How to Prevent Infestations of Bed Bugs in Your Summerfield, FL Home this Fall Season

Everybody’s favorite fall holiday travel season will soon be upon us, and this means unwanted pests may be trying to hitch a ride back home with you. Bed bugs reside anywhere they can obtain a quick a meal. They are found even in the most pristine of hotels and homes. Pest companies see a spike in bed bug activities in the Summer months as well as the holiday season. These spikes in bed bug activity are likely due to the influx of traveling that takes place these times of year. If you’ve never seen a bed bug, consider yourself lucky! They are easily identifiable by the places you may find them. Some people mistake carpet beetles for bed bugs when they in fact are not. Here are some characteristics you can use to determine if in fact you are seeing a bed bug in your hotel room, or home.

What Do Bed Bugs Look Like to the Human Eye?

-Adult bed bugs are about the size of an apple seed, or 3/16 to ¼ inch in length
-Adults are brown in color
-Oval Shaped, flat bodies before a meal
-After a meal their shape becomes balloon like, and they become a reddish-brown color
-Their heads include an elongated beak, antennas and wings (They can’t fly)
-Smelly, they emit a musty odor that is emitted from their glands

Identifying Nymphs (Juvenile Bed Bugs)

-Smaller and are harder to see
-Translucent, or a whitish-yellow color
-After a feeding, they become a reddish color

Identification of Bed Bug Eggs

-The size of a pinhead, so tiny they are almost naked to the human eye
-Pearl White color

Where Do Bed Bugs Hide During the Day?

Bed bugs are mostly nocturnal and tend to become active between 2-5 a.m. when they come out to feed on human blood. In general, bed bugs are lazy and prefer to stay close to where they can easily feed. When searching your home for an infestation, or going to a hotel, pull back the bed sheets and check along the seams of the bed, around tags on the bed, the box spring, bed frame, hear the headboard, electrical cords or even couches. These are the most common places they are found. Bed bugs become sluggish after a blood meal and tend to lounge while they digest their blood meal. This is the time many people become aware of their presence because they are found sitting still on walls, bed frames or on mattresses. If you awake in the morning and find a rust-colored or red splat mark, this is an indication bed bugs may be present. When we toss and turn at night, bed bugs can’t always get away and we squish them while we sleep.

How to Protect your Home from a Bed Bug Infestation?

Watching for early warning signs and dealing with bed bugs in the early stages of infestations are ideal and easier to take care of. To avoid infestations in your home, Pest 911 recommends that you thoroughly inspect your clothing and luggage before entering your home after a vacation. Inspect secondhand furniture you may purchase before you bring it into your home and use protective covers over your mattresses and box springs as to eliminate places for bed bugs to hide. Vacuum your home frequently to remove any bed bugs that may be lingering and try to keep clutter to a minimum. If you live in a multi-family complex, it is recommended to have door sweeps installed, and check for any cracks or small crevices inside the dwelling that they may use to enter your home.

Bed Bug Inspections & Treatment

Pest 911 are experts in all things bed bugs, and we use the latest and greatest techniques to inspect and treat for bed bugs. If you suspect an infestation in your home, call us right away. If you can catch an infestation in the early stages, you have better chances of and easy extermination. We wish you a bed bug free holiday and happy travels!