Bed Bug Identification & Prevention

Bed bugs might look like ticks or mites, but they’re insects. Though they have round, flat bodies that look similar to those of unfed ticks, bed bugs do, in fact, have three body parts and six legs. This means these blood drawers are not arachnids, despite their similar appearance to certain members of the arachnid family. Like ticks and fleas, bed bugs feed exclusively on blood. However, unlike fleas and ticks, bed bugs’ primary targets are humans. This means they’re found almost exclusively in human habitations and not wilderness areas.

Bed bugs do not carry diseases and are not venomous, which means they’re not considered dangerous. However, because they live in your bed and come out to feed on you while you sleep, they’re more than a nuisance. Bed bug bites can leave you with anxiety and insomnia because you know you may get them while sleeping.

Lengthy bouts of sleep deprivation can, in turn, cause you to develop all kinds of chronic health issues, from cardiovascular problems to diabetes to dementia. This means bed bugs might not be a short-term danger, but having them over the long term can be a problem.

Bed bugs are among the sneakiest pests on the planet, using you as a vector to start your own infestation. These bugs can hide in the most unbelievable places – from behind light switch covers to under keyboard keys. This allows them to lay in wait for unsuspecting victims. When they come into contact with people, they crawl into our clothes and belongings, going with us wherever we go next. If you stay in a hotel infested with bed bugs or purchase secondhand items infested with them, then congratulations! You’ve just started your own bed bug problem!

Bed bugs live up to their name, as the most convenient place for them to feed on you while you’re sleeping is, in fact, your bed. However, that doesn’t mean you won’t find them anywhere else. These sneaky bugs can hide out anywhere, from sofas to chairs to carpet fibers to appliances and even electronics. Basically, anywhere that has a tight crevice they can squeeze their bodies into is a place they can and will hide.

Unfortunately, once you have bed bugs, it’s virtually impossible to get rid of them on your own. Articles on the internet claiming that you can use essential oils or baking soda to get rid of bed bugs are mostly hokum. And store-bought bed bug fumigation sprays or foggers are also typically ineffective, not to mention these products can be dangerous to people or pets. The only way to eliminate a bed bug infestation once you have it is by contacting your local home pest control company for bed bug control.