This time of year, bed bugs commonly plague residential homes and commercial buildings across New York. Not only are they hitchhiking pests that can be easily picked up, but they’re known for their ability to hide in hard-to-reach places, making them difficult to get rid of.
Here’s a breakdown of some general bed bug facts, how you get bed bugs, the early signs of bed bugs, how bed bugs spread, and how to knock ‘em out if they get inside your home.
Bed Bugs 101
Bed bugs are small, brown, oval-shaped pests that feed on the blood of humans and animals. Bed bug infestations are a growing problem in many cities across the United States, especially large metropolitan areas like New York City. Bed bugs can be difficult to detect because they hide in crevices during the day and come out at night to feed. They are most often spread through traveling through airports and hotels, but also through secondhand furniture, clothing, and other methods of transportation such as buses and subways.
How Do You Get Bed Bugs?
Bed bugs can easily be brought into your home and you may not even notice when it happens. You could have accidentally transported them in on your clothes, in luggage, or on a person. Bed bugs also frequently arrive in furniture and bedding that has been donated to thrift stores or used furniture stores, which is why if you do opt for secondhand furniture, you should thoroughly inspect all pieces before bringing them inside your home.
Early Signs of Bed Bugs
If you’re suddenly waking up with bites or itchy areas on your body that weren’t there before, it’s possible you’re dealing with bed bugs.
Some questions to ask yourself:
- Did you just travel?
- Did you just purchase a piece of used furniture?
- Did you recently take public and/or rideshare transportation?
- Are you seeing blood stains on your sheets or pillowcases?
- Are there dark spots of bedbug excrement anywhere on your bedding, mattress, or walls?
- Do you notice fecal matter or shed insect casings around your bed?
- Is there a new, musty odor present?
If you’re answering yes to any of these questions, it’s very likely you are seeing signs of bed bugs in your New York home.
Where Do Bed Bugs Hide?
Bed bugs are elusive creatures that prefer to stay hidden. They don’t like light, so they will usually hide in the darkest corners of your bedroom. If you have an infestation, there is no way to tell where they are hiding!
Bed bugs are also sneaky, small enough to fit into tiny cracks and crevices. They can easily hide inside your mattress and box spring seams, as well as in the folds of your mattress covers. Bedbugs may also be found lurking around headboards or frames if they have access to them during daylight hours when you aren’t home; however, these areas are not typically ideal for bedbugs because there isn’t much food available for them (although some people do report finding signs of their presence here). Because of their nesting behavior and ability to travel through walls and other barriers between rooms and even entire apartments, it’s common for bed bugs to also be present in carpeting, wall panels, electrical outlets, under baseboards, and other hard-to-reach areas.
Keep in mind that bed bugs aren’t just in the bedroom; you could bring in a used sofa to your living room and end up with a bed bug infestation in your living room. Due to their hitchhiking nature though, if you sit on that sofa, pick up bed bugs on your clothing, then go lay in your bed in your bedroom, you’re likely going to end up with bed bugs there, too.
How to Get Rid of Bed Bugs
The most effective way to get rid of bed bugs fast is to call Knockout Pest Control as soon as you suspect there’s a problem. Since bed bugs are such a nuisance and can be difficult to get rid of, it’s best to call in the professionals right off the bat to eradicate the issue before it becomes an even more serious problem.
Knock Out Bed Bugs Now!
Do you have reason to believe that you are dealing with a bed bug infestation? If so, this job is for the professionals here at Knockout Pest Control. We’ll knock out your bed bugs and keep them down for the count!
Call 1-800-244-PEST to schedule an estimate.
