Dear Friends,
Bed bugs are small, parasitic insects that feed on the blood of humans and animals. While they are not known to transmit disease, they can cause a number of problems for their hosts.
What Do Bed Bugs In SLO County Look Like?
Bed bug adults are a reddish-brown color, and the nymphs look similar, except they are slightly smaller and are a whitish color. Bed bugs are almost invisible to the human eye. A typical bed bug is around the size of an apple seed, which does make a bed bug rather hard to notice, especially if you happen to see just one random bed bug. However, they are visible to the human eye if you look closely.
How To Identify Bed Bug Eggs In SLO County Homes
While bed bug adults are somewhat easy to see if you know what to look for and where to look, bed bug eggs are much harder to spot. In fact, they are only about the size of a pinhead and a whitish color, which makes the blend into most white bed sheets. Bed bug eggs are smooth in shape and texture, like other kinds of eggs. If you brushed them gently with your fingers, they would feel smooth to the touch. This can be done without breaking them. Female bed bugs can lay up to eight eggs per week, and they seek out dark, undisturbed areas to lay these eggs. They often place their eggs behind furniture, in electrical outlets, or within the seams of mattresses or other furniture.
Symptoms Of Bed Bug Infestations In SLO County Homes
While you can identify bed bugs by sight, other signs of bed bugs are often more noticeable than seeing the bugs themselves.
Before you make your bed in the morning, look at the sheets carefully.
Do you see any dark specs on the sheets or in the mattress seams?
That is bed bug excrement. They went to the bathroom in your bed.
Do you see small, yellow exoskeletons?
Bed bugs molt. It occurs five times before they become adults, so those pale yellow shells in the bedsheets signify a growing young bed bug.
Do you see red or rust-colored stains on your sheets?
Those are blood smears. You killed a bed bug during the night. You probably rolled over and squished it.
Bed bugs are most active at night. These night owls hide in wall crevices or burrow in the furniture and mattress until dark. Then they come out to bite you. You should inspect your bed at night to see if you can find active bed bugs if you have unexplainable bites.
You won’t have just one bite mark. Your legs and arms will be covered. It will seem like a very tiny mosquito attacked you repeatedly.
These bites look different from mosquito bites, but they occur in droves. If you see a single bite, it is something else.
Since bed bugs multiply quickly, it’s essential to find them before they start to reproduce. With that in mind, inspect the following areas for signs of bed bugs:
- The seams of your mattress and box spring.
- Cracks between your bed frame and headboard.
- Between the cushions of your sofa, and along the seams of the cushions.
- Along the seam of your carpets, where the carpet meets the wall.
- In the joints of furniture like couches, accent chairs, and futons.
Use a flashlight and check each area carefully. Look for tiny dark or rust-colored droppings, live bedbugs, or small pale yellow eggs.
If you find signs of bedbugs in any of these places, you’ll also want to check your nightstand, dresser drawers, and closet.
How To Get Rid Of Bed Bugs In Your SLO County Home
Bed bug control is very difficult if you’re trying to do it on your own. Every bed bug and egg needs to be destroyed, or the bed bugs will keep coming back; this is why pest control is so important if you spot any signs of bed bugs.
If you suspect you have these parasitic pests, contact our team of pest control experts today. We can set up an inspection for you and then develop a treatment plan to eradicate the bed bugs completely.
You’ll need to decide if you want to attempt to rid your house of bed bugs on your own or if you will involve a professional.
DIY may be tempting as it can seem to be the lowest-cost option at first. However, if not done properly, attempting to do the treatment yourself may require even more treatments and in the end cost just as much if not more than hiring an experienced professional.
There are also risks involved in attempting to rid your own home of these pests by yourself without professional help. Many “over-the-counter” products are only effective if they come in direct contact with the insect. However, bed bugs don’t typically surface every night, so if they are in hiding when you apply the product it will do nothing but keep them dormant until they think it’s safe to resurface. Bed bugs could survive more than half a year in hiding, even in an empty house, causing further headaches for you.
Bed bug treatments can be complicated, so trust us to assess the problem and get the job done right the first time! Even with a professional pest control company, it may take two to four treatments to completely eradicate bed bugs from your home.
Bed bugs are extremely difficult to get rid of once they’ve infested a home. They’re experts at hiding in small cracks and crevices, making them hard to spot and even harder to kill. In addition, bed bugs can cause skin irritation and allergic reactions in some people. Their bites can be itchy and painful, and they can often lead to secondary infections.
Find a Bed Bug Exterminator in SLO County
Bed bug control is not a do-it-yourself job. Once they take up residence, these elusive pests can be extremely difficult to get rid of. Furthermore, you’ll want to ensure that all the bed bugs are eliminated in order to avoid a return infestation.
This is why it is key to hire a professional, experienced bed bug exterminator. If you suspect or discover a bed bug infestation, contact a licensed pest control professional to effectively handle the situation.
Don’t delay and give bugs the chance to get the upper hand, call us at 805-516-0317 to arrange an inspection at your home, or contact us here to submit your request online.
