Bed Bugs

What do bed bugs look like?

Bed bugs are insects that live indoors and travel worldwide on people and their belongings. They are difficult to avoid and frustrating to deal with after finding a way into your Arizona home or business. Bed bugs create a significant pest problem because their preferred food source is human blood, so they want to be where we live, work, and visit.

Accurately identifying a bed bug infestation is crucial in order to stop these pests before they have the chance to take over your home. If you suspect bed bugs, immediately reach out to Green Home Pest Control.

bed bug

Identifying features of an adult bed bud include:

A reddish-brown, apple seed shaped body
A body that is flattened from top to bottom
Three body parts consisting of a head, thorax, and abdomen
Six legs
Short antennae
Lack of wings
Specialized biting mouthparts
A sweet, musty odor emitted through glands on the side of the body

Are bed bugs dangerous?

Because they're not currently vectors of the diseases that make people ill, bed bugs aren’t as dangerous as other pests (mosquitoes and ticks) that feed on blood. Bed bugs are, however, unpleasant and unwanted pests to have in our homes. Problems that bed bugs cause people include leaving behind raised, red welts. Bed bug bites are itchy, and excessive itching can lead to secondary infections. They also stain mattresses, bedding, and other fabrics with blood and excrement.

Additionally, who can get a good night’s sleep when sharing a home with biting bed bugs? Sleepless nights and anxious days are a common side effect of a bed bug infestation.

Why do I have a bed bug problem?

Bed bugs have become a problem in your home either because you, a family member, or friend, have introduced them. These insects move from place to place by hitchhiking on our clothing or personal belongings. They are efficient crawlers and great at hiding away in the folds of clothing, bags, purses, and luggage.

Other ways these pests move into a structure is inside of used items like mattresses, box springs, and furniture. Doing laundry in a shared laundry facility may also allow you to come into contact with bed bugs and unknowingly introduce them into your home. Also, bed bugs move from room to room or unit to unit between walls and floors using wires and pipes as a highway.

Where will I find bed bugs?

If there are people, there is a possibility of bed bugs. Bed bugs live indoors with people making them a pest threat throughout the year. People come into contact with bed bugs in a variety of places, including:

Homes
Hotels and motels
Schools and dormitories
Shopping centers
Healthcare facilities
Movie theaters, museums, and libraries
Laundry mats
Airports, train stations, and bus stations

After being introduced into your home, bed bugs take cover during the day in dark cracks and crevices and within clutter. They hide out in mattresses and box springs in bedroom areas to have easy access to food sources. But, don’t be fooled, bed bugs don’t just stay in the bedroom; they will travel throughout your home, infesting many areas!

How do I get rid of bed bugs?

At Green Home Pest Control, we want to help you meet the goal of maintaining a bed bug-free structure. Our professionals protect Phoenix area homes and businesses from bed bugs through effective heat treatment, traditional treatment, and preventative treatment options.

We are committed to protecting your family from bed bugs. We take pride in offering exceptional customer service, and our experienced and friendly professionals will work with you to solve your property’s bed bug problem no matter how big or small it may be! Reach out to Green Home Pest Control today to learn more about safeguarding your property from biting bed bugs.

How can I prevent bed bugs in the future?

Use the following prevention tips to avoid problems with bed bugs:

Do not put personal belongings on the floor of a public place.
After buying clothing or taking clothing on a trip, immediately wash, and dry them on a high heat setting.
If an option, don’t purchase used mattresses or upholstered furniture.
After washing and drying items at a laundry mat, immediately take your clothing home to fold.
Put bed bug proof covers over mattresses and box springs to take away a bed bug’s favorite hiding spots.
Make sure to vacuum floors and wash bedding regularly.
Regularly inspect mattresses and box springs for telltale signs of bed bugs, such as drops of blood, dark streaks of excrement, and shed bed bug skins. At the first sign of bed bugs, contact a professional for help.

Learn more about our home pest control and commercial pest control offerings.