Four Ways You Could Be Wrong About Bed Bugs In San Jose

There are many myths circulating about bed bugs. These myths can give you the wrong idea about bed bugs and make it easier for bed bugs to get into your San Jose home and torment you. Hopefully, the following facts will help you put things into perspective.

Myth 1: Bed Bugs Are Too Small To See

Bed bugs are definitely small, but they're not so small that you can't see them. When a bed bug hatches, it is about 1mm long. While not invisible to the naked eye, it is definitely not easy to see a baby bed bug. To make matters worse, when a bed bug hatches from its egg, it begins life with very transparent skin. This skin is so transparent, you'll be able to easily see your blood in its abdomen if it has fed on you. If it hasn't fed on you, it will blend in to its surroundings and be difficult to detect.

Another reason people think bed bugs are too small to see is that bed bugs stay out of sight. These insects don't like the light and will work hard to avoid it. They're also attracted to very tight spaces. You can look into a piece of luggage that has several bed bugs and not see a single bug. We recommend using a credit card in cracks and creases to bring the bugs to the surface.

Myth 2: Bed Bugs Only Hang Out Around Beds

You would think that a bug with "bed" in its name would only be in or around beds, but this is not the case. Bed bugs have been found living near, and inside, couches, chairs, and other furniture. While they certainly prefer to feed at night on sleeping humans, they'll adapt to feeding on fully awake humans when they sit or recline. This is important to know. If you start getting bed bug bites in your home, you may not be getting them while you're sleeping.

Myth 3: Bed Bugs Are A Result Of Poor Hygiene Or A Dirty Home

This is a myth that has been around for quite a while. It likely originated from the fact that bed bugs stain items black with their feces and brown from blood they excrete. When a mattress is thrown out, there may be stains on it from the infestation. These are visible for all to see. But this staining is concealed during the infestation. Bed bugs prefer to be in compressed spaces and will tuck themselves between a mattress and box spring. You can change the sheets on a mattress and not realize there is something gross between the mattress and the box spring.

Another point to consider is that there is nothing about your hygiene or the cleanliness of your home that attracts bed bugs. These bugs aren't attracted to dirty people or locations. They are dirty insects that can hide in the cleanest of places. But bed bugs are attracted to dirty laundry—not because it is dirty but because it smells like the oils from human skin. When you spend several nights away from home, you may be able to prevent bed bugs from coming home with you if you keep your laundry items in a sealed plastic bag, such as a trash bag with a bread tie to seal it closed.

Myth 4: You Can Get Rid Of Bed Bugs On Your Own

If you find bed bugs in your home, you should know that these bugs are experts at avoiding extermination. Bed bugs have been living almost exclusively with humans for centuries, feeding on the blood of people and leaving irritating bite wounds. If they were easy to exterminate, they would be extinct by now. We recommend that you avoid wasting a lot of money, time, and energy attempting to get rid of bed bugs on your own. You're only likely to increase the amount of time these pests are allowed to torment you and spread from your home to other locations. Contact a licensed pest professional for bed bug elimination.

Do you live in San Jose?

If you're dealing with a bed bug infestation in San Jose, contact Bay Pest. We use advanced pest control strategies and leading products to arrest bed bug infestations and make sure all the bugs are gone. You don't have to let the bed bugs bite. Reach out to us today. We can help you take the bite out of your bed bug infestation.