Bed Bug Identification

Bed bugs are insects that are reddish-brown in color. Their bodies are flattened from top to bottom. After feeding, their appearance changes slightly when their bodies swell like a balloon and turn a purplish-red color. They have six legs and are wingless. Bed bugs are fairly small in size, with adults only growing to about ¼ of an inch in length. Bed bugs are parasitic pests that feed solely on the blood of mammals. Human blood is their favorite food source. Bed bugs hide during the day in tight cracks and crevices, only emerging at night to feed on their sleeping victims. Bed bugs have the unfortunate potential to become a problem in any St. Clair County home or public place where people are found.

Bed bugs aren’t known to transmit a wide range of diseases, and in fact, many people don’t react to their bites at all. Those that are allergic to their saliva can develop an itchy, raised rash. Excessive scratching may cause a skin infection that requires medical attention. Bed bugs are invasive and difficult to get rid of. While bed bugs are not considered dangerous, their presence causes stress, anxiety, and sleepless nights. Professional help should be sought immediately when bed bugs or their signs are discovered.

Bed bugs are most often introduced into homes after crawling onto a person’s clothing, bags, or other personal belongs. Bed bugs are also commonly introduced inside homes through used furniture, mattresses, box springs, or in newly purchased clothing items. In addition, bed bugs have the potential to crawl through walls and under floors while foraging for food sources. This makes an infestation difficult to contain, especially in apartment buildings where an infestation has the potential to move throughout many different apartment units.

Bed bugs are mainly indoor pests. They are found wherever there are people, including single-family homes, apartment buildings, hotels, motels, office buildings, nursing homes, schools, daycares, dormitories, hospitals, shopping centers, and airports. Bed bugs that have invaded a home typically first infest its sleeping areas, mainly the bedrooms.

As the infestation grows, they will move throughout the entire home, eventually infesting multiple rooms. Typical bed bug hiding spots include wooden head and foot boards, closets, dressers, walls and floors, upholstered furniture, wooden furniture, cabinets, closets, electronics, keyboards, wall voids behind outlets, and behind wooden molding. Bed bugs also like to hide out under piles of dirty laundry.

The best way to control and prevent bed bugs in Port Huron is with the help of a qualified and experienced professional. At Eco Pest Control, our knowledgeable technicians provide the effective and environmentally-responsible home pest control services needed for your Michigan property. Eco Pest Control is committed to exceeding customer expectations and using state-of-the-art solutions to get rid of bed bugs and prevent their return. To learn more about ridding your Port Huron or Imlay City area home of bed bugs, reach out to Eco Pest Control.

In conjunction with professional services, doing the following can help to prevent problems with these blood-feeding bed bugs:

• If possible, do not bring used mattresses, box springs, and other used furniture into your home.

• Be vigilant against bed bugs when out in public, and never leave personal belongings on the floor of a public place.

• Immediately wash and dry newly-purchased clothing, linens, and bedding on the highest heat settings the fabric can handle.

• Use caution in public laundry facilities. After drying your clothing, immediately place it in your laundry basket and take it home to fold.

• Before bringing luggage and personal items into a hotel or motel room, inspect the room for bed bugs and their signs.

• Regularly wash and dry items such as coats, hats, bags, and book bags that are used on a daily basis.

• Routinely vacuum the floors of your home and change bedding frequently, inspecting for signs of bed bugs during the process.