Bed Bugs
In Florida, we are no stranger to the presence of a variety of different kinds of bugs. Ants, spiders, cockroaches, and, most significantly, bedbugs are an ever-present nuisance that a professional insect elimination team needs to be taken care of. While most have seen the other insects listed above, some have not seen a bed bug in person or know exactly what they are. At Biotherm, we want to help you eliminate your bed bug problem, but we also want to help educate you to understand what to look for if you think you may have a bed bug infestation in your Florida home or business.
What are bed bugs?
Bedbugs are parasitic pests that feed on warm-blooded animals’ blood. Their primary food source is human blood. These pests hide out in tight cracks and crevices such as box springs, bed frames, mattress seams, and other innovative hiding places during the day, emerging at night for their blood meal from their sleeping victims, attracted to the carbon dioxide that we produce as we breathe. People, both adults, and kids will likely wake up with bedbug bites bloodstains on the sheets, unaware of where the bites came from. Bedbug bites are usually harmless, if just a bit itchy or irritating to the skin, but those with skin sensitivities should have any bedbug bites looked at by a medical professional to prevent further health risks.
Because of their feeding habits, bedbug infestations can become a problem in any public place where many people are found. It is also essential to understand that bedbugs don’t exclusively feed at night; they will feed during daylight hours in theaters, offices, libraries, and restrooms that are not used overnight.
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Adult bed bugs are roughly the size and shape of an apple seed. They grow to about ¼ of an inch in length, have flat, oval-shaped bodies, six legs, and are wingless. Before feeding, bed bugs are a reddish-brown or mahogany color. However, after consuming a blood meal, they turn a deeper reddish-purple color and their bodies swell and become more elongated. Adult bed bugs and bed bug nymphs are equipped with piercing mouthparts that they use for feeding. Bed bug nymphs look quite similar to adult bed bugs but are smaller; bed bug eggs are white to almost translucent, are usually found clumped together, and resemble grains of rice.
Are bed bugs dangerous?
Under normal conditions, bed bugs are not known to transmit a wide variety of diseases like many other parasitic pests. Though many have no reaction to bed bug bites, some individuals do experience allergic reactions. These bites can be very itchy and can also lead to secondary infections that require medical attention.
Another problem or danger associated with a bed bug infestation is the emotional stress they can cause. Being aware of the presence of bed bugs within your home can cause you and your family members to experience sleepless nights and become anxious and uncomfortable in your own home.
Why do I have a bed bug problem?
Like we mentioned previously, bed bugs can typically be found anywhere that large groups of people can be found because, like any pest, bed bugs prefer to live near their main food source. Bed bugs can be found inhabiting just about any public place where they hitchhike to and from by crawling onto a person’s clothing, bags, or other personal belongs. If a person picks up bed bugs in these areas, they may accidentally introduce the bed bugs into their home. However, bed bugs may also be introduced into homes through used furniture, mattresses, and box springs as well as in newly purchased clothing items.
Where are bed bugs commonly found?
Bed bugs can be found in a variety of different establishments and in public transportation vehicles; they are commonly found inside homes, apartment buildings, hotels, motels, office buildings, nursing homes, schools, daycare centers, dormitories, hospitals, shopping centers, and in airports, planes, trains, buses, and taxis.
Once bed bugs find their way inside a home, they typically infest sleeping areas first. If the infestation isn’t caught during its early stages and is allowed to spread, those bed bugs will move throughout the rest of your home hiding out in tight cracks and crevices in wooden head and foot boards, dressers, walls, floors, furniture, cabinets, closets, electronics, and wall voids, behind switch plates, outlets, and wooden molding, and even underneath piles of dirty laundry!
How do I get rid of bed bugs?
Bed bugs are very difficult pests to get rid of once they have found their way into a home or business. The easiest and most stress-free way to eliminate an infestation is to partner with a professional. At Biotherm Green Solutions, we provide Florida residents with a higher degree of pest control and a 100% bed bug extermination guarantee. In fact, it’s our motto! And at Biotherm, we are the only pest control company in Florida that focuses exclusively on bed bug control, providing customers with exceptional prevention, extermination, and treatment solutions. Our highly trained and experienced professionals provided tailored bed bug services including heat treatments/thermal remediation, chemical treatments, canine bed bug detection services, and preventative bed bug programs. To learn more about our bed bug control services or to schedule a free consultation, give the professionals here at Biotherm Green Solutions a call today!
How can I prevent bed bugs in the future?
The following tips can help reduce the chances of bed bugs finding their way into your Florida home:
When traveling, inspect your hotel or motel rooms for signs of bed bug activity before bringing belonging inside.
Keep suitcases, bags, clothing, and other personal belongings up off the floor.
After returning home from a trip, immediately unpack suitcases and place dirty laundry together in one area, preferably the laundry room.
Immediately begin to wash and dry clothing on a high heat cycle.
Vacuum out and wipe down the inside and outside of suitcases prior to storing.
When spending time in public places always keep belongings such as coats, bags, purses, backpacks up off of the ground.
Avoid purchasing used furniture, mattresses, or box springs for your home.
After purchasing clothing, wash and dry it on a high heat cycle immediately.
Vacuum your home’s floors and the seams of furniture, mattresses, and box springs on a regular basis.
Routinely change and wash bedding and inspect mattresses and box springs for signs of bed bugs during the process.