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What Are Bed Bugs?

Bed bugs are small, oval-shaped insects that can find their way into almost any home or business. They are difficult to avoid, because they live wherever there are people, and can move into houses or other buildings with ease, on people or their belongings. Bed bugs feed only on the blood of warm-blooded animals to survive and complete their reproductive process. Their favorite hosts are people, but they also feed on other animals, including dogs, cats, and rodents. Adult bed bugs grow to about 1/4 of an inch long, and they are easy to spot if you know what you are looking for. They have wingless, reddish-brown, oval-shaped bodies with six legs, two antennae, and an extended mouthpart (proboscis) they use to feed; when not feeding, the proboscis stays underneath their body. After consuming a blood meal, the bed bug’s body swells and elongates.

Are bed bugs dangerous?

Bed bugs are not considered dangerous, as the transmission of diseases to people by bed bugs is not currently a big concern, but there are many other problems that bed bugs cause:

Knowing that bed bugs have infiltrated your home will lead to sleepless nights. Lack of sleep can cause irritability and increased stress levels.
Those allergic to bed bug saliva develop raised red, itchy welts.
Excessive scratching of the bite sites may lead to secondary infections; this is especially a problem for kids.
Bed bugs will stain floors, walls, bedding, and mattresses with drops of blood, and dark streaks of excrement.
In the case of a large-scale infestation, a sweet, musty odor may develop.

Why do I have a bed bug problem?

Experts at staying out of sight, it is very easy to come into contact with bed bugs and then unknowingly introduce them into your house. Any home can be infiltrated by hitchhiking bed bugs. Their flat bodies allow them to hide in the folds of bags, pockets of luggage, seams of coats, and folded laundry. Bed bugs also move into homes on used wooden or upholstered furniture, mattresses, box springs, and newly purchased clothing.

Where will I find bed bugs?

Bed bugs live worldwide. The ease of travel these days allows bed bugs to invade a wide variety of homes and businesses. Bed bugs do not discriminate about their surroundings; their only concern is that there is a food source present. Bed bugs can be found in a variety of places, including our homes, five-star resorts, motels, airports, schools, libraries, dorms, hospitals, and shopping centers.

As their name suggests, when first finding their way into a home, bed bugs typically take up residence in sleeping areas. However, they don’t stay in the bedroom, and are very capable of moving throughout a home – traveling through walls and floors. Bed bugs are difficult to control, because they can hide in so many areas, and you need to find and treat all adults, nymphs, and eggs to prevent a re-infestation.

How do I get rid of bed bugs?

The task of eliminating bed bugs from your Tennessee property should be left to a professional. At Colonial Pest Control, we have 50 years of combined pest control experience. We know pests and how to eliminate them from properties once and for all!

We guarantee our results and take pride in treating our customers like family. We are a local company dedicated to using only the most efficient, cutting-edge services possible. If you are looking for exceptional pest solutions for your Knoxville area home or business, contact the pest professionals here at Colonial Pest Control today!

How can I prevent bed bugs in the future?

In addition to our professional bed bug control services, take the time necessary to implement these easy-to-execute prevention tips:

Regularly wash and dry your family’s outerwear.
If you use a laundromat, always use your own laundry baskets and bring your laundry home to fold.
When at school or work, make sure to keep our personal belongings up off of the ground and away from other people’s belongings.
Take great care when buying used furniture, mattresses, or box springs. If at all possible, avoid bringing these used items into your home.
Keep clutter to a minimum throughout your home.
Wash all bedding and inspect mattresses and box springs for signs of bed bugs regularly.
Routinely wash all pet bedding.
Keep bed bug-proof covers on all mattresses and box springs located in your home.
When traveling, inspect your hotel room or any other space before bringing luggage and other personal belongings inside. Keep your luggage up off of the hotel floor, and keep clothing and other personal belongings in sealed plastic bags until you need them.
After returning home from a trip, immediately wash and dry all clothing on the highest heat setting the fabrics can handle. Suitcases and bags taken should be vacuumed and wiped down before storing them away.