If you’ve got a bed bug problem in Philadelphia, here’s what you need to know to identify the culprits.
Seasonal Pests In Montgomery County
When seasons change, so do the types of pests trying to invade your home. For instance, wasps and mosquitoes are considered spring and summer pests here in Montgomery County. These pests begin hatching from hidden eggs, come spring, and grow in populations right up to the end of summer.
When fall comes and the weather starts cooling down, pests like rodents, cockroaches, and spiders become common pests. These creatures seek warm homes to avoid unfriendly conditions out in the chilly weather. Once inside, these pests will settle in and begin to reproduce, growing exponentially in numbers throughout the winter months. This can turn into major problems, come spring.
Identifying Bed Bugs
Bed bugs aren’t always easy to identify. Many mistake them for other tiny pests like carpet beetles, ticks, and fleas. So, if you suspect you’ve got bed bugs, here’s what to look for:
- Small Bodies, usually only three-sixteenths to one-quarter of an inch long.
- A long, flat oval-shaped body which can appear more rounded if the they've recently fed.
- Brown to reddish-brown coloration.
- Typical insect features — antennae, six legs, and a segmented body.
Ensuring proper identification is key. If not properly identified, a bed bug infestation can quickly spiral out of control. But many people suffering from a bed bug infestation might not even see the live parasites at all. So, you have to rely on other signs of the infestation.
How To Know If You've Got Bed Bugs
Bites are often the first sign of a problem and a good reason to suspect you may have an infestation.
Bed bug bites appear as small red marks on the hands, neck, face, shoulders, and arms — areas of skin commonly left exposed while we sleep.
As a parasite, bed bugs feed on our blood for sustenance. And like other parasites, you probably won’t feel a bite from a bed bug as it feeds. The good news is that bed bugs aren’t known to spread diseases. They can’t fly or jump, and the range of their infestation is usually limited. But that doesn’t make them any less of a nuisance.
Bite marks are a good clue that you have a bed bug problem but aren’t always a reliable indication of an infestation; other small parasites like fleas, can leave similar marks.
More reliable bed bug infestation indicators are bloodstains on sheets, dark spots caused by bed bug droppings, shed skins, eggs, and eggshells.
Where Bed Bugs Hide
Just because they’re called “bed bugs” doesn’t mean they live exclusively on your mattress, sheets, and pillows. You’re an easy target when you’re fast asleep in your bed, but that’s not the only area of your home or apartment where bed bugs may be lurking.
Bed bugs commonly congregate in the folds of curtains, and the seams of upholstered furniture. Also, you may find them clustered under cushions and in dark areas underneath upholstered couches and chairs.
But it’s not just furniture. People have found bed bugs in household electronics and appliances like alarm clocks, lamps, and more.
If a bed bug infestation is left untreated, it’s only a matter of time before the problem becomes unbearable. In just three months, a single pregnant female bed bug can lay up to 1000 eggs. That’s a lot of parasites invading your home.
The Professional Solution
If you see signs of bed bugs in your Philadelphia home,call the professionals at M.A.D. Exterminators, Inc. right away. M.A.D. Exterminators is a family owned and operated pest control company dedicated to providing you with the highest quality solutions. Our experts will properly identify and eliminate bed bugs so you can rest easy again. Get in touch with us today.
