Do Bed Bugs Only Infest Dirty Homes?
It is believed by many that bed bugs don’t infest dirty homes. If this is what you thought, we have some bad news for you. Bed bugs don’t care how clean or dirty your home is. All that matters to these pests is that there are places for them to hide and a steady source of blood around for them to feed on nightly. As long as your home has hard to reach spaces, and a warm body or two sleeping there, bed bugs will want to be around.
Are Bed Bugs Too Small To See?
If you are playing hide and seek and can’t find someone, does that mean they are too small to see? Of course not! It simply means that they are really good at hiding. This is the case for bed bugs. Bed bugs stay out of sight so well by hiding when homeowners are awake. It is only after you have fallen into a deep sleep that these pests will emerge to feed.
Can Bed Bugs Spread Disease?
Up until just recently, bed bugs were believed to be harmless pests. A study from Penn Medicine performed in 2014, however, showed that bed bugs are able to carry and spread Trypanosoma cruzi, a parasite that causes Chagas disease. Thankfully, Chagas disease is not common in the United States and, therefore, is not often carried by local bed bugs.
Do Bed Bugs Invade Homes In The Same Way Other Pests Do?
Most pests live outdoors and invade homes through cracks, crevices, and openings. Bed bugs do not live outdoors but primarily inside, typically around areas where people sleep. To get from place to place, bed bugs hitchhike rides on items such as backpacks, luggage, furniture, clothing, electronics, and anything else they can hide inside.
Are Bed Bugs Impossible To Prevent?
There are many ways to avoid bed bugs, but no guaranteed way to prevent these invasive pests. To reduce your chances of a bed bug infestation, here are a few tips you should follow.
- Inspect hotel rooms for signs of bed bugs such as bloodstains, dots of reddish-black fecal matter, and small, almost see-through egg casings before settling in.
- Avoid leaving items in one place for more than 20 minutes while out in public.
- Before traveling home from vacation, store used clothing inside an airtight bag. Immediately after getting home, wash this clothing on high heat.
- Check used furniture and other used items for bed bugs and the signs they leave behind before purchasing them.
- Teach your family and friends about bed bugs.
The Best Way To Handle A Bed Bug Infestation
Once bed bugs invade a home, it is challenging to get them out. To save your wallet and sanity, get the experts at TNT Home & Commercial Services involved. Our team has the equipment and training needed to handle bed bug infestations of all shapes and sizes effectively.
Give us a call today or reach out to us through our website for any questions about our pest control methodology, or to schedule a bed bug inspection for your Houston home.