Bed bug infestations have been on the rise in Texas since the turn of the millennium, forcing more and more homeowners to struggle with evicting these disgusting little parasites.
Bed bugs are small insects, most often less than a 1/4 inch in size, with a flat, apple seed-shaped body that's mahogany in color when unfed and changes to a reddish-brown as they fill with blood. All bed bugs have six legs and antennae. They have wing pads but no wings and, thankfully, cannot fly.
Bed bugs multiply by laying eggs, which go on to hatch into bed bug nymphs. Nymphs are tiny and almost invisible.
Let's take a quick look at signs of bed bug infestations to watch out for, how to prevent bed bugs from infesting your home, and if that fails, how to get rid of bed bugs and find reliable and effective pest control in San Antonio.
Early Warning Signs Of Bed Bugs
Because bed bugs are nocturnal and hide so well, chances of you being able to spot them until the infestation is in full swing are pretty slim. They spend most of their time hidden in places we would not even consider, like phones, inside mattresses, etc., and come out to feed between 12 and 5 a.m., hours when we're hard asleep.
Some of the signs of a bed bug infestation to watch for include:
- Molted bed bug skins.
- Bed bug eggs.
- Brown spots on the bedding.
- Blood spots on the bed.
The earliest sign of a bed bug infestation in San Antonio is bed bug bites, usually arranged in lines or clusters. Bed bugs bite as they move along your sleeping body, probing for capillaries. Unfortunately, bed bug saliva contains analgesics that make the bite pretty much painless, making people not even notice that they've been bitten for days, sometimes weeks.
How Bed Bugs Sneak Their Way Into Our Homes
Bed bugs in San Antonio are not much on running and have no ability to fly, so over the years, they've evolved into perfect hitchhikers, making their way to their next blood donor on clothing, used furniture, library books, etc. A suitcase sitting on the floor in a public transportation hub, or an infested chair in a restaurant or a hotel room, and you're carrying bed bugs back to your house. People living in apartment complexes face the risk of bed bugs crawling over from the apartment next door.
Easy Tips To Prevent Bed Bugs Catching A Ride Into Your Home
Bed bugs are masters at infiltration, but with a bit of common sense, bed bugs can be pretty easy to keep out of your San Antonio home.
- Keep luggage off the floor in public transportation and airports.
- Carefully inspect secondhand furniture.
- Wash and dry on hot clothes you wore on a trip as soon as you're back home.
- Vacuum luggage you've used on a trip.
A bed bug can wait over a year for its next meal, and even a single one brought into your home can be a start of a major infestation.
The Trick To Completely Getting Rid Of Bed Bugs
Unfortunately, with the increase in mobility in our society, the chances that you will be dealing with a bed bug infestation at some point are pretty high. If you are starting to see signs of bed bugs in your home, it's best to bring a professional San Antonio bed bug control expert on the job immediately.
At EnviroGuard, we've been helping San Antonio residents keep their homes pest-free using environmentally friendly treatments for over 40 years. If you suspect that you have bed bugs, give us a call for a free inspection and to learn more about our residential and commercial pest control services in San Antonio.