control companies across the country are helping to educate homeowners about the importance of bed bug control, so if you want to keep your home bed bug-free this year, then it's time to learn more about them.
What Do Bed Bugs In The Bay Area Look Like?
Bed bugs are small, flat, wingless insects with teardrop-shaped bodies. They grow up to 1/4 of an inch long, are reddish-brown, and they're easily misidentified for other insects, such as beetles, cockroach nymphs, ticks, and booklice. They're also mistaken for apple seeds and other household debris.
Are You Struggling With A Bed Bug Infestation?
These pests are nocturnal feeders with a talent for finding the best hiding spots, so identifying a bed bug infestation isn't easy. The evidence they leave behind is often mistaken for regular household dirt, but it's much easier to tell if you have bed bugs in your Bay Area home if you know what to look for:
- Itchy red welts in a straight or zig-zag pattern.
- Small brown stains on bed sheets and clothing.
- A buildup of grime and debris between the seams of furniture.
- Dark brown to black stains on walls, around outlets, and underneath wallpaper.
- A strong, musky odor in more concentrated areas of infestation.
- Restless sleep and unusual fatigue.
The most commonly found evidence is itchy bite marks, but since they're from an allergic reaction to bed bugs, not everyone experiences them. If you think you have a bed bug infestation, with or without bite marks, the best way to confirm your suspicions is with a professional inspection from your local Bay Area pest control company.
Five Easy Ways To Prevent Bed Bugs
Eliminating a bed bug infestation is nearly impossible without the proper knowledge and equipment. Bed bugs are resistant to most pesticides, store-bought included, and their hiding spots shield them from contact treatments as well. Bed bugs also live for months without food, some for over a year, so starvation isn't the best option. The easiest way to keep your home safe is by preventing bed bugs from infesting your home with these five simple tips:
- Secondhand items – Clothing and furniture from secondhand stores can be infested. Thoroughly inspect furniture, linens, clothes, and household items acquired from thrift stores.
- Roadside furniture – While curbside items may seem thrifty, an unexpected infestation is never worth the bargain. Never take home roadside furniture or appliances.
- Vacations and business trips – Hotels are the perfect breeding grounds for bed bugs. Always inspect your hotel room before settling in for your stay.
- Luggage – In hotels, bed bugs are usually found on beds and in carpeting. Keep your luggage elevated from the floor, preferably on a metal rack.
- Returning home – Bed bugs are also common in airplanes, airports, buses, and bus stations. Thoroughly wash and dry your laundry at the hottest setting after returning home, take your luggage to a professional dry cleaner, and take a long shower.
Bed bugs are sneaky hitchhikers, so prevention won't always keep your home protected. The best bed bug protection and elimination come from professional pest control.
Professional Bed Bug Control In The Bay Area
These pests will infest any home, regardless of cleanliness, so a bed bug infestation is no reason to feel embarrassed. They're easily overlooked and multiply quickly, so if you need to get rid of bed bugs in your Bay Area home, then you need professional assistance from Bay Pest Solution Inc.
We use high-quality pest control products and methods in all treatments and provide thorough inspections. Every visit comes with our satisfaction guarantee. If you're itching for relief from bed bugs, then get in contact with us to learn more about our treatment plans.