There are a few kinds of pests that can sometimes or even frequently be found around your bedroom and mattress area, and the bed bug is likely the single most common and well-known. What are bed bugs, why can they be a problem, and what can you do to prevent or eliminate them from causing issues on your mattress or within related bedroom areas?
At A-1 Exterminators, we’re here to offer the best pest control services available around Salt Lake City, Sandy, West Jordan, West Valley City and nearby areas of Utah. Bed bugs are one of several pests we’re quite familiar with dealing with, and we’ll help you with every part of their prevention or elimination from any home or property you own. Here are some basics on what bed bugs are, why they’re problematic and how to deal with them.
What Are Bed Bugs?
For those just learning about them for the first time, bed bugs are small, flat insects that feed on the blood of animals and humans. They’re typically around 5-7 millimeters in length, with a reddish-brown color and an oval-shaped body.
Despite their name, bed bugs can actually be found in many different places apart from just beds – they can live in furniture, carpets, clothing, luggage and more. More on this in our next section.
Where Are Bed Bugs Regularly Found?
As we noted above, the mattress and bed frame areas are by far the two most common for bed bugs to be found in. They’re attracted by the warmth and carbon dioxide exhaled by humans, which is why they often take up residence in places where people sleep.
However, bed bugs can also be found in other places:
- Upholstery: Bed bugs will hide in couches, chairs and other furniture with fabric coverings.
- Clothing: They can easily hitch a ride on clothing and end up in your closet.
- Luggage and bags: If you’ve traveled recently or stayed in a hotel, bed bugs could have stowed away in your luggage or bag.
- Carpets: Bed bugs can hide deep within the fibers of carpets, making them difficult to detect.
- Cracks and crevices: These tiny insects can also live inside cracks and crevices in walls, baseboards, and floors.
It’s important to note that bed bugs do not just reside in homes. They can also be found in public places such as hotels, dormitories, and even movie theaters. This is why it’s important to be vigilant about checking for these pests in any place you may spend extended periods of time.
Why They’re a Problem in Homes
Bed bugs can be problematic in homes for a few different reasons:
- Bites and possible allergic reactions: Bed bugs feed on human blood and their bites can cause itching, redness, and swelling. In some cases, people may have allergic reactions to the bites.
- Difficulty getting rid of them: Bed bugs are notoriously difficult to get rid of once they infest a home. They can hide in small cracks and crevices, making it hard to fully eliminate them.
- Can multiply quickly: A female bed bug can lay hundreds of eggs in her lifetime, allowing for rapid multiplication of these pests within a home.
- Tough to detect: In many cases, bed bugs can be tough to detect because they are small and can hide in various places. They may also not leave visible signs of their presence, making it harder for homeowners to know they have an infestation.
- Can spread easily: Bed bugs can easily spread from one location to another through luggage, clothing, and furniture. This is why it’s important to take precautions when traveling or bringing used furniture into your home.
Waking Up to Itchy Bites?
One of the most common potential indicators of a bed bug infestation is waking up with itchy bites. These bites may appear in clusters or lines on areas of the body that are exposed while sleeping, such as the arms, legs, and neck. However, not everyone reacts to bed bug bites in the same way, so it’s possible to have an infestation without experiencing any noticeable bite marks.
But if you’ve begun noticing these bites recently, it can be a good prompt to investigate further and check into a possible bed bug issue. And if you discover one, our team at A-1 Exterminators is here to help! Contact us today to learn about this or any of our other pest control services around SLC, Sandy, West Jordan, West Valley City and nearby areas!
