Why Are There Bed Bugs In My Phoenix Home?

Bed bugs are a tiny pest that most people have a lot of misconceptions about, and clearing up fiction from facts is the first step in protecting your home. One of the most common myths about bed bugs is that they are too small to see with the human eye, but the reality is that they are about the size of an apple seed. Bed bugs are a reddish-brown color with an oval-shaped body, and they usually appear flat unless they’ve just eaten.

While bed bugs in Phoenix, Arizona aren’t known to spread any diseases, they are still a very unpleasant pest to deal with as they feed on human blood and will bite you while you're sleeping. Bed bugs can sense the increased carbon dioxide people emit while sleeping which lets them know when it's the perfect time to get a meal.

Another common misconception about bed bugs is that they only invade dirty homes. Many people have heard that bed bugs love filthy environments, but the truth is that bed bugs can happen to anyone. The reason for this is because of how bed bugs get around. They don’t come around in search of unclean places to live but instead can be picked up during general travel as they are hitchhikers that will latch onto things like purses, luggage, and backpacks.

How Do Bed Bug Infestations Begin?

The main way that a bed bug infestation starts is by picking them up while running errands or traveling outside of your home. While you could inadvertently pick up bed bugs almost anywhere, including other people’s homes, there are some places that bed bugs are most likely to be. These bed bug hot spots include buses, hotels, laundromats, hospitals, and schools.

While it can be difficult to keep from picking up bed bugs since they are hard to see, you can follow some prevention steps when in these hotspots. First of all, try not to put purses and luggage on the ground or next to beds and other cloth items. Secondly, when using shared laundry facilities, always transport your laundry in a plastic bag. And, thirdly, whenever you’re using hotels and other shared rooms, check for signs of bed bugs.

Can Bed Bug Infestations Start In Other Ways?

Overall, it’s way more common to get bed bugs by picking them up outside of your home. However, these infestations can also start by bringing in second-hand items that are already infested. While mattresses are one of the main culprits, bed bugs can also infest clothing, curtains, bedding, and other upholstered furniture.

To avoid bringing bed bugs into your home, you should look out for these signs on second-hand goods:

• Rust-colored stains created from bed bug feces

• Dried blood stains from bed bug bites

• Discarded, yellow bed bug skins

• Cream-colored eggshells

How To Remove Bed Bug Infestations

The truth is that, no matter how diligent you are about bed bug prevention, you could still end up with an infestation. Bed bugs are extremely difficult to prevent, so if you do notice bed bugs around your home, the best way to remove them is through residential pest control from the expert team at Green Home Pest Control.

At Green Home Pest Control, we are focused on providing safe, environmentally friendly bed bug control treatments, and we offer a variety of methods including heat treatment and traditional pesticide options. Get started with effective bed bug removal by requesting a free quote online or over the phone.