As their name suggests, bed bugs are often found in and around bedroom furniture, however this is not their only haunt. They also ...
The name bed bug is indicative of a pest that stays in the bed, but this is actually not true. Bed bugs can actually be found in many different areas of the home. Thus, inspecting the bedroom will not be sufficient when checking for bed bugs.
After feeding at night, bed bugs don't hang around on their human hosts. Instead, they crawl off to a tiny crack or hole in the mattress, bed frame, box springs or headboard. They can also hide behind an electrical switch plate, in a crack on a table, in a picture frame – or in all of those places and more.
Because of this, bed bugs can be difficult to detect. If you only look at the bed itself it's unlikely that you will find the majority of bed bugs as they will be hiding elsewhere.
It is important to locate the bed bugs so they can be removed – something your local pest exterminator will be able to do. Once located, treatments can be applied. Only extreme heat, extreme cold or chemicals will kill them. And the sooner an infestation is treated, the better.
You must ensure that if you suspect your property has bed bugs, professional help is called in immediately. Bed bugs are expert hitchikers and infestations can quickly spread.
For years, the pest was known to most people only through a nursery rhyme – sleep tight, don't let the bed bugs bite. But their populations started growing in the years following the ban on the powerful pesticide DDT.
Bed bugs are excellent hitch-hikers – they hide in luggage, furniture, clothing and other objects. It is important that you protect your belongings while travelling and inspect hotel rooms carefully before setting down any luggage or unpacking.
In addition, do not pick up discarded furniture from the street. Bed bugs could be nesting in the furniture, and you do not want to bring them into your home. Bed bugs can go months without feeding, so they can easily survive on discarded furniture until it finds a new home. Leave the furniture on the curb.
If you are a homeowner, you should take precautions to prevent bed bugs from travelling with you. In addition, those who have an infestation should take the proper pest control measures in order to eliminate the bed bugs.
Article provided by SDA Pest Control