Bed bugs (Cimex lectularius) are small insects that both the Environmental Protection Agency (E.P.A.) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (C.D.C.) classify as public health concerns. Bed bugs primarily feed on human blood or warm-blooded animals to a much lesser extent. Once inside a structure, bed bugs will detect the carbon dioxide that humans emit and crawl toward them.

Bed bugs most commonly emerge at night while humans are soundly asleep. They use a specialized “beak-like” feeding tube for penetrating the skin and consuming blood. Bed bug saliva has a numbing or anesthetic effect; therefore, the victim is unlikely to wake up after detecting the pest. The feeding process usually takes only five to ten minutes.

What causes bed bugs? Unlike many similar insects that exist in natural, outdoor areas near homes and invade from outside, bed bugs usually enter homes hidden within the clothing, luggage, or other belongings of a home’s occupant. People often encounter bed bugs when traveling, such as in hotel rooms or when using forms of mass transportation.

Have you recognized possible signs of bed bug activity in your home? Bed bug infestations expand rapidly, making these resilient pests difficult to eliminate completely. Seeking assistance from a professional pest exterminator is typically the best course of action. A licensed Annapolis pest control professional understands how to eliminate bed bugs and knows the best way how to stop bed bugs from returning to your home.

Bed Bug Bites Are Often The First Sign Of An Infestation

Bed bug bites usually occur on areas of exposed skin and appear red and itchy. In many cases, victims will assume the bites involved a mosquito or another pest. Avoid scratching excessively, as it might create a wound susceptible to infection.

How do bed bugs appear? Young bed bugs (nymphs) will look off-white or almost translucent until they consume a blood meal. Adults appear in shades of red or brown and have a flat, oval-shaped body that rarely exceeds ¼ of an inch long. Bed bugs are wingless and have six legs and antennae.

What are some of the other ways how to tell if you have bed bugs in Annapolis?

  • Look for tiny dark red bloodstains or black smears of bed bug excrement on sheets, pillowcases, and other bedding materials.
  • Bed bug eggs are white and look similar to small grains of rice.
  • Homeowners often detect a foul odor as bed bug infestations develop.

When people encounter live bed bugs, they are often misidentified as carpet beetles or other types of bothersome pests.

Bed Bug Infestations Get Worse With Time

In many cases, homeowners will not detect the presence of bed bugs in their homes for several weeks. Bed bugs are largely nocturnal creatures that usually remain in hiding spots during the day and emerge after dark. Female bed bugs may generate multiple eggs each day and commonly will create more than 500 during their life, meaning that somewhat minor intrusions may quickly develop into full-blown infestations.

It’s Impossible To Get Rid Of Bed Bugs On Your Own

Many property owners try sprays, foggers, traps, or other mass-marketed home treatment options sold in retail stores to eradicate bed bugs. Unfortunately, these products generally prove ineffective against larger infestations and require professional bed bug treatment.

The Best Way To Get Rid Of Bed Bugs In Your Home

Did you know that the specialists with Pest Czar employ Aprehend, which is a professional product option used exclusively by licensed pest controllers? Aprehend is a specially formulated pesticide that bed bugs will carry with them and transfer to other bugs within your home. The product has a residual effect that continues protecting your home for approximately three months after application.

Contact us today for further information.