Bed bugs in Reno are an issue for homeowners and business owners alike. For a homeowner, a bed bug infestation can lead to routine bites and the dangers associated with insect bites. For a business, bed bugs can lead to bad reviews and present a danger to your bottom line. It always pays to get ahead of bed bug problems. What this means is different for Reno residents and business owners. At Celtic Pest Control, our goal is to provide you with what you need to evaluate pest problems and find the right solutions for you. Join us today as we look at how to identify bed bugs, how bed bugs grow a population, the challenges of DIY bed bug control, and why it is best to never ignore bed bugs. If you'd like to speak with a licensed pest professional about bed bug pest control in Reno and skip right to the part where you don't have to worry about bed bugs anymore, we're happy to help. You can connect with us through our contact page or reach out to us by phone.
How To Identify A Bed Bug
The best way to prevent bed bug problems in a home or business is to catch those bugs early. One problem with early detection is that bed bugs don't always look like bed bugs—more specifically, they don't look like adult bed bugs, which are the bed bugs most people have seen. What do baby bed bugs look like?
- A bed bug starts out as an insect. They don't start as a caterpillar, maggot, grub, or some other kind of critter. That is helpful to know.
- A newly hatched nymph looks like an adult bed bug, only it is 1/24 of an inch long, pale in coloration, and slightly more oval.
- The abdomen of a bed bug is the largest body part by far. If a newly hatched nymph has had a blood meal (or is currently taking a blood meal from your skin), it may look like a tiny red insect.
- Bed bugs turn tan as they mature through their five stages of development. While they remain insects the whole way, they change coloration, becoming darker and less transparent.
- When a bed bug has not had a blood meal in a while, it may appear to be a black insect, depending on the lighting conditions. Adult bed bugs are often mistaken for other pests because of this. If you lift a cushion or mattress and see tiny black insects, take a closer look to see if they're bed bugs. Of course, you're likely to check out (and address) any insects you find in your bed.
Most of the time, you won't see bed bugs. They are nocturnal insects that hide from the light. They also hide in extremely tight spaces—some that you might not consider. It is common to find bed bugs hiding under the feet of nightstands, beds, and other furniture. They also hide behind baseboards and in wall outlets. As you search for bed bugs, you may find signs that bed bugs are present, without actually seeing a bed bug. Look for black fecal spotting, black streaks, dried blood stains, shed skins, or tiny white eggs. When you find them, it is essential to know how to clean bed bugs up. The primary tool for the job is a strong vacuum and a crack and crevice attachment if needed. You may suck bed bugs up and dispose of the bag outside to address an early infestation. You may also treat infested items by putting them in your dryer for thirty minutes or putting them in your freezer for four days. If more control is needed, contact a professional.
How And Why Bed Bug Infestations Get Worse With Time
When you see early signs of bed bugs in your home or business, you should know that those bugs won't go away on their own. An infestation will only grow. There are a few reasons for this.
Bed Bugs Are Not Outdoor Bugs: There are two reasons why you should know this. First, bed bugs don't need a reason to get into a home or business. They spread passively. There is nothing you can do to prevent these bugs. The best you can do is take steps to catch them quickly and remove them. Second, bed bugs can't find a food source outdoors. They feed on human blood and have difficulty getting a blood meal from animals. So, methods that work to drive insects out will only work to spread bed bugs through a home or business. These bugs don't want to go outside.
Bed Bug Food: Since bed bugs feed on human blood, they won't have trouble finding a food source indoors. Not only will this allow bed bugs to survive in a home or business, but it is also why an infestation will worsen over time. These pests continually work to survive. They constantly seek food and dwell near food sources.
Bed Bugs Can Lay Up To 12 Eggs A Day: Bed bugs are not only continually seeking food, but they are also consistently breeding to create the numbers required to ensure the survival of their species.
As bed bugs reproduce indoors, they will cause more bites. Each bed bug typically bites three times. It doesn't take many bed bugs to cause a lot of misery! Increasing bites are another reason why infestations worsen. It is best to quickly nip a bed bug infestation in the bud.
Keep in mind that a bed bug infestation is not only likely to grow rapidly, but you are also likely to have trouble stopping that growth. They are not easy insects to control.
Why Do-It-Yourself Bed Bug Control Methods Usually Fail
Bed bugs are notoriously difficult to control. There are a few reasons why this is the case. Let's run down through the reasons.
- Bed bugs hide. Topical methods don't work well to address bed bug infestations.
- Bed bugs work together to avoid danger. When a bed bug is eliminated, it gives off a smell the other bed bugs can detect. Treated areas and traps drive bed bugs away.
- Bed bugs are resilient. A bed bug can genetically adapt to dangerous materials. Over the last century, we've thrown many materials at these bugs. If you don't know what control products are known to fail, you'll have trouble addressing bed bug infestations.
- Bed bug control isn't only about applying products. You need to know strategies that work to corral them and prevent dispersal. You need to know how to use a combination of products to achieve control. You need to understand methods that work to monitor bed bug activity after treatments to ensure that all the bugs are gone, and to avoid getting misleading data. One of the worst outcomes of applying DIY bed bug treatments is thinking the bugs are gone when they aren't.
Licensed pest control professionals are trained in field-tested strategies to control bed bugs and select products that are known to work. Technicians monitor and evaluate treatments with the appropriate application of monitoring devices and professional inspections to ensure good results from the treatments.
You Should Never Ignore Bed Bugs In Reno
It may seem strange, but some Reno residents ignore bed bug problems. Why? Because they think that bed bugs will not permanently survive indoors, as many other insects only get inside temporarily. Unfortunately, as we shared with you today, this is not the case with bed bugs. They're not going to go away, and the longer they stay in your home, the larger the population will grow. As the population grows, you'll see more bites and have more trouble. If you attack the problem with methods that don't work, you'll allow bed bugs to continue to plague you. It is best to address them quickly and correctly.
Business owners may ignore bed bugs because they don't think bed bugs are a problem for their business. These pests can survive in many businesses you might not expect to find them, such as commercial office spaces. We recommend that all businesses create a plan for dealing with bed bugs, even if it is as simple as putting up a sign that informs employees of how they may detect bed bugs and early warning signs of bed bug activity. A simple step like this can have a big impact and prevent frustration.
When you detect a problem, it is best to contact local pest control for bed bugs. A licensed professional will arrest the infestation and guide you in developing a plan to prevent future infestations in your home or business. If you're in Reno, reach out to Celtic Pest Control for assistance. We locate and target bed bugs with a multi-pronged strategy that provides great results, every time. You don't have to let the bed bugs bite! Jump over to our contact page and connect with us to schedule a service visit. We can help you find answers to your bed bug questions.
What Celtic Pest Control Customers Are Saying
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