No one wants to have pests in their home, but one time or another you will most likely find yourself faced with an unwanted situation No one wants to have pests in their home, but one time or another you will most likely find yourself faced with an unwanted situation. There are few house pest guests that are more unwanted than bed bugs. Besides being a nuisance, they bite and they can destroy any peace of mind you might have about your home being clean and pest-free. After all, it is one thing to see a spider in a corner – it is something else when you have bugs in your bed!

Where do bed bugs come from?

People tend to associate bed bugs with unsanitary conditions, but when you discover where they come from, it won’t be as much of a surprise to learn that they can appear virtually anywhere. World class hotels have encountered bed bugs. Bed bugs can show up in a vehicle. So if conditions aren’t the main factor, what’s the deal?

Bed bugs live throughout the world. They can survive for a very, very long time without feeding, and this gives them time to move to a location that will provide them with a food source. If you are traveling, they can hitch a ride on your luggage. They may be on a train, airplane, or any place that they can hang onto without being noticed.

They may also show up in your home via someone else. For example, if your neighbor has an infestation and sprays insecticide everywhere, the bed bugs will clear out of that home and move to a safer environment – your home. Or if you wash your clothes at a shared location like a laundromat, someone with infested linens will wash them, and then when you wash your clothing or sheets, once again they can come home with you.

How do I know if I have bed bugs?

These pests will definitely let you know that they are in your home. That’s because they bite. While you don’t need to be alarmed, you do need to be aware that these bites will itch and look red and be slightly swollen due to your body’s reaction to the bite.

You may also see them, though it can be difficult to do so. This is because bed bugs will not only hide in the sheets, but they can also hide in upholstery, crevices, floors, and even behind wallpaper and picture frames. They aren’t active during the day either and are nocturnal by nature. You may notice rust colored spots on your bed sheets, and with heavier infestations, a sweet odor.

How do I get rid of bed bugs?

Bed bugs will require a professional pest control expert. This is because they are very hard to get rid of. Even with the myriad of products out there that give you the chance to try eliminating them on your own, without the right knowledge, the problem may simply occur again. For example, you may believe that they are only in your bedroom and treat that area. But if there are some living elsewhere in your home, they may simply migrate back to your room once the treatment is finished.

What you want is a bed bug exterminator that understands these insects and discovers their hiding places as well as how they got into your home in the first place. That way you can not only treat the problem at home, but also be better able to avoid bringing them back. A high quality pest control company can offer you environmentally responsible treatments against these pests and then provide you with a follow-up inspection later.

You don’t have to live with bed bugs and you certainly don’t have to worry about being at fault for their appearance in your home. Simply focus on getting them out and being able to sleep peacefully and bed bug-free once again.