Fort Myers homeowners can have a hard time getting rid of bed bugs. These pests are difficult to detect, and using the wrong treatment method can make the situation worse than it was before. If you think your home has a bed bug infestation, it’s important to find experienced Fort Myers pest control professionals right away to assess the situation and provide safe treatment methods that will eliminate these pests. Stat Pest Control offers safe, effective bed bug treatment so you can rest easy again.
How To Identify A Bed Bug Infestation
Early signs of bed bugs aren’t easy to see. Often by the time you see evidence of them, the infestation is well established. The most obvious sign is bed bug bites, but these aren’t always easy to identify. They are often mistaken for mosquito bites, and since they tend to bite at night while we sleep, most of us won’t notice them until they’ve been feeding on us for a while.
Other signs include:
- Seeing dark brown or black stains where bed bugs have been feeding or where they hide. This is the fecal matter the bed bugs leave behind.
- Creating bloodstains on sheets from inadvertently rolling over on a feeding bed bug, causing the blood to leak out.
- Finding egg shells and shed skin from the bug itself (in the seams of the mattress, behind headboards, and in furniture). These can also be found behind baseboards and even peeling wallpaper.
- Smelling a musty odor when you lift up your mattress or in another place where bed bugs hide out during the day.
If you notice these signs, you should immediately call a professional pest control company to remove them from your home so they don’t spread to other rooms or buildings.
Why Bed Bugs Like To Bite Sleeping People
You may be wondering why bed bugs like to bite sleeping people. Bed bugs are attracted by warmth and carbon dioxide exhaled by humans during sleep. Biting you while you are asleep gives them more time to feed without being disturbed. The bed bug will bite you in the area where your blood vessels are closest to the surface, such as near your ankles or wrists. You may not feel their bite at first because they inject a numbing agent into the skin. Once this wears off, though, you will start feeling itchy and notice small welts forming on your skin.
They also like to hide in or near beds because beds offer many good hiding places in the folds of sheets and pillows. Bed bugs are nocturnal bugs and they generally come out at night when it’s dark and cool.
How Bed Bugs Find Their Way Into Our Homes
Bed bugs are hitchhikers. They can travel to your home on used furniture and clothing, as well as on pets, in luggage, and other items from travel. As a result of their small size, bed bugs can fit into the tiniest cracks and crevices in suitcases and furniture, even if the cracks are too small for you to see.
Bed bugs can also be found in secondhand furniture, like mattresses and couches. If you purchase used furniture, make sure to check for signs of bed bugs before bringing it into your home.
If you are traveling, look for bed bugs in your hotel room before unpacking. It’s also important to check your luggage after you return from a trip and wash and dry the contents on high heat settings.
How To Get Rid Of Bed Bugs In Your Home For Good
To get rid of bed bugs for good, try these bed bug control techniques for your home.
- Clean all bedding, linens, curtains, and clothing by washing them in hot water.
- Seal the mattress and box springs in tightly woven, zippered covers to keep bed bugs from entering or escaping.
- Use a stiff brush on your mattress and other furniture to remove bed bugs and eggs from the seams.
- Vacuum your mattress and its surrounding area at least once a week to remove any bugs that may have escaped from within the bed.
- Clean all furniture and surfaces in your room with a steam cleaner or hot water.
Finding local pest control for bed bugs can help you with an infestation. If you are having a bed bug problem in your home, give our Stat Pest Control experts a call. We’ll be happy to come out and conduct an inspection for you. This way, we can determine what type of treatment is needed and get rid of bed bugs for good.
