A Comprehensive Guide to Bed Bugs in the Southeast

Bed bug infestations are an unfortunate reality for us in Thomasville, especially if you travel frequently.

“Good night. Sleep tight. Don’t let the bedbugs bite” is a rhyme with debated origin that takes most adults back to childhood. Unfortunately, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), bed bug infestations have been on the rise here in the country, largely due to an increase in travel. Other contributing factors include this insect’s increased resistance to pesticides and ineffective pest control practices paired with a lack of knowledge about how to prevent bed bug infestations. 

With this in mind, our bed bug extermination specialists put together this comprehensive guide to help homeowners and business owners in Thomasville stay informed and know where to turn for help.

What Do Bed Bugs Look Like?

Adult bed bugs are small, wingless flat insects that are reddish-brown in color. Before they feed, they are about the size of a small apple seed. They feed on the blood of people and animals, which they do while we sleep. Bedbug eggs are white, curved, and about a quarter inch long. Newly hatched bed bugs are straw-colored or colorless. 

According to the Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH), people often confuse them with ticks or cockroaches.

4 Common Myths About Bed Bugs

Myth #1: Bed Bugs Can Fly

Reality: Bed bugs cannot fly or jump. However, they can crawl very fast over ceilings, floors, walls, and other surfaces. They can come into your home from other infested areas from used furniture or by attaching themselves to items placed on soft or upholstered surfaces such as backpacks, purses, or luggage. 

Myth #2: Bed Bugs Spread Disease 

Reality: While bed bugs feed on blood, they are not known to spread any diseases to humans. They can, however, be an annoyance because their bites can cause itching, lack of sleep, or allergic reactions. Bite marks are very similar to flea or mosquito bites. 

Myth #3: Bed Bugs Only Live in Dirty Places

Reality: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says that bed bugs can be found anywhere from five-star hotels and resorts to clean homes and living spaces. They travel easily between rooms in multi-unit buildings, such as apartment complexes and hotels.

Myth #4: Do-It-Yourself (DIY) Bed Bug Remedies Are Effective

Reality: DIY remedies alone cannot kill or get rid of bed bugs in your home or business. This means that while using alcohol, rubbing alcohol, vinegar, bleach, Lysol (or other similar cleaning and disinfecting products) can aid in killing bed bugs, these remedies alone won’t work as an effective treatment for bed bug infestation. And in certain cases, the safety and damage risks of using these DIY remedies outweigh any potential benefits.

How Do You Know If You Have Bed Bugs? 

You’ll if you have bed bugs if you spot signs of them, including dark spots (dried bed bug excrement) on mattresses or bedding, wallpaper, nightstands, and even electrical outlets in the wall. You may also notice the cast skins left behind as the bed bug grows. Bed bugs are small and hard to find. They move fast, and they are active mostly at night. This means they can be very difficult to identify or detect.

Bed Bug Prevention Tips

• Regular bed bug inspections are the best line of defense to help you avoid a bed bug infestation.
• Regularly inspect areas where pets sleep for signs of bed bugs, such as pepper-like stains, molted bed bug skins, and white, sticky eggs.
• Never bring second-hand furniture, especially mattresses and box springs, into a home or college dorm without thoroughly examining it for signs of a bed bug infestation.
• At hotels, thoroughly inspect the entire room before unpacking. Check behind the headboard and in furniture. Pull back the bed sheets and check the mattress seams for pepper-like stains that may be evidence of bed bug activity.
• If you suspect an infestation or problem, notify management and change rooms immediately. Be sure the new room is not adjacent to, directly below, or above the possibly infested room.
• Keep suitcases in plastic trash bags or protective covers during a hotel stay to prevent bed bugs from nesting there. Do not put them on the beds.
• Upon returning home from a trip, inspect all suitcases and other belongings before bringing them into the house.
• Wash all clothes (even those that have not been worn) in hot water and dry them using an extra-hot dryer setting.

The Most Effective Way to Get Rid of Bed Bugs 

No one wants to have their home or business infested by bed bugs, but if you do have them, the use of pesticides is only part of the recommended strategy for getting rid of them. According to the EPA, bed bug populations in certain parts of the country can develop resistance to certain pesticides. They recommend reaching out to qualified pest management professionals to help get rid of bed bugs in your home or business. 
Dixon Pest Services specializes in bed bug treatment in Thomasville. For a no-obligation estimate or to schedule a service appointment, contact us today!