Understanding Bed Bugs: What You Need to Know

Someone may have warned you about bed bugs, but how well do you understand the consequences of these tiny pests? Bed bugs are nocturnal parasites that can cause a widespread infestation for home and business owners. Here are some bed bug basics to familiarize yourself with:

• They feast on human blood while we are asleep.
• Their bodies are oval-shaped, flat, and broad (becoming swollen and elongated after feeding).
• They measure up to 3/16 of an inch long and have two antennae, six legs, and no wings.
• Their coloration is somewhat reddish-brown or mahogany (becoming redder after feeding).
• They are skilled hiders, not just in bedding but also behind baseboards, upholstery, wallpaper, picture frames, etc.

Are Bed Bugs a Threat to Your Health?

Once bed bugs infest, they are extremely hard to get rid of. While a bed bug infestation is hard to contain, the good news is that they're not known for being dangerous in the traditional sense. Bed bugs don't sting, and their bites are relatively painless. However, getting bitten in your sleep is a real intrusion, so the real danger lies in the discomfort an infestation causes and the large-scale spread that can be hard to control.

Identifying the Source of Your Bed Bug Problem

Bed bugs hang out wherever there are people, which means that we can come into contact with them in a variety of places. Bed bugs are exceptional hitchhikers and crawl onto people's clothing or belongings whenever given a chance. Contact with bed bugs can occur at work, school, going to the doctor, or running daily errands. 

After coming into contact with us, bed bugs are carried into our home without us noticing, moving into the dark recesses of our house, and staying out of sight. 

Despite their name, bed bugs don't just live in beds; they hide in various places throughout homes and businesses, including:

Common Locations to Find Bed Bugs

Bed bugs are commonly associated with hotels and motels because of the number of people coming and going from these places every day is very high. As people travel, they can come into contact with bed bugs and then introduce them to the hotel room they are staying in. After they leave, some of the bed bugs they brought with them are inevitably left behind. The bed bugs left behind then invade the next guest's personal belongings and find a way into their home.

Besides hotels, motels, and other rentals, bed bugs live in other various places, including:

Effective Strategies for Bed Bug Elimination

If you have a bed bug infestation, call the professionals at Compass Pest Management, we are the local bed bug control experts. Our professionals will quickly and discreetly come to your aid, visiting your residential or commercial property, and completing a thorough inspection.

Our products and methods are based on scientific research and safely remove bed bugs from homes and businesses. We treat the bed bugs the right way the first time in order to prevent re-infestations. Give us a call today to learn more about our bed bug control services in Riverside!

Proactive Measures to Prevent Future Bed Bug Infestations

If you want to be proactive in your bed bug control efforts, there are some things you can do. Implementing these preventative measures around your home or business can help you avoid the nightmare of a bed bug infestation:

• Buy protective encasements for all mattresses and box springs.
• Get rid of excess clutter and mess around the property.
• Inspect all items for bed bugs or their eggs before bringing them inside.
• Launder and dry all linens, bedding, and clothing on high heat to eliminate bed bugs. 
• Regularly steam clean upholstery, curtains, carpets, etc.

When push comes to shove, the best thing you can do is to call a professional pest control company in Riverside right away. Compass Pest Management is proud to provide comprehensive bed bug detection and elimination services that local properties can depend on. Call us today to get started.