If there was a contest for the world’s sneakiest pests, bed bugs would easily clinch the top prize. These pests are so sneaky that they’ve even invaded places as fortified as The White House. Ergo, they’re so resilient that they can’t be stopped by conventional pest control! No matter how much you seal up your home, bed bugs can still find their way inside. If you are curious to know how these bloodsuckers could get into your Raleigh home, here are a few things you should know.
Common Misconceptions About Bed Bugs
Because bed bugs are so mysterious, several rumors have formed about these small pests. Here are a few of the most common bed bug misconceptions, as well as the truths behind each:
Lie: Bed bugs are too small to see.
Truth: Bed bugs are great at hiding, but quite visible when found.
Lie: Bed bugs can fly.
Truth: Bed bugs don’t have wings, nor are they very fast.
Lie: Bed bugs are nocturnal and only bite at night.
Truth: Bed bugs stay out of sight when their host sleeps and can bite any time of day.
Lie: Bed bugs only live around beds.
Truth: Bed bugs are most commonly found around sleeping areas, but can live all throughout a home.
Lie: Bed bugs reproduce quickly.
Truth: Unlike flies that can lay 500 eggs every few days, a female bed bug only lays one egg every 24 hours.
How Bed Bugs Invade Homes
Bed bugs are not the strongest or fastest pests. Unable to survive outdoors for extended amounts of time, and only able to crawl four feet per minute max, these lackluster pests have to get creative to invade homes. To do this, bed bugs usually hitchhike off the items people carry around.
Bed Bug Hotspots
You are more likely to encounter bed bugs anywhere people regularly travel. Some hotspots for bed bug activity include hotels, hospitals, movie theaters, bus stations, airports, and schools. Out of all these areas, you are most likely to pick up bed bugs anywhere you can spend the night. Bed bugs aren’t fast and need time to crawl onto your personal belongings.
Are Bed Bugs Difficult To Prevent?
The only way to prevent bed bugs is to vigilantly keep your eyes out for these pests. By checking furniture, inspecting rooms you will be staying in, and regularly checking carried belongings, you reduce your chances of bringing uninvited guests home with you. To make spotting bed bugs easier, keep your eyes out for these signs:
Bloodstains around sleeping areas.
Reddish black fecal droppings.
Pearl white eggs in a room’s cracks and crevices.
Live, reddish-brown, oval-shaped bed bugs.
A pungent, musty odor in the air.
The Only Way To Eliminate Bed Bugs
When bed bugs invade a home, they don’t go away without a fight. To make your battle against these pests easier, get the experts at Pest & Termite Consultants involved. Our team knows which strategies work best to eliminate bed bugs.
Although we cannot keep these blood-feeding pests from invading your home in the future, we are always a phone call away if you need advice or assistance with any bed bug-related problems. Contact our team today if you have any questions or want to arrange a bed bug inspection.