Bed Bugs In Redding: How They Get In And How To Keep Them Out
July 15, 2023 - Bed Bugs
If you’ve woken up to scratch an itch in the middle of the night, you may have been bitten by a bed bug. Discovering a series of small mosquito-like bites in a row on your skin can be unnerving, especially when it happens most nights.
That’s when you should contact our Redding pest control specialists at Jefferson to get rid of bed bugs for good. A bed bug infestation can be hard to eliminate, so we’ve put together a few tips for identifying an infestation, why it won’t easily go away, and what to do about it.
Bed Bug Detection: How To Spot And Confirm An Infestation
One of the surest ways to spot the presence of bed bugs in your home is to look for a small bite similar to a mosquito bite, a red raised bump. It’s usually very itchy. A bed bug often bites in a line of two to four bites on the legs, arms, and trunk of your body. However, some people aren’t as sensitive to bug bites, so it may take longer to spot.
Look for these clues to spot and confirm an infestation:
- A musty, sweet smell
- Rust-colored spots due to fecal matter that contains their blood meal on the sheets or mattress
- Flat, oval-shaped reddish-brown bed bugs in the lining of your mattress or the cracks of nearby furniture
- Exoskeletons from molting
You can also look for their droppings, which look like small black specks, but these are hard to spot.
Bed bugs in Redding also often hide in places you wouldn’t think of, such as behind electrical sockets or in the closet. Bed bugs usually make their home within eight feet of their food source.
Bed Bug Problems: They Aren't Just Going To Go Away
Do bed bugs just go away? No, and waiting for bed bugs to leave isn’t a realistic method. Bed bugs aren’t occasional invader bugs.
Even without a blood meal, bed bugs can survive for six months. Bed bugs can go dormant and wait patiently for their next meal. Once they bite, a bed bug doesn’t stick around like other pests. That can make them hard to detect since they go back into hiding.
For those who live in apartment complexes, bed bugs may move next door, but that’s still not good news for you—a bed bug may have lingered or they may return.
Unwanted Guests: Common Causes Of Bed Bug Infestations
Bed bugs quickly become a nuisance that can make people feel self-conscious about themselves and their homes. These unwanted guests prevent those who have a bed bug infestation from having their own guests or going out and living their lives. But what causes bed bugs?
Ironically, it’s common to bring bed bugs back home from vacation from another infested location. Bed bugs camp out in hotel mattresses and furniture, so always inspect the room before setting down your luggage.
Secondhand items may also contain bed bugs, even if they’ve been thoroughly checked. Bed bugs are adept at hiding in seams and cracks.
When bed bugs travel home with you, it’s best to fight them with bed bug control techniques for your home that are backed by experts.
Eliminating Bed Bugs: The Smart Solution For Your Home
Eliminating bed bugs isn’t easy, especially since they can go for months without a meal. Professional home pest control in Redding is the smartest solution for your home.
The Redding pest control technicians at Jefferson place your safety and peace of mind at the top of our priority list when conducting an inspection. Contact us today for a free consultation and dependable pest control.