What You Might Not Know About Bed Bugs

No matter where you live, bed bugs are an annoying and hazardous presence. Waking up with a series of bites on your body is never pleasant, and these critters can be pretty hard to remove without calling in professionals. 

Regardless of the situation, it helps to know as much about pests as possible so that you can prevent them from taking over. Here are five things you should know about bed bugs.

Bed Bugs Eat 3 Times a Day 

As humans, we tend to eat three meals a day. It turns out that bedbugs have a similar feeding pattern, but they’re on a different clock than we are. In fact, bedbugs can eat up to seven times their own weight in blood. 

Bed Bugs Produce Anesthetic Saliva

They produce saliva that works as an anesthetic, meaning that you won’t feel anything while they’re at work leaving bites on your body. 

Bed Bugs can Live Anywhere

While most pests have a pretty narrow temperature range, bed bugs are a rather notable exception. These bugs are found in all 50 states, and they can withstand temperatures as high as 122 degrees Fahrenheit and as low as 35 degrees. This resilience is part of the reason why bed bugs are so hard to get rid of. 

Bed Bugs can go a Year Between Feedings

Although these pests seem to feast indiscriminately, they are fussy eaters. Bed bugs will only draw blood from a live host, choosing to ignore any blood outside the body. If necessary, these bugs can go a whole year between feedings. This fact is yet another reason why eradication is so elusive. 

Bed Bugs Have Been Around Forever

Early records from the Middle East show that bedbugs used to feast on both humans and bats. Even ancient Romans talked about bed bugs, illustrating how pervasive and timeless they are. These pests were mostly eradicated during the 1950s when people used DDT to kill them. However, once the chemical was banned, they made a comeback. 

How to Effectively Avoid Bed Bugs When Travelling 

If you are like other people who are excited about summer, you plan many events and make the most of each day. You could have travel plans so that you can visit friends or family, or you might want to take an unbeatable vacation.

No matter what you would like to do, getting the most from your summer requires you to learn about bed bugs and how you can keep them away. Unless you have a plan in place, bed bugs can strike without warning and make you feel hopeless, and the best way to safeguard yourself and your home is to prevent them from getting inside.

Read Online Reviews

Going somewhere that already has bed bugs is one of the top ways you can bring them back into your home, so you must check online reviews before you visit a restaurant, theatre, or hotel, which will help prevent unwanted surprises. If your destination has bed bugs, other people will likely post about the problem on review websites. Taking the time to do a little research can protect you from a bed bug infestation, so it’s always worth the effort.

Thoroughly Check Hotel Rooms

Since hotels are the worst place to get bed bugs, it’s vital you know how to search hotel rooms if you plan to travel over the summer. Placing your bags in the sink or bathtub when you arrive will reduce your odds of getting bed bugs because they can’t climb smooth surfaces. With a flashlight, check the seams of the mattress for tiny parasites, but you can also look for red stains on the sheets.

Check Your Home After Vacation

Checking the home for red flags is another step in the right direction for those who want to keep bed bugs at bay. When they come out to feed on a fresh meal, they will leave red marks on the skin that can last for up to a week. If you suspect bed bugs have entered your home, place traps on the legs of your bed for two or three weeks. You must check them each morning for signs of trouble, and you will spot bed bugs if they are near.

What to Do If You Have Bed Bugs 

If you notice that you do have bed bugs make sure not to spread the infestation. Bed bug infestations can spread rapidly and you should not travel if you have a bed bug infestation at your home. 

Alvin Pest Control is up-to-date on all the methods of killing and preventing bed bugs in your home. Call us today to take care of your infestation if you're located in the Houstan Texas area. Waiting too long will only make it harder to remove these pests.