Bed bugs are often confused with other insects such as the spider beetle, cockroach nymph, booklice, carpet beetle, and bat bug. There are about 90 known species of bed bugs, and they have 6 legs and 2 antennae. The common bed bugs we find in our home are flat, oval in shape, reddish-brown in color, and measure around 4–5 millimeters long. They may not pose a serious threat to humans, but the idea of being aware that they are around, potentially crawling on your skin, and sucking your blood at night while you sleep makes you feel anxious enough and want to kill them.
Combating Bed Bugs For Good
Common body areas where bed bugs bite are on the exposed skin such as hands, arms, neck, and face. Their bites are usually painless and not noticeable, but may later result in raised, rash-like itchy bumps on the affected area. These should heal after a few days and do not usually require medical attention. Some people do not display any reaction to bed bug bites. Bed bugs stay in their host’s skin until they are full and engorged, which usually takes about 10 minutes. The common type of bed bug prefers a human host. If a human is not available for them to bite, they may substitute dogs, cats, and other mammals to become their host.
Currently, there are no known cases of serious disease transmission through a bed bug bite. These insects don’t just stay and hang out in beds...they can be anywhere around your household. Besides in bed, they can also be found in other fabric materials in your home, furniture, luggage, boxes, and other storage materials. They can’t fly or jump, but they are good at hiding. They may infest, but they cannot cause major damage in your home.
Truth About Bed Bug Pesticide
Having bed bugs in your home does not mean you are dirty. They do not impose a serious threat to human health and do not destroy properties, but if you don’t try to get rid of them, they will stay in your home, live with you, and continuously multiply. No human wants to allow these tiny creature's family become bigger than their family. That is why many people try to use over-the-counter pesticides to control bed bugs. Many pesticides claim that they are safe to apply, even on beds and pillows. Plus, they are very accessible and cheap. But in reality, those pesticides may contain chemicals that can damage the human liver, kidney, reproductive system, and endocrine system. Long-term exposure to these chemicals could even lead to cancer.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) advised us to prevent bed bugs through regular inspection. If they have already infested, seek help from professional exterminators to get rid of them. Professional exterminators are highly trained to effectively get rid of any kind of pests you have at home. They can easily differentiate bed bugs from their look-alikes such as the spider beetle, cockroach nymph, booklice, carpet beetle, and bat bug. At Go-Forth Home Services, we have studied the art and science of killing pests without harming human and pets since 1959. Call today for a free quote!