Bed bugs are not the most well-known pests here in America. To many, bed bugs are no more than a myth. Often it isn’t until homeowners find themselves face to face with bed bug problems that these tiny pests truly come into focus. Today, we are going to be breaking down some common myths about these very real pests. Join us and find out how much you really know.
Myth Number 1: You Can’t See Bed Bugs
Although it is true that bed bugs are elusive and not often seen around the homes they infest, they are by no means invisible. Bed bugs are the size of an apple seed, reddish-brown in color, and 5 times larger when engorged on blood. Bed bugs are difficult but by no means impossible to spot with the naked eye.
Myth Number 2: You Can’t Get Bed Bugs In The Winter
All pests go away during the winter, right? Unfortunately, this is not the case, especially here in Maryland. Our weather stays warm enough for most pests to survive year-round without trouble. But, even without our warm temperatures, bed bugs would be just fine. Bed bugs do not invade homes as other pests do. They do not crawl through gaps in your foundation or fly through open windows. Bed bugs are hitchhiking pests that only live in temperature-controlled climates (man-made buildings). The only time bed bugs go out in the cold is when we do, and usually, it is not long enough to cause them any harm.
Myth Number 3: Only Dirty Homes Have Bed Bugs
We don’t really know where this myth came from, but the idea that bed bugs only invade dirty homes is completely false. Bed bugs only care about one thing when they invade, is there a reliable source of blood to feed on? As long as they can find a nook or cranny to hide in your room and as long as you sleep long enough for them to feed, it doesn’t matter how clean your Baltimore home is. This also means if you have bed bugs, you cannot clean your home to get rid of them as you might be able to do with other pests such as cockroaches and rodents.
Myth Number 4: They Are Only Found In Beds Or Sleeping Areas
Bed bugs need blood to survive, and they need to be around places where we sleep to get it, so naturally one would think that bed bugs have to stay around sleeping areas to survive. This is not entirely true. Fun fact, bed bugs can survive up to 5 months without a blood meal. Without the need for a nightly dose of blood, bed bugs are free to travel throughout homes and even out into public places. This means bed bugs could be anywhere. They could be at the mall while you are shopping for clothing, they could be inside your TV while you are watching it. There is no limit to where bed bugs can be. It is, however, a general rule that bed bugs are attracted to carbon dioxide, a gas we regularly emit and emit more while we sleep. In lamens terms, bed bugs like to be near people.
Myth Number 5: You Can Get Rid Of Bed Bugs On Your Own
There are many products, gimmicks, and essential oils out there that claim they eliminate or deter bed bugs. The truth is, no matter what you use, bed bugs are nearly impossible to fully eliminate on your own. If faced with danger, bed bugs will flee to areas of your home where you cannot reach such as within wall and ceiling voids. As we mentioned earlier, bed bugs can survive up to 5 months without a meal. That means, regardless of what you do, if you don’t eliminate every bed bug in one go, they will come back.
The only real way to get bed bugs out of homes is with professional pest control. Here at Pest Czar we have studied bed bugs and know how to treat for them properly so that none are able to escape or hide. Plus, our bed bug treatments are only harmful to bed bugs and harmless to humans. With just a single application you will see results in 3-7 days. It doesn’t get much better than that.
Reach out to us today to find out more about how we treat for bed bugs or to schedule services for your Baltimore home.