“That’s it! We're moving!” This may be your response the first time you go to crawl into bed and away scurries a couple of bed bugs, leaving dried blood spots in their wake. Okay, that might be a bit dramatic, but the truth is, when you come across bed bugs in your home you will probably feel a similar sentiment, and likely a pile of questions will run through your mind. How did I get them? How do I get rid of them? Am I in danger? Fortunately for you, there are answers to all of those questions, so follow along and let's explore the not so wonderful world of bed bug infestations.

Bed bugs, although small, can be spotted quite easily, if you know what you are looking for. They are about 1/4 inch long and are brownish in color. They are oval in shape, flat, and tend to be almost as wide as they are long. They are classified as a “biting bug” due to their need for blood in order to reproduce. More immature bed bugs can be smaller and lighter in color, but will be found in the same location as adults, and are sure to be present if mature bed bugs or signs of an infestation are found. The eggs of a bed bug are about 1 mm in size, are whitish in color, and are much harder to spot.

Bed bugs are generally going to be found close to their food source, which unfortunately is you. That makes mattresses, box springs, and bedroom furniture a common place to discover bed bugs. But they are also found in other furniture, and oftentimes will be hiding in the midst of stitching and seams. They are also small enough to hide around buttons of upholstery, in creases of luggage, and in unwashed clothes.

Bed bugs, unfortunately, come from all over the place, from public transit to hotels, and plenty of places in between. They hop onto belongings including bags and luggage and off they go, ready for the free ride to their new home, which could ultimately be your home. They hide in the creases, folds and stitching of upholstery and even other people who visit could have introduced them to your home. Preventing bed bugs can be difficult, especially during times of travel, where the risk increases the more places you go, but there are some tips that can help you out.

• Always check rooms before bringing in luggage

• Keep unused belongings in sealable bags inside of your luggage

• Avoid setting personal belongings on the floor if possible

• Unpack luggage outside of your home if possible

• Always clean thoroughly after having guests

• Clean bedding often, and when cleaning always make sure to focus on the edges and seams of upholstery

Because of the stubbornness of bed bugs, professional help is recommended for eliminating an infestation. Often times do-it-yourself methods do not turn out so well, as bed bugs tend to find comfort in hard to reach places like cracks and crevices. At Thomas Pest Services we use methods that include heat treatment and mattress covers to reassure the complete extermination of bed bugs. Our response plan is made specifically to handle your infestation, and we always follow through with an appropriate method suitable for you. Getting rid of bed bugs can be difficult, but it doesn’t have to be impossible. Thomas Pest Services is happy to take the work out of your hands so you can sit back and relax. Give us a call today to learn more about our bed bug control options.