Bed bugs are a very real pest threat in American homes. The word “bug”; although often used to signify a host of other insects, actually specifically means bed bug in its original sense and nothing else. They feed primarily on warm human blood without being noticed and their name derives from the preferred habitat of the bug, which is warm houses preferably nearby or inside of bedding areas and other soft furnishings.
Bed bugs are small enough to invade the home through the smallest of openings and second-hand furniture is a common place for bed bugs to stow away to invade your home. Bed bugs have the ability to reproduce and infest very quickly. The bite of the common bed bug can lead to skin rashes and allergic reactions leaving it’s host with prominently visible blisters, however in some people, the bites leave no visible effects. Besides signs of being bitten, small blood splotches on your mattress and sand like fecal waste on or near a mattress can be tell-tale signs that it is time to call the exterminator.
Getting rid of bed bugs often requires pesticide combined with mechanical approaches, such as vacuuming the insects and / or heat treating or wrapping mattresses. Although there are do-it-yourself home treatments for getting rid of this pest, it is highly recommended that you leave their eradication to professionals. Skin bitten by bed bugs usually heals within a couple weeks, but topical cream can be applied to help control itching, which should be avoided to reduce the risk of infection.
Extermination of bed bugs is a very labor intensive process and can be very costly. Typically the process involves a meticulous cleaning of the bed, furniture, and any home repairs to remove cracks and holes that the insect can crawl into. This cleaning process is usually followed by the thorough application of chemical insecticides. Bedding and garments that cannot be treated with insecticides need to be bagged and laundered at 120 F minimum, or set in the drier on high heat for 20+ minutes. Some pest exterminators have special heaters for killing bed bugs, and it is recommended that you do not try to kill them by ramping up the heating yourself because it won’t work.
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