Whether you’ve been bitten before or not, everyone knows that bed bugs are a threatening pest. While small, these bloodsucking parasites can be difficult to get rid of and are incredibly easy to introduce to your property by accident. Learning how to protect against bed bugs in Saratoga and help make sure you never have to sleep with one eye open.
The Signs Of A Bed Bug Infestation
Bed bugs are tiny, almost microscopic insects. They can be spotted by the naked eye, however, and they are no strangers to human property. Bed bugs are nocturnal and tend to stay hidden and out of sight, meaning that the first sign of their activity is often the itchy welts they leave behind after nighttime feedings. As such, it’s important to act quickly if you notice any of the following signs:
- Stains: Bed bugs can stain bedding or cloth covers by depositing some of their blood meal onto sheets. They also can stain fabric yellow as their eggs hatch.
- Eggs: Bed bug eggs are tiny, peppery flakes that can be hard to spot on dark-colored fabrics. Bed bugs often lay them on undersides of beds or furniture, not far from where hatched bugs can crawl for a feeding.
- Bites: Again, bed bug bites themselves are often the first and only clue people get for where bed bugs might be. They are small, red welts that itch and are often found in a line or clump.
How Did Your Home Get Bed Bugs?
Bed bugs aren’t big or energetic enough to crawl great distances. Instead, bed bugs get around by hitchhiking on the clothing or hair of people and animals that pass by. They wait on tall grass or foliage for anything with a pulse to brush past, riding along undetected as they’re carried back to our homes or businesses. It’s for this reason that bed bugs can be so easy to introduce to your property, you may have brought bed bugs back inside and not know it until their butes are a real problem. That’s why it’s important to know how to avoid bed bugs and make your property less prone to an infestation.
Bed Bug Prevention & Control
Bed bug control is difficult, which is why the best course is to take early and frequent steps to avoid or prevent them from getting in. Here are some easy, important things you can do:
- Landscaping: Since bed bugs rest on vegetation, you should take steps to make the plants and grass outside less habitable to bed bugs. Keep a well-trimmed yard and clear out yard debris.
- Check for clingers: Whenever you or your loved ones, including pets, come back inside from a stint outdoors, you need to thoroughly check their hair and clothing for any signs of clinging bed bugs.
- Inspection: This applies both to the items you by at the store — like used clothing or furniture — and to your property, which should be thoroughly inspected by experts who know what to look for.
For Fast Solutions, Trust The Pros
A bed bug problem is often too far along to do anything about by the time you notice it. While household prevention methods can give you a fighting chance at avoiding pest infestations, you should act fast to solve the problem the moment it surfaces. For proper bed bug control, you need to turn to the professionals. At Old School Pest Control, our proven methods will eliminate bed bugs quickly, ensuring that bites are kept to a minimum and that the problem doesn’t come right back. Only experts can apply methods that kill all bed bugs and their unhatched eggs, which is why you shouldn’t waste time or money trying other supposed solutions.
Instead, contact Old School Pest Control for ultimate bed bug control.