Pests of all kinds can be a pain, but the worst infestations are the ones that are tough to spot and even tougher to handle. It’s easier to spot the aftermath of bed bug populations than it is to spot the tiny pests themselves, and DIY methods only cost time and money. They rarely eliminate the problem. Knowing how to tell if you have bed bugs and what you can do to prevent them will help ensure that you can always enjoy a good night's sleep.
Spotting Bed Bugs
Bed bugs are incredibly small insects; they're about the size of an apple seed. They are dark-colored, which can make them nearly impossible to spot in dark areas, which is exactly where they tend to hang out. Knowing their features and behaviors can help determine if an infestation is brewing on your property.
Appearance
Bed bugs are oval-shaped insects that don’t grow more than a few millimeters in length. They can be brown, reddish, and even near translucent in color.
Bites
Most people know that bed bugs bite people and animals. They are parasitic insects, sustaining themselves on the blood of their hosts. Their bites look like small welts, usually found in close proximity or clusters.
Behavior
People think bed bugs are only found in mattresses and furniture, but most infestations start outside the home and are introduced via infested items or direct contact. Bed bugs will cling to vegetation, containers, clothes, and just about anything they can latch onto.
A Fast-Growing Problem
Aside from the bites that pile up, the main problem with a bed bug infestation is that it can quickly grow out of control. Adult bed bug females can lay an egg a day, and bed bugs speed through their life cycles to become mature, mating members of a population very quickly. That means that the problem can quickly snowball, as one generation of bugs breeds hundreds that in turn breed thousands. As if that weren’t enough, bed bugs can go weeks without food, meaning that they can survive meager extermination attempts and come back in full force.
Complete Extermination Is A Tall Order
Because of bed bugs’ fast rate of reproduction, completely eradicating them is a tall order. Furthermore, bed bugs are good at hiding, and they are nocturnal by nature. A population can grow for weeks or months before even an adamant property owner spots them. Even if you know how to spot the signs and where to look, different extermination methods will only address certain stages of bed bugs.
Does that store-bought spray eliminate eggs, or does it tackle nymphs and adults as well? What do you do when those eggs hatch and breed a fresh infestation in the weeks after you think you've solved the problem? Bed bugs adapt and are immune to many over-the-counter pesticides. How do you know which will work and which will fail? For all these concerns, it’s best to turn to the experts.
When It Comes To Bed Bugs, Trust The Pros
A bed bug problem isn’t one that you want to sleep on. Only timely, effective solutions will get an infestation under control quickly and ensure that bed bugs don’t come crawling back. At Able Pest Management, our trained Honolulu pest professionals can provide you with even more prevention and detection tips. If you think your property might be infested with bed bugs, get started right away on an inspection and treatment plan. Even if you don’t know that bed bugs are brewing in your home, an inspection by a seasoned pair of eyes can help you sleep soundly at night.
For complete bed bug prevention and control, call Able Pest today.