Bed bugs. Just the two words together are enough to make your skin crawl and start to itch. You can’t even talk about them without an overwhelming sense of dread filling your gut. To actually snuggle up with them at night is unimaginable! But sadly, you might have done just that in your travels over the summer.
Bed bugs have become a serious pest control problem In the US over the last decade or so. Once they were all but extinct in this country, only having a foothold in deplorable conditions where poverty and unhygienic conditions reigned. They’ve had quite a resurgence recently, much to our travelers’ collective horror.
No one is 100% sure how this has come to pass. Some blame other travelers coming from areas of the world where bed bugs still had a strong presence. Others say the tenacious bug has become resistant to our pesticides through injudicious use and overexposure. No matter how it began, it’s an issue. Hotels, motels and hostels have been the hardest hit by the issue. Larger cities like New York, LA and Chicago are suffering more than small towns. The Northeast has seen the worst of the problem so far but it is spreading.
Bed bugs are highly adapted to do just that – spread. These tough bugs are incredibly skilled hitchhikers who can catch a lift on anything from a pant cuff to a briefcase with equal ease. Their hiding skills are unmatched so they usually go undetected as they travel. Watching them disappear into a crevice where insecticide sprays can’t reach is almost like watching magic. Add to that the fact that they’re basically wearing body armor in the form of a hard shell and bed bugs seem practically unkillable.
You’ll know pretty soon if you’ve brought home an unwelcome house guest. You’ll start waking up in the morning with a rash or a series of tiny, itchy bumps. You might see brownish-red spots on the bedding or black flecks on the sheets or floor. These are your first warning signs of an infestation.
If you notice any of these symptoms, it’s time to call your Phoenix exterminator. The infestation will spread quickly to other rooms and especially bedrooms since they like a nice warm meal at night. It’s best to get a pro involved with this invader right away.
Bed bugs won’t give you the satisfaction of curling up and dying from an insecticidal spray like ants or spiders will. Commercially available products aren’t very effective against this foe. However, a pro has at least one tool that gets pretty great results: heat.
Bed bugs might be able to withstand a bug spray shower but they can’t handle extreme temperatures. They keel over in a hard freeze or under high heat treatments like steam.
If you thing something may have come home from vacation besides memories and a few tacky souvenirs, call your Phoenix bed bug specialist right away, before the problem spreads.
The post Did you Bring Home an Unexpected Guest Back from Vacation? appeared first on Invader Pest Management.
