According to a 2011 survey by NPMA, one in five Americans have suffered from a bed bug infestation or know someone who has. A bed bug infestation can lead to stress, sleep deprivation, and allergic reactions. The following are answers to questions on bed bug control to help you with your infestation problem.
Why Do You Have Bed Bugs?
Bed bugs are introduced into an environment by a person. They do not fly or jump, but they are transported on luggage, clothing, and used furniture.
The risk of bed bug exposure is high if you purchase or use second-hand clothes, furniture, and mattresses. Entertaining an overnight guest or sleeping over in an area with high traffic of overnight guests, like a hotel room, airport, and hospital, also puts you at risk.
What Are the Signs of a Bed Bug Infestation?
A bed bug infestation can be best identified by first identifying physical signs. If you have bite marks on your face, hands, neck, and arms, you probably have bed bugs in your bed or furniture. However, bite marks can take a long time to develop; therefore, you should beware of other signs of an infestation.
First, check for the bed bugs' exoskeletons. Also, look for bed bugs in the fold of sheets and mattresses. Bed bugs excrete blood-filled fecal material. Therefore, you should check for blood spots on the mattress or furniture.
What Are the Methods for Exterminating Bed Bugs?
If you have tried to vacuum bed bug-prone areas and the infestation persists, you should apply hot steam to affected furniture. Washing your clothes and beddings with hot water can also help. If these methods fail, a pest control expert will apply steam and thermal treatments and chemical solutions.
During steam and thermal treatment, a pest control expert uses large air circulators and heaters to raise the temperature in your home for at least 90 minutes. This action kills mature adults and unhatched eggs. This is a natural method that has proven effective in eliminating bed bugs.
Another method that a pest control service will use is chemical treatments. The EPA has registered over 300 products for eliminating bed bugs. These products can be used around humans and are effective at eliminating an infestation. Examples of chemicals used for bed bug extermination include pyrethroids, insect growth regulators, and pyrroles.
In Conclusion
Failing to address a bed bug infestation can lead to an overblown infestation. Other consequences include secondary infections like ecthyma, impetigo, and lymphangitis. The pests can also have mental health impacts like insomnia, anxiety, and systemic reactions. Call a pest control service when you detect the presence of bed bugs.
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