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What’s Up with Bed Bugs
One of the most feared parasites, bed bugs are a torment to encounter. They spread quickly, and aren’t picky when it comes to sucking blood. From highway-side motels to five-star hotels, any locale can experience a problem. Here are some facts about bed bugs, as well as how to spot and deal with an infestation.
(Not So Fun) Fun Facts
Cimex lectularius, aka bed bugs, are reddish-brown in color. They are tiny-1 to 7mm in size-and flat, oval-shaped. Drawn out of their hiding areas by carbon dioxide emitted through the breath of human and animals, they live on the blood of sleeping victims. Although they take 5-15 minutes to feed, they can survive for months on a single meal. They’re found all over the world, in every setting. Although they produce annoying bites, they aren’t known to spread any diseases and do not pose any known long-term physical threat to victims. Additionally, unlike many pests that either die or hibernate during colder temperatures, bed bugs are quite hardy, able to survive in temperatures of freezing to 120 degrees.
Sisterhood of the Traveling Bed Bugs?
For the most part, you’ll find bed bugs in and around sleeping accommodations. They hide during the day in places such as seams of comfy mattresses, box springs, bed frames, headboards, dresser tables, inside cracks or crevices, behind wallpaper, or any other clutter or objects around a bed. Although they like to stay within 8 feet of the sleeping area, they are very capable of traveling with a host. They can crawl into the seams of luggage and folded clothes, going along for the journey. This makes diligence when traveling highly important.
If you’re traveling by way of hotel, cruise ship, airplane, Airbnb, bus, train, boarding house, or any other public lodging, it’s recommended that you check for bed bugs in advance of sleeping or sitting on the bed. The best way to check a mattress is to pull up the sheets from a corner of the bed, checking for blood, weird-colored spots or dots, strange smells, or any other abnormal physical excrement. Never put your bags down or sit on a bed before checking.
I’ve Been Bit!
Bed bug bites can often look a lot like mosquito bites, i.e. red bumps, except a little smaller. They can be random or in a straight line, and take a few days to develop. Known side effects of these common pests include insomnia and anxiety. After a few days, they can cause moderate to more severe itching for some. Others don’t even realize they’ve been bit, which makes addressing infestations quite hard at times!
So, You Have an Infestation…
Okay, don’t panic! You haven’t done anything wrong and this problem can be remedied. If you are a renter, it is advisable that you contact your landlord immediately if you suspect an infestation. If you are a home- or business-owner, you should reach out directly to an experienced pest control professional at 877-DEAD-BUG. Expert help is the best way to eliminate a bed bugs issue as these pests are elusive and often extremely difficult to eradicate without external intervention.
At Black Diamond our mission is simple: We strive to provide the highest quality pest control with the best customer service in the industry. This mission has grown our flagship location (Black Diamond headquarters in Jeffersonville, Indiana) into one of the largest pest control offices in the country with well over 135 service vehicles and nearly 200 employees. An ever-growing company, Black Diamond now has a branch in Northern Kentucky, and Franchises throughout the mid-west and southern United States.
