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.
Doing whatever it takes includes doing whatever it takes to have fun! We’re looking for a few good men and women to join our squad at U.S. Pest. We’re more than just pest control and we believe you’re more than just an employee. We love people and we love taking care of our customers. Show…
Is Termite Protection Really Necessary? – Millions of people are moving to Middle Tennessee from cities like New York, Chicago, and Los Angeles. Many of whom are unfamiliar with termites and how they can destroy a home in a matter of years. To secure the value of your brand-new Middle Tennessee home, we recommend that…
Just imagine chowing down on a delicious cockroach or some savory worms. Sounds tasty right? Probably not. But there are places in Asia, Africa and Latin America where people make insects a regular part of their diet. In fact, archaeologists say that the practice of eating bugs dates back to the earliest humans. And here’s…
Fungus Treatments – A fungus belongs to the Kingdom Fungi. It is not classified in the Plant Kingdom nor Animal Kingdom. A fungus is an organism that grows like a plant, but feeds like an animal as it consumes organic matter. There are thousands of species of fungus in the world to include molds, mildews,…
How to identify carpenter ants – Carpenter ants are commonly mistaken for termites. It’s an easy mistake because they can both be found in wood structures. The one distinct giveaway that its carpenter ants within the wood structure are the evidence of wood shavings. Termites are within wood structures because they are eating the wood. While…
Hornets in Tennessee – Hornets can be a serious pest that can quickly take over your backyard. If these pests are not handled properly, they can cause serious harm to both you and other family members. In the state of Tennessee, there are two kinds of hornets to keep an eye out for. These include…
