Bed bugs (scientific name Cimex lectularis) are one of the most troublesome parasites that have afflicted mankind. Although bed bugs are not considered serious disease-carrying pests in the same league as dangerous insects such as mosquitoes or houseflies, those of us who have had the ill-luck of sleeping in a bed bug-infested bed know that it’s next to impossible to sleep when these tiny bugs launch a biting assault on your body. The EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) and CDC (Center for Disease Control and Prevention), as well as the USDA (United States Department of Agriculture), are human health bodies that classify the bed bug as a public health pest. In this Information Age, you would hardly think it plausible that the world’s only superpower can be grappling with a nationwide bed bug infestation epidemic. Incredibly, that is exactly what’s happening in the US. Contrary to common misconceptions, bed bug infestations are not caused by dirt and grime, although a dirty environment offers a better breeding ground for these pesky bugs. Although the average American home is arguably cleaner than it was 50 years old, bed bug infestations in American homes are far from rare. This rather worrying trend is fuelled by a lack of adequate information about bed bugs by the public and the increased rate of travel by Americans.

Identifying Bed Bug Infestation

Don’t wait till bed bugs start biting for you to realize that your home is infested. Bed bug bites can often be confused for other insect bites; additionally, some people show no allergic reactions to bed bug bites. The following are better ways to identify bed bugs in your home:

• Dark spots the size of the bullet point on this page are bed bug excrement.
• Tiny eggs and shells about 1mm in diameter.
• Reddish or rusty stains on your bed sheets caused by crushed bugs.
• Live bed bugs.

Bed bugs hide in many places, not just in beds. They can be found in seams of couches and chairs, curtain folds, between cushions, drawer joints, under loose wall paper, and other dark places.

Treating a Bed Bug Infestation

• Never use outdoor pesticides to kill bed bugs at home. These chemicals are too strong for home use and pose grave danger to your family’s health.
• Use the right pesticide to kill bed bugs in your home; otherwise you could end up aggravating the problem by driving them deeper into harder-to-reach places.
• Ensure that the pesticide is indicated for treating bed bug infestations. If bed bugs are not mentioned in the label, there is a high likelihood that it won’t kill them.
• Check for the EPA label before purchasing the product.

The best way to treat bed bug infestations is by engaging the services of a reputable and professional exterminating company. They are likely to do a far more effective and thorough job than what you can do by yourself.

Preventing Bed Bug Infestation

Bed bugs are the classic hitchhikers and quickly move from one infested place to nearby furniture, seats, clothing and just about any comfortable place within reach. To compound matters, although bed bugs feed on human blood every 5-10 days, they are incredibly resilient and will go without food for up to one year, making it very hard to suspect they are lurking around somewhere. To protect yourself and your home against bed bugs:

• Cover your mattress using a protective cover.
• Check any secondhand beds, furniture and couches that you buy for signs of bed bug infestations.
• When travelling, use luggage racks whenever you sleep in a hotel room instead of placing your luggage on the bed. Check the headboard and mattress carefully for signs of bed bugs. Unpack your bags directly into the washing machine and inspect your clothes once you get home from your trip.

Sugarland Exterminating is a family-owned Pest Control Company that has been fully dedicated to keeping homes pest and bug free for the past 40 years. We offer our services to residents of Acadiana. Sugarland Exterminating offers commercial pest inspection services, industrial pest inspection, rodent control, termite control services, and general pest control services. If you suspect bed bug infestation at your home, school, office or any other place, give us a call today and let us get rid of those little bugs, before the little terrors cause you untold problems and incredible embarrassment.