Bed Bug Identification & Prevention

What are bed bugs?

Bed bugs are considered ectoparasites to humans, but they also attack other mammals if no other food source is available. Bed bugs hide during the day in tight cracks and crevices of the structures they are living in - emerging at night to feed on their sleeping victims. Adult bed bugs are about the size and shape of an apple seed. They have six legs, are wingless, and are reddish-brown to mahogany. Bed bugs have piercing, sucking mouthparts that they use for feeding. Bed bugs are prolific pests and can be found living throughout the country in virtually any home or any public place.

a bed bug crawling on human skin inside of a home in excelsior springs missouri

Are bed bugs dangerous?

Bed bugs are not considered dangerous, but they are a pest whose presence can cause sleepless nights, stress, and anxiety. Bed bugs are not known to transmit a wide range of diseases to people, but they do bite to feed on their blood. The initial bite is usually not noticed, but later people who are allergic to their saliva develop raised, red, itchy welts. Additionally, the itching and scratching caused by their bites can create a secondary infection that requires medical attention.

Why do I have a bed bug problem?

Female bed bugs lay one to five eggs per day and will deposit them in cracks and crevices in walls and furniture. A single female can lay between 300 and 500 eggs in her lifetime, so just a few bed bugs finding their way into your home can quickly become a big problem. Bed bugs live wherever there are people. They don’t fly or jump. To move to a new location bed bugs hitchhike by crawling onto a person’s clothing or into their belongings. Bed bugs are also brought into homes on used furniture, mattresses, and box springs.

Where will I find bed bugs?

Bed bugs received their name because after initially finding their way into a home, they hide in sleeping areas during the day, emerging at night to feed on their sleeping victims. If an infestation is not quickly eliminated, the bed bugs will migrate throughout the structure, infesting multiple rooms. In addition to mattresses and box springs, bed bugs hide out in the cracks of walls, floors, upholstered furniture, wooden furniture, cabinets, closets, electronics, keyboards, wall voids, behind wooden molding, and electrical outlets.

How do I get rid of bed bugs?

To eliminate bed bugs from your home, partner with a professional pest control expert. At Augustine Exterminators we offer advanced and modern methods that will solve your unique pest problem and prevent future ones. Our trained and certified specialists save homeowners from bed bug problems with effective and affordable bed bug control services. To learn more about the residential and commercial pest control services we provide throughout the Greater Kansas City area, call Augustine Exterminators today!

How can I prevent bed bugs In the future?

Bed bugs are tricky pests to guard against. There are some steps you can take to make your Kansas City Metro property less attractive to these invasive pests.

  • Be vigilant against bed bugs when out in public. Never leave personal belongings on the floor of a public place.

  • Before bringing luggage and personal items into a hotel room, inspect it for any signs of bed bugs.

  • If possible, do not bring used mattresses, box springs, and furniture into your home.

  • Place protective covers over mattresses and box springs to reduce hiding spots within your home.

  • Immediately wash and dry newly purchased clothing, linens, and bedding on the highest heat settings the fabric can handle.

 

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