The dreaded bed bug. Lately it seems you can’t turn around without hearing about bed bugs. From thrift stores, to
movie theaters, to airlines and hotels bed bugs are making a meal out of the general public once again. Issues with bed bugs go back thousand of years, but at one time they were nearly wiped out in this country. So what happened? Harsh pesticides that were once used to treat bed bugs such as DDT and Chlordane were banned from use, as they were contributing to the extinction of the Bald Eagle and causing chaos in general. Once these chemicals were banned, greener treatments were used, which the bed bugs quickly built up a resistance to, allowing these bugs to grow in number once again. Of course there are older methods of pest control that have been in use for many years. Such as heat. If you ever step foot into an antique shop you will notice that many bed frames from 100 years ago are made entirely of metal. Ever wonder why? Once upon a time a suitable treatment for bed bugs was to douse the frame in Kerosene and light it on fire, destroying the bed bugs so the frame could be used once again. That of course is not a recommended course of treatment in this day and age, but from time to time you will still hear about someone trying to kill their bed bugs and setting their house on fire. So what are you supposed to do?
Bed Bugs live off of blood. More than any other kind of blood they love human blood. They love everything about being around humans including the smell. Keeping laundry and bedding fresh and clean is important as dirty linens and laundry left laying about will draw bed bugs by their scent. So cleanliness is key!
How do you know if what you are seeing is bed bugs? Bed bugs are nocturnal and generally bite at night leaving welts on your body where they feed. While they are not normally known to spread disease the bite and welts can be painful and bring the risk of secondary infection. They hide out as well in cracks and crevices in walls, linens, laundry, and bed frames, they have even been found hiding in prosthetic limbs.
If staying in a motel look at the bedding before you move in. Look for blood stains on the sheets and examine for bugs. Look at seats in movie theaters and airlines before you sit down. Being aware of your surroundings can go a long ways in preventing bed bugs from hitchiking their way back to your home and causing infestation.
If you already have an infestation, there is no reason to panic. Flatline Pest Control does carry safe and effective pesticides that will terminate your bed bugs with out destroying your home. Give us a call today and we will send an experienced technician your way!