All of us PMP’s are following the latest news about these true bugs. Bed bugs have our utmost attention, they have become one of our biggest challenges regarding controlling them.
We know that one out of five Americans has had a bed bug infestation in their home or knows someone who has encountered bed bugs at home or in a hotel. Some may think they know all there is to know about this pest: They feed on humans while they sleep, they may cause itchy, red bumps and they are hard to get rid of. But there are some interesting things about bed bugs that some might be surprised to learn.
#1: Bed bugs are hard to find. As a survival instinct, bed bugs are elusive. They will stay out of view during the daytime, hiding in cracks and crevices like mattress crevices, box springs, baseboards, behind electrical switch plates, in picture frames, books, electronic devices and even behind wallpaper. But at nighttime, the carbon dioxide we exhale often tempts them out of their hiding spots. But bed bugs are smart and if you sleep during the day, they will come out of hiding to feed.
#2: Bed bugs are long lived.
Bed bugs can live for several months without a blood meal. They can linger in furniture, bags and suitcases for a long period of time until they are near a human host again. Also, bed bugs can survive temperatures of nearly freezing to 122 degrees. Because of this, bed bugs are not a pest that can be treated with DIY measures. Professional pest control is the most effective way to treat an infestation.
#3: Bed bugs do not discriminate as to where they live.
Bed bugs are found in single-family homes, apartments, hospitals, college dorm rooms, office buildings, schools, buses, trains, movie theaters, retail stores, laundry facilities and just about anywhere that humans are.
#4: Bed bugs do not just live in the cities.
Bed bugs are found in all 50 states. Bed bugs are more common in urban areas than in rural areas due to factors such as larger population size, apartment living and increased mobility, which are conducive to the rapid spread of bed bugs. But make no mistake, they are also in rural areas.
#5: Bed bugs are methodical.
Bed bugs have a predictable feeding pattern. Once a bed bug finds a host, it will usually feed for 5 to 10 minutes until repletion. After feeding, bed bugs move to secluded places and hide for 5-10 days. During this time, they do not feed but instead digest their meal, mate and lay eggs. Bed bugs can lay one to five eggs in a day and more than 500 in a lifetime.
#6: You won’t feel a bed bug bite you.
People often wonder why a biting bed bug doesn’t wake up its human host when it feeds. The answer is that components in bed bug saliva act as an anesthetic and promote increased blood flow at the bite site, making the feeding process quick and nearly painless.
If you or anyone you know have a bed bug infestation or suspect you have bed bugs, please contact us here at Truckee Meadows Pest Control 775-332-0604. We are licensed and trained on the unique habits of bed bugs. We will inspect your home and recommend an effective course of treatment.