Bed Bugs- A Terror in the Dark
-Folsom, California
“Goodnight, Sleep Tight, Don’t let the Bed Bugs Bite!”
With a name that’s possibly derived from the old English “hobgoblin” signifying a ‘terror in the dark’, it’s easy to see these creatures as a horror flick rather than a nursery rhyme!
Even reading about Bed Bugs can make one’s skin crawl. While writing this I was certain that they were ‘on me!’ all night. So I am not one to judge when a frenzied caller tells me they suspect they have Bed Bugs. And not only frenzied, but embarrassed. Take heart! Following are a few facts about Bed Bugs that may put your mind at ease.
· Bed Bug infestations are usually not a reflection of poor hygiene or bad housekeeping.
· Bed Bugs are not always localized in just one area. In fact, they can be found in seams of mattresses, on box springs, on bed legs, within furniture interiors, behind pictures, on curtains, carpets, baseboards and anywhere there is a crack or crevice (they like tight spaces).Think about dwellings with a high rate of occupant turnover such as hotels, motels, hostels, dormitories, shelters, apartment complexes, tenements, and prisons, these are all common harborage areas for Bed Bugs.
· Although Bed Bugs were kept under control in the 1950’s, they are certainly making a comeback today. Specific factors are believed to have driven the recent resurgence of Bed Bugs. These include:
*Loss of formerly effective insecticides (such as DDT)
*Reduced use of insecticides indoors
*Failure to recognize the pest, allowing populations to develop
*Increased International travel
Following are the top 3 things to look for if you think you may have Bed Bugs:
1. Tiny blood stains or dark reddish brown specks on your mattress- along the piping where the seams meet, on walls at crevices, on linens and basically anywhere within 15 feet of your bed. These are the evidence of Bed Bugs, a mix of your blood and Bed Bug excrement is what makes up these particles.
2. An obnoxious sweet smell, somewhat like fresh red raspberries in the air. Bed Bug infested homes can sometimes be recognized by their distinctive ‘buggy’ smell. This is due to the Bed Bugs scent glands that secrete a clear, oily volatile liquid. This depends also on how long Bed Bugs have occupied the home.
3. Small red, itchy marks on your skin. Although some people may never show evidence of being bitten by Bed Bugs (tongue twister!), many will. These marks are where the Bed Bug pierced your skin and gorged on your blood for anywhere between 3-15 minutes. Bed Bugs can bite a host 500 times in a night (of course there is the lady who allegedly received 600 bites in one night at a New York hotel in 2007). And unlike Ticks that attach themselves to the host and remain there, Bed Bugs retreat until their next meal. This makes them even more difficult to detect.
If you believe that you have an infestation of Bed Bugs you should contact your Licensed Pest Control Professional and let them get on it right away. Remember, Bed Bug infestations are not successfully handled with one treatment alone. Because a Bed bug population can increase by thousands in a matter of months, procrastinating can allow this problem to get worse and worse, ultimately making the process of getting rid of them much more difficult.
Bed Bugs are a formidable opponent. It’s a slim chance that you will even know you have come in contact with them until later when you are either itching or noticing those telltale stains and specks.
Earn a Free Service!
If you refer a new friend to us, we will do your next pest control service Free!
Have your friend call 916-987-9144 to get started today!
Properly done, and only with the individual and specific advice of your Licensed Pest Control Professional, any of these actions below can help you battle the ‘Terror in the Dark’.
· Launder all linens and blankets in hot water and a hot dryer or dryclean regularly. A high level of heat will kill Bed Bugs, so I would think it wouldn’t hurt to ‘heat things up’ every once in awhile, to kill any Bed Bugs that may be contemplating reproducing in your property. Even a hot iron run along the seams of your mattress will be beneficial in the battle against Bed Bugs. Keep in mind, if the heat isn’t hot enough, it won’t kill them, but may disperse them into the room, making things worse! Below is a table of the heat and times deadly to Bed Bugs:
104 ° for 24 Hours
113° for 1 Hour
175° for 5 to 30 Minutes
180° dispersed suddenly will kill all stages of Bed Bugs
· Vacuum regularly and make sure to remove and double bag the vacuum bag and dispose of it in outside trash prior to professional treatment.
· Encase mattresses, pillows, etc., in protective covers. Ask your Pest Control Professional for assistance in choosing the correct type of cover.
· Have your home inspected and treated by a Licensed Pest Control Professional on a regular basis. By treating the inside and outside of our home regularly, you are insuring that there is residual to kill insects that come in contact with it.
· Always empty suitcases and launder belongings in hot water before reintroducing clothing to drawers, closets and the inside of your home after traveling.
Bed Bugs are arguably the most psychologically disturbing pest one can encounter. If you even think you have them it can keep you up all night itching and scratching and dousing yourself in talcum powder (I don’t know if it helped but I know it didn’t hurt)! My hope for you is that you sleep tight … without the Bed Bug Bite!
Posted by admin