Sometimes the bugs you can’t see are more worrisome than the ones you can. Bed bugs have recently become more of a concern for travelers. The real problem, though, is when these tiny critters find their way into your North Little Rock, Bryant or Cabot home.
At Clark Exterminating, we know that bed bugs often go unnoticed until you discover their bites the next morning. These small, oval insects feed by sucking blood from humans or animals. While you might fear these small bugs, how much do you really know about them?
The bugs actually do not have wings and cannot fly. However, they can hitch rides and be easily transferred in suitcases or on clothing.Bed bugs reproduce quickly.
Actually compared to other insects, bed bugs are slow to reproduce. Each adult female produces between one and five eggs a day. A common housefly lays 500 eggs over three to four days. Each bed bug egg takes 10 days to hatch and another five to six weeks for the offspring to develop into an adult.
Items infested only need to be thrown out if they cannot be treated and cleaned. If your mattress is torn or separated at the seams, bed bugs may have moved inside making it nearly impossible to be treated. But if the infected space is intact, all it needs is professional treatment and thorough cleaning. After treating your mattress, it’s a good idea to get some kind of protection or encasement.
“Good night. Sleep tight. Don’t let the bedbugs bite.” I’m sure you heard this nursery rhyme as a kid, but bed bugs aren’t just nighttime critters. These bugs are generally nocturnal; but, like humans, if they’re hungry, they’ll find something to eat. Leaving lights on at night won’t do anything to keep them away.You can freeze bed bugs out.
Bed bugs can thrive even in the coldest climates. Temperatures below freezing can kill bed bugs, but not quickly. Simply turning down the thermostat or turning off the heat in your home will not work.
Bed bugs prefer unsanitary, urban conditions.
These bugs don’t discriminate. They’ll infest any home no matter how clean or dirty. Bed bugs are most attracted to warmth and blood. The only attracting factor about unsanitary conditions and clutter is that they offer the bugs more hiding spots.
Unlike lice, bed bugs are more likely to travel on your clothing rather than your actual body. They cannot stick to your skin or in your hair. Instead, they like to hide in places like your clothes. Chances are they’re most likely to hitch a ride in backpacks, suitcases, shoes, etc.Bed bugs transmit disease.
Bed bug bites can lead to anxiety, sleeplessness, and even secondary infections. However, there have been no reported cases of them transmitting any form of the disease to humans. They can cause an allergic reaction, like a mosquito bite, if someone is prone to allergies.
You can’t see a bed bug.
Bed bugs, while they are small, can be seen with the naked eye at all life stages. An adult bed bug is about the size of an apple seed, while a young bed bug is about the size of a poppy seed.
Most bug bombs do contain pyrethrin, a chemical used to treat bed bugs. However, bed bugs typically flee when the pesticide is released, heading for cover in the deepest, most inaccessible crevices of your home. Furthermore, effective bed bug treatment requires directed applications in the places where the bed bugs are hiding. A professional, like our team at Clark Exterminating, will know best.Now that you have the facts about bed bugs, if they invade your home you know whom to call! At Clark Exterminating, we’ll get rid of those bed bugs from any part of your Benton, Hot Springs, or Jacksonville home. Call us today at 501-588-2514 if you’re in the Greater Little Rock area or 501-776-1388 in the Benton area.
