RichPro Pest Management Knowledge

Few people really want to be aware of bed bugs. (In fact, the very thought could instantly cause our skin to crawl.) But that kind of squeamishness can ultimately lead to misconceptions about bed bugs, which can lead to an infestation if you're not careful. As tough as it might be to observe awareness week, there are a lot of benefits when you know how to identify a bed bug, what bed bug bites look like, and which bed bug prevention products actually work. Unfortunately, bed bugs can be one of the most relentless types of bugs to have in your home. They're extremely versatile when it comes to hiding and they don't necessarily need to feed that often to survive. As with so many things, awareness starts with vigilance. 

Once you find you have bed bugs, they are very hard to get rid of. Signs of bed bugs include bed bug bites – and though you usually find them in the bedroom, they can also be in other places in your home. These pests love to hide in mattress seams, walls, floors, bed frames, and even suitcases. You can unknowingly bring them into your house from an infested hotel or even a friend’s house. All you need to do is walk in your friend’s living room – if she has an infestation, there’s a good chance that you’ll bring these pesky bugs home with you.

Bed bugs are one of the most feared insect infestations, largely because they're notoriously destructive. Couple that with the difficulty of getting rid of them, and it can be downright debilitating for people to wake up itching in the middle of the night. Bed bugs feed on the blood of mammals, and they're generally active at night. They live anywhere, including in furniture, clothing, and carpets. They're shaped like an oval, have a reddish-brown body, and can reach up to 7 millimeters in length. If you're wondering if you've found one, look for a flat bug with no wings Bedbugs generally won't travel from one place to another unless humans or animals carry them. Learn more about these little monsters, and what to do if you find them. 

Bed bug infestations can happen to anybody, and once they occur they often cause tremendous stress to those impacted until the problem is resolved. Unfortunately, getting rid of bed bugs is exceptionally difficult; they hide well and can live for a very long time without feeding. Even more discouraging is the fact that over-the-counter insecticides are often not safe for your use in your and especially in the bedroom – the most common room affected by bed bugs.