Most of us have heard this bedtime saying, "Good night, sleep tight, don't let the bed bugs bite." As summer approaches and most people will be travelling, the chances of bringing bed bugs home with you increases significantly. They are usually transferred from place to place as people travel. If you travel frequently, or are sharing sleeping areas where someone else slept previously, you are at a higher risk for getting bed bugs or even spreading a bed bug infestation.
Regardless of how clean your home is, these flat insects survive on the blood of people and insects while they sleep. Bed bugs are reddish-brown in color, wingless, and range from 1mm to 7mm. They can live for several months without blood. Because of their small size, and the fact that they stay hidden until you are sleeping, they can remain undetected. If you're waking up with bites or can't stop itching at night and/or upon waking, you might want to investigate further. Other signs of bed bugs to look for are: exoskeletons after molting, bed bugs in the fold of mattresses or sheets, rusty–colored blood spots due to their blood-filled fecal material that they excrete on the mattress or nearby furniture, and a sweet musty odor.
Usually bed bugs do not cause serious medical or health problems, but they can cause you a lack of sleep due to itching and biting. If you suspect that you have an infestation, contact your landlord or a professional pest control company that is experienced with treating bed bugs. The best way to prevent bed bugs is regular inspection for the signs of an infestation.
Regardless of how clean your home is, these flat insects survive on the blood of people and insects while they sleep. Bed bugs are reddish-brown in color, wingless, and range from 1mm to 7mm. They can live for several months without blood. Because of their small size, and the fact that they stay hidden until you are sleeping, they can remain undetected. If you're waking up with bites or can't stop itching at night and/or upon waking, you might want to investigate further. Other signs of bed bugs to look for are: exoskeletons after molting, bed bugs in the fold of mattresses or sheets, rusty–colored blood spots due to their blood-filled fecal material that they excrete on the mattress or nearby furniture, and a sweet musty odor.
Usually bed bugs do not cause serious medical or health problems, but they can cause you a lack of sleep due to itching and biting. If you suspect that you have an infestation, contact your landlord or a professional pest control company that is experienced with treating bed bugs. The best way to prevent bed bugs is regular inspection for the signs of an infestation.