Bed Bug Identification & Prevention

What are bed bugs?

Bed bugs are small, reddish-brown insects that feed only on the blood of mammals. These wingless, oval-shaped parasites have long mouthparts (proboscis) that they use to pierce the skin of their hosts and feed on their blood. Bed bugs are most active at night, right before dawn. These insects do not fly and do not jump, but they move efficiently by crawling onto people or their belongings, hitchhiking their way to a new location. In fact, the ease and affordability of travel is the reason bed bugs are such problematic pests.

Are bed bugs dangerous?

Bed bugs are nuisance pests, but they should never live with people for any period for a multitude of reasons. Bed bugs harbor some disease-causing pathogens. Those allergic to bed bug saliva may develop a raised, red rash that is very itchy and may become infected. Additionally, their feeding habits and excrement stain things like floors, walls, bedding, furniture, mattresses, and box springs.  Finally, knowing that these blood-feeding pests are in your home disrupts sleep.

Why do I have a bed bugs problem?

Bed bugs become a problem for people after they come into contact with them, usually while at work, school, or when spending time in public places such as airports, movie theaters, hotels, or shopping centers. These hitchhiking bugs also move into homes on things like used mattresses, box springs, furniture, and clothing. Also, bed bugs are capable of moving to a new location through walls, making them a formidable pest to deal with in multi-unit buildings.

Where will I find bed bugs?

Inside a home, bed bugs hide in sleeping areas; like most other pests, they prefer to live close to their food sources. Seams of mattresses, box springs, wood furniture, and spaces behind pictures and wall hangings are common bed bug hideouts. Though their name suggests otherwise, bed bugs don’t just stay in the bedroom. After their population grows, they will begin to travel to other rooms, infesting multiple areas within a home. Other hideouts include the seams of upholstered furniture, behind baseboards, inside wall voids behind electrical outlets, and under piles of dirty laundry.

How do I get rid of bed bugs?

For Texans looking for exceptional pest control services, turn to the locally owned and operated experts at Lonestar Safe Pest. We take pride in offering our residential and commercial pest control customers excellent customer service; customer satisfaction is our number one goal. Our experienced professionals understand the pest pressures Texas home and business owners face each day.

At Lonestar Safe Pest, we will work with you to eliminate pests from your property once and for all, using our modern pest control solutions. If you would like to learn more about our home pest control or commercial pest control services, reach out to Lonestar Safe Pest today!

How can I prevent bed bugs in the future?

Protect your Texas property from bed bugs with a combination of our professional bed bug control services and these helpful prevention tips:

• Regularly vacuum your floors, upholstered furniture, and the seams of mattresses and box springs.
• Always keep bags, coats, and other personal belongings up off the ground when in public places.
• Place bed bug-proof covers on mattresses and box springs.
• If possible, do not buy used furniture, mattresses, or bedding for use in your home.
• Always inspect your hotel room for bed bugs before bringing luggage and other belongings into it.
• After purchasing new or used clothing, immediately wash and dry the items on the highest heat setting the fabrics can handle.