Bed bugs are some of the most common home infestations in the world, including right here in Kansas City. These pesky bloodsuckers often enter homes completely unnoticed, but the problems they cause are certainly noticeable. Let’s explore what these pests look like and the problems they cause to Kansas City residents.
Bed Bug Identification Tips
Usually, people don’t know they have a bed bug infestation right away. Rather, residents wake up with small, itchy welts that last about a week. Since these pests are quiet, undetected insects, what do they look like?
- Bed bugs only grow about 5mm long, or about ⅕ of an inch. These pests are light brown or reddish brown in color, though they often grow darker once they’ve ingested blood. That’s why bed bugs like your home: overnight, these nocturnal critters drink blood from exposed skin on your body — usually your forearms and shins.
- Bed bugs have a small head and a larger, apple-seed-shaped body, as well as six legs and two short antennae. If you see them in your bed or around your furniture, it will most likely be at dusk or dawn.
- These pests are known as hitchhikers because they move from place to place on other people. A bed bug will latch onto an article of clothing or a book bag and stay there until you get home. Only then does it crawl out and start crowding around the couch or bed.
- Bed bugs are usually picked up in high-traffic areas, such as schools, airports, bus stops, hotels, and libraries. Additionally, they might already be hiding in someone’s used furniture and appliances, or even in grocery bags or shipping boxes.
Since these pests can enter your home from anywhere, it’s important to ask: are they dangerous to my family?
The Dangers Of Bed Bugs
The good news is, that bed bugs don’t pose an immediate danger to your health. The bad news is, that these pests can be harmful over time, and the longer you wait to deal with an infestation, the worse it can get.
Untreated bed bug problems pose the following health concerns to Kansas City residents:
- Insomnia. Simply having these pests around the house can make people lose sleep, knowing they will probably wake up with additional bites.
- Anemia. If bed bugs stick around long enough, the blood and mineral loss from these bloodsuckers can cause anemia.
- Psychological distress. The bed is a safe space in your home. What happens when the bed is no longer safe?
- Secondary infections. Bed bugs themselves do not transmit disease, but the welts from scratching can allow other diseases in.
Getting Rid Of Bed Bugs In Kansas City Homes
Finally, bed bugs are a problem because they are so difficult to remove from your home. Since bed bugs are so small, they can fit inside of the tiniest spaces and hide anywhere on your property. Bed bugs will wait in the cracks of your home until you’re fast asleep, and only then do they crawl onto your bed and feast.
Bed bugs are a universal problem, and they’re just as hard to prevent as they are to get rid of. When bed bugs find their way into your Kansas City property, your best solution is to contact the bed bug professionals at Augustine Exterminators, INC.
Our comprehensive bed bug plan won’t harm the health of your household, but it will keep these pests from ever bothering you again. It’s time for your bug bites to heal and for you to get your sleep back.