Don't Let The Bed Bugs Bite: The Effective Control Solution For Your Longview Home

Your home is your sanctuary. It is where you rest after a long day of work. It is where life happens, and where your family celebrates important milestones, milestones such as birthdays, graduations, and anniversaries. It is no place for bed bugs. But it is hard to keep bed bugs out of your home. They are hitchhiking pests that can enter your home from many places, some of which may surprise you. Today, we're going to give you a few easy facts to remember that may just prevent you from getting bed bugs or having to pay for a bed bug treatment. We'll tell you how to catch bed bugs before they catch you by surprise. We'll tell a few simple facts about the dangers so that you don't have to fear these insects as you watch for them. We'll end by sharing the best way to eliminate bed bugs in your home. If you already have an infestation and you need help immediately, remember that your Gecko Pest Control service team is here to provide advice and service options. We offer state-of-the-art and science-based pest control in Longview. Your solution is right here. Jump to our contact page to connect with us.

Identifying Bed Bugs: Signs And Symptoms Of An Infestation

Knowing how to detect bed bugs in Longview is the cornerstone of bed bug control. It is not only useful for helping you find bed bugs in your home but for preventing them as well. But there are many misconceptions about bed bugs that could lead you in the wrong direction. Let's zero in on the facts that matter most and look at how you can detect the signs and symptoms of an infestation.

Where Bed Bugs Hide: We're often asked, "Can you see bed bugs?" The answer is yes. You can see bed bugs. But, when these bugs start to bite, you may wonder whether or not you are getting bed bug bites, not because bed bugs are invisible to the eye, but because they hide from view. The first thing you should know about these pests is where they hide.

• In the seams of mattresses and box springs
• Under the feet of beds and furniture
• In recesses, cracks, and gaps
• Within voids
• Between mattresses and box springs
• In rips, holes, and tears
• Under labels
• Around vent grommets
• Behind crown molding and baseboards
• Along carpet edges
• Inside bags, pocketbooks, and luggage

Check every tight space and every dark void. Use a flashlight and a butter knife (or debit card) to help you bring evidence to the surface.

What Bed Bug Bites Are Like: When you get bites on your skin, how will you know bed bugs are to blame? Do bed bug bites itch? Is there a pattern to bed bug bites? When you're away from home, it is essential that you keep watch for bites so you can take steps to prevent bed bugs from hitching a ride home with you. Here are a few tips.

• Bites are sometimes slight at first and you may not see them at all.
• Bites worsen over time and become itchy and uncomfortable.
• Advanced infestation can lead to welts on the skin.
• Bed bug bites are associated with an extensive rash.
• Bed bugs feed in groups, so you'll find the bite wounds in one area.
• Bed bugs move across the skin as they bite, so the bites should look like a trail.
• Early bites can look like an allergic reaction to food or fabrics.

You can't conclusively detect bed bugs by examining bites. Many insects bite, and some insects, like the carpet beetle, can cause an allergic reaction that produces a bumpy rash that looks a bit like bed bug bites. But you can use these tips to help you zero in on the culprits.

What Bed Bugs Look Like: The best way to detect bed bugs is to see them. But you may not recognize a bed bug when you see it. They often look different from the pictures you see on news reports. Here are a few identifying traits to consider.

• Bed bugs start as pale insects that are a mere 1/26 of an inch long.
• When a baby bed bug draws a blood meal, it looks like a tiny red insect because the blood is visible within its body.
• As bed bugs grow, they become tannish yellow. If you see one of these nymphs, you may notice red blood in its body or black fecal matter.
• Bed bugs are oval or seed shaped and have six legs.
• Adult bed bugs are a rusty color and look like apple seeds.

When you see bed bugs, it is time to take defensive measures. Put all of your clothing in a sealed plastic bag and launder the items when you get home. Start by putting them in your dryer for more than thirty minutes. Heat kills bed bugs in all stages of development. Then, you can run them through the wash and dryer cycle as normal. 

Evidence Of A Bed Bug Infestation: When you're away from home, you may detect bed bugs without seeing bites or finding these insects. They leave subtle signs. Look for these when you are on vacation, spending the night away from home, at work or school, in public venues, or traveling by public transportation.

• Bed bugs leave black fecal spots on fabrics and black streaks on hard surfaces.
• Bed bugs excrete blood and this can produce brown stains.
• Bed bugs shed their skins several times as they develop. These skins are white or yellowish.
• Bed bugs have an odor that some compare to coriander.

If you detect bed bugs in your home, contact a licensed professional. These pests are extremely hard to eliminate. A pest control service provider uses methods and materials known to effectively get rid of all bed bug activity. If you're in Longview, contact Gecko Pest Control for assistance.

Bed Bug Infestation Dangers: Physical And Mental Health Risks

How bad are bed bug bites? As you keep watch for bed bugs, you don't have to fear them. These insects aren't nearly as bad as you've probably heard. Let's take a look at the good news first.

• There are no reports of disease transmission between bed bugs and humans. So, unlike a tick, flea, or mosquitoes, these biting pests aren't likely to make you sick.
• Bed bugs don't have venom. Unlike a wasp, bee, or fire ant, they aren't going to cause painful wounds.
• Bed bug bites are usually just unsightly and annoying. When you're first bitten, you won't enjoy finding the bites, particularly if you plan to hang out at the beach for the day. But they aren't going to cause the kind of itchy misery mosquito bites do.

Keep these things in mind when bed bugs interrupt your vacation. But, when they get into your home, they can cause trouble over time. Here are a few facts you should know about a prolonged bed bug infestation.

• Continued bites can lead to anemia.
• Bed bugs can cause you to lose sleep, which can have harmful consequences.
• Bed bugs can cause mental trauma for some.
• Bed bugs make it hard to get together with family and friends at your home.
• Not dealing with an infestation early can lead to higher pest control costs.

Now that you know a bit about how to detect bed bugs and what the dangers are, let's look at why they're so hard to stop. Let's quickly look at how they get into your home.

Unwanted Guests: Common Causes Of Bed Bug Infestations

You know that hotels and motels are common places to pick up bed bugs, but these are far from the only places you can get bed bugs. It is helpful to know where bed bugs are acquired and how bed bug infestations start. Here are a few quick facts.

• Bed bugs can go from home to home in used furniture (beds, couches, chairs, pianos, alarm clocks, and more).
• Bed bugs can pass through walls from one home to another.
• College-age kids can bring bed bugs home.
• Young children can bring bed bugs home from sleepovers.
• You can get bed bugs from work, even if you work in an office space.
• You can get bed bugs when visiting someone in assisted living.
• You can get bed bugs at a movie theater or when getting a library book.

Do you see the challenge? Bed bugs are in many places you wouldn't expect. You need to keep watch continually to catch them before they come home with you. Don't let your guard down.

Eliminating Bed Bugs: The Smart Solution For Your Home

Bed bug control requires a systematic and multi-pronged approach that is best applied by a licensed technician. A technician will evaluate the conditions of the infestation, track the bed bugs, and select a range of products to control and monitor the infestation. If you need bed bug control in Longview, please contact Gecko Pest Control for bed bug control near you. We use science-based products and methods developed by industry experts. You'll get the professional results you want and start getting the sleep you desperately need. Connect with us by phone, email, or text for assistance in Longview or the surrounding area. If you aren't in our area, look for a company like Gecko Pest Control. One that is a member of the National Pest Management Association and offers a 30-Day Guarantee, so you can say goodbye to those irritating pests.