In America, many people invest a lot of money to keep home invaders out. Even here in Kansas & Missouri, it is not uncommon to see homes with security systems in place. What if we informed you that even high-end security equipment can’t keep a certain kind of intruder out? What if we went further and said that YOU could be the reason these intruders got in the first place? Of course, we are not talking about human invaders but rather ones that are much much smaller.
By now you have probably figured out that we are talking about the elusive bed bug, a parasitic pest known for invading homes and disrupting sleep – but how do they get inside?
Even if your home was airtight without a single hole, gap, or opening for pests to get inside, bed bugs could still get in. This is because you let them in, or rather you carry them inside without knowing. Bed bugs are hitchhiking pests that travel from place to place by hiding items that we carry. From used clothing at the gym to a new couch you bought at a thrift store, bed bugs can be anywhere. All they need is to be carried inside a home and, once inside, they can settle down near your bed and feed on you while you sleep. Sound annoying? It is.
How You Can Prevent Bed Bugs
Now that you know how bed bugs invade, let's talk about some practical ways you can stop them from doing so. Keeping bed bugs away takes a little knowledge and some vigilance. This is because you have to: A) know what bed bugs look like and what signs they leave behind, and B) Keep a constant eye out for them when you are out and about.
Bed bugs are small oval-shaped, reddish-brown bugs that go through several phases before becoming adults. Researching these phases will help you better identify them. One way you can identify a bed bug infestation without seeing bed bugs is by looking for bloodstains, black fecal matter dots, and castings (a result of shedding between stages of growth.) These signs will show up around areas bed bugs have infested.
What To Do If Bed Bugs Get Past Your Defenses
It is not always easy to keep bed bugs out and sometimes, despite your efforts, you or someone you know may inadvertently bring them into your home. This is when it is time to call in the professionals. Here at Augustine Exterminators, we have been coming alongside homeowners like you to help with pest problems since 1966.
To find out why we are still the leading pest control company in the area after all these years, give us a call today!