Bed bugs may be small, but they are mighty. They need blood to live and grow, and they aren’t the most discerning pest. Bed bugs will feed on nearly any warm-blooded mammal, so no one is safe from their bites. Most humans will know of the bed bugs’ terror by being bitten in their sleep. Learn more by reaching out today.
Bed bugs are crafty too, as they will find their way into your Raleigh home by latching onto a variety of items such as clothes, used furniture, or suitcases, allowing them to travel great distances with ease. But don’t think that bed bugs will only invade your home, other places known to have bed bug infestations include: schools, hotels, retail stores, laundromats, offices, and public transportation.
How To Identify Bed Bugs In Your Home
Spotting bed bugs can be a hard task, which is primarily due to their small size and uncanny ability to hide out when not actively feeding. Additionally, they are often confused for other pests. Bed bugs can often cause staining from being squished but at that point, you probably already have a problem. Even though bed bugs may be hard to spot, there are a few signs that indicate you have an infestation.
If Raleigh homeowners are covered in large, red welted bites, primarily after waking, this may alert the presence of bed bugs in the bedroom. Though it should be noted that bed bugs are not exclusively found in the bedroom.
Since bed bugs are often found in the bedroom, homeowners should have their eyes peeled for small, reddish-brown fecal matter on mattresses, upholstery, or walls. These stains are an immediate red flag.
If you cannot identify actual bed bugs or their feces in your bed but are seemingly covered in unexplained itchy red welts, you very well may have an infestation. Bed bugs typically bite in linear or zig-zag patterns.
Though trickier to spot, empty eggshells, bed bug molt skins, or the bugs themselves will definitely indicate that you have a bed bug problem.
Health Concerns That Come With Bed Bugs
Though it has not been confirmed whether or not bed bugs transmit disease, their bites often cause itchy, uncomfortable red welts that are truly unpleasant. Typically these bites do not require professional treatment and can be tended to with over-the-counter topical ointments. Some people may experience secondary infections from a bite such as ecthyma whereas others may experience allergic reactions to their bites due to the saliva they excrete during a bite. These bites are most often not painful during the actual bite itself, but the issues they cause are worth avoiding for Raleigh residents.
A bed bug infestation can also cause homeowners a great deal of stress resulting in mental health concerns including insomnia, anxiety, and systemic reactions.
Preventing Bed Bugs
To say that preventing an issue with bed bugs in Raleigh is hard is an understatement. Once bed bugs have moved inside of a new environment, they very often go undetected because they are tiny, often mistaken for other insects, and hide in cracks and crevices throughout the home. That said, there are ways that homeowners and business owners can strive to prevent their presence:
Vacuum frequently to remove any insects.
Check second-hand furniture, beds, and couches meticulously before bringing them into your home.
Use a protective cover for mattresses and box springs to eliminate many hiding spots, and make sure it’s light in color. This will make spotting an infestation easier on the eyes.
Keep a tidy, clean home and reduce clutter, which will strip bed bugs of their many hiding spots.
Even if you do your best to keep your home clean, bed bugs may still hitchhike inside. If you find yourself dealing with bed bugs, don't be embarrassed, and don't try to solve the problem on your own. To effectively eliminate in infestation, you must kill every last bed bug. Rather than wasting time and money, reach out to the professionals at Pest & Termite Consultants. We have the tools and the experience to get the job done right.
If you do see any signs of bed bugs or you're worried about a bed bug problem, call the professionals at Pest & Termite Consultants.