I’m sure you heard the saying a lot as a kid. Your parents would tuck you into bed and softly say, “don’t let the bedbugs bite.” It was a cute, harmless saying that probably didn’t mean much to you at that age. But with bedbug infestations rising 57% in the last five years, it might be time to find a new goodnight expression.
What Do Bedbugs Look Like?
Bedbugs are small, brown bugs about the size of appleseeds. The babies, called nymphs, eat blood meals to complete their lifecycles, causing serious problems for humans.
On the bright side, they don’t transmit diseases. But on the downside, they can produce three or more generations per year, making it essential to take immediate action the second you spot one.
How Bedbugs Find Their Way into Your Home
So how do these little pests get inside your home in the first place? Bedbugs can invade through a variety of means including:
Traveling from other infested areas
Hitching a ride on used furniture or other household items
Moving between rooms in multi-unit buildings, such as hotels and apartments
Once these bugs get in, they will lay hundreds of eggs over a lifetime. That’s why it’s so important to know the signs of an infestation.
Do I Have a Bedbug Infestation?
Bedbugs multiply rapidly, and it isn’t long before they take over your home. The following are a few signs that you may have an infestation.
Blood stains on your bed sheets or pillowcase
Dark, rusty spots on bed sheets, pillowcases, clothes or walls
Egg shells and skins where bedbugs hide
A smelly odor from bug’s scent glands
Bites that resemble that of a mosquito found in clusters on your body
If you see any of these signs around your home or on your body when you wake up, don’t hesitate to take action.
The Best Defense is a Good Offense
So how do you get rid of bedbugs?
Start by making sure they don’t enter your home in the first place by implementing a few preventative measures. For example, never bring in mattresses, bed skirts or bed sheets from off the street, which could be infested with them.
Additionally, check all used or rented furniture for bedbugs before bringing them in. Finally, keep suitcases off the floor when on vacation and don’t forget to inspect them before leaving.
If you think you may have a bedbug problem, wash your clothes on a hot setting or store them in a bag until you can. Then call an experienced pest control company.
Call U.S. Pest!
Getting rid of bedbugs is a task you don’t want to take on by yourself. These relentless pests can be a real challenge to deal with.
If you have a bedbug problem, call the experienced pest control professionals at U.S. Pest. Our team will put your bedbug problem to rest. Give us a call today at (615) 590-1260.
Erica Brister is President & CEO of U.S. Pest Protection, a family- and female-owned company that has protected Middle Tennessee homes and businesses since 1985. She was appointed to the Tennessee Pest Control Advisory Board, and she leads a company built on a simple idea: pest control is a people business. Under her leadership, U.S. Pest's state-certified Pest Pros, who average more than seven years with the company, back every service with the Whatever It Takes Guarantee. Erica writes about the pests Tennessee families and businesses actually face, and the practical steps that keep them out.
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