Everything You Need To Know About Bed Bugs

Bed bugs have become one of the most common and popular pests. One of the biggest reasons for their popularity is their ability to survive in almost all conditions thus making them a common pest at home, in the office, and other areas. The rise in the population of bed bugs has been a sporadic one since the 1980s with more companies springing up annually with better ways to deal with these pests.

Several homeowners have reached out to A1 Bed Bug Exterminator Houston to discuss their extermination options, especially as bed bugs are known to multiply faster than almost all other pests. Whether you are getting bitten while you sleep, you have noticed a huge population of these pests in the home, or you aim to protect your home from a bed bug infestation, here is some of the most important information you should be aware of.

Bed Bugs: Where do they come from?

Bed bugs have been in existence for centuries. These pests thrive on feeding off their hosts like all other parasites. However, bed bugs are believed to be natives of the Middle East where they existed in caves that were inhabited by both bats and humans. Archaeologists in the 1990s were reported to have found the fossilized pests while excavating a 3,550-year-old Egyptian site.

The modern day bed bugs were reported to have fed off bats which led to a species mutation. Americans during the colonial era had brought a fair share of the pests back home with them, introducing the pest to American soil around the 1700s. The pests soon spread to the rich and poor around the mid-1800s leading to infestation.

The early 20th century witnessed more Americans having contact with bed bugs as a survey revealed that over half of the residential properties across the nation were infested with the pest. In a bid to control the spread of bed bugs, cyanide fumigation was introduced, a control method that led to the death of many humans.

The introduction of DDT in the 1950s, however, led to the drastic reduction of the pest population as the effects of the pesticide was strong enough to last as much as a year. DDT was banned in 1972 as it was implicated as one of the leading causes of cancer and was also reported to endanger the lives of wildlife species.

Following the ban, the 1980s witnessed the rise in the bed bug population due to the thriving travel industry which meant the pest was being reintroduced from one area to the other.

Life Cycle

Bed bugs are known to vary in color and size depending on the growth phase they are in. The life cycle of a bed bug begins with an egg that is milky white in color and then transitions into a nymph within two weeks after it has been hatched. The nymphs, almost colorless after hatching grow into adults in 21 days and during this period undergo five molting stages.

An adult female bed bug can lay as much as five eggs daily, putting an average estimated number of eggs laid in its lifetime at 540 eggs. The high fertility of the adult female bed bug is one of the biggest factors contributing to the ease of infestation.

Inspecting for Bed Bugs 

Bed bugs are notorious and may take over the home in a short period of time. The high level of reproduction supports the faster infestation rate. To protect your home from a bed bug infestation, it is recommended that you should pay attention to inspecting the home. By inspecting the home, you also need to be familiar with certain areas that these pests can commonly be found.  Remember, be sure to consider getting help from quality Bed Bug Removal Services if you find a problem.

Establishing the presence of bed bugs in your home could be as simple as paying attention to the happenings around you. Below are some of the signs that can indicate that you have a bed bug problem.

  1. Strange bites on your body
  2. Visible blood smears on the bed and/or sheets
  3. Bug carcasses near the bed, on furniture and walls.
  4. Molted bug skins in dark areas.
  5. Small brown stains on the bed, walls, and furniture.
  6. Bug eggs in mattresses, furniture, behind headboards and other areas in the home.

Once these signs have been noticed, there is a high chance that you may be dealing with a bed bug problem. To inspect the home, it is best to understand how bed bugs operate. When these pests are not out feeding on blood, they are back in dark areas in the home. It is recommended that you inspect dark areas that can accommodate these pests. Areas like the back of headboards, mattresses, pillows, purses, luggage and more should be fully inspected. Also, be sure to look into upholstery, furniture and other areas of the home that may house these pests.

What To Do? 

Once the presence of bed bugs has been confirmed, it is recommended that you call on professionals like A1 Bed Bug Exterminator Houston to take a look at the condition. Professionals are in a better position to gauge the level of infestation and also to apply the best possible extermination approach.