The holiday season is winding down. The hustle and bustle of Christmas events, Christmas concerts, Christmas parties, and Christmas visitors was seen and felt all around the world. Did you have visitors coming into town for Christmas? One thing that you will want to be careful of is that you do not have bed bugs lingering in any of your spare bedrooms after the visitors leave town.
What Do Bed Bugs Look Like?
Bed bugs differ in color. Unfed adults bed bugs are mahogany in color; bed bugs that are nice and full are red-brown in color; and nymphs are almost colorless. They are a flat oval when they are not full but they swell and elongate when they have eaten. They have six legs and antennae. They range are about ΒΌ inch in size on average. Bed bugs can be found throughout the United States.
Where Do Bed Bugs Hide During the Day?
Bed bugs get their name due to their habit of feeding on humans while they sleep in their beds. Bed bugs are hard to find because they are so sneaky. They live in cracks and crevices so they can be hard to find. You can find them anywhere that people gather including homes, hotels, schools, office, stores, and public transportation. Many times they are frequent visitors of hotels. Bed bugs are nocturnal creatures. They hide in baseboards, cracks, crevices, bedding, furniture, mattresses, and box springs. Bed bugs are also known to hide in electrical switch plates, pictures frames, and wallpaper at times as well. They will find their way into suitcases, boxes, and shoes so that they can travel from one location to another. When nighttime comes they will come out and feed for 5-10 minutes on blood. Just one feeding will fill them for 5-10 days before they need to feed again.
Signs of Bed Bugs
If bedbugs are feeding on your family there are some signs that you can look for. You may notice blood spots, feces, or skins on your sheets. You will probably notice bed bug bites on your skin. They typically feed on parts of the body that are exposed when you are sleeping like your hands, face, neck, shoulders, legs, and arms. Many times bed bug bites are grouped together. They are small red marks that are frequently itchy. Not all people react to bed bug bites in the same manner. Sometimes it takes a few days before you will notice symptoms of bed bug bites. If you develop a rash after being bitten by a bed bug or if your bites become infected you will want to contact your doctor immediately.
Bed Bug Pest Inspections & Control Services in Austin, Round Rock, Leander, Pflugerville & Cedar Park, Texas
So if you have bed bugs what do you do? You will want to immediately wash your bedding and vacuum your mattress. A-Tex Pest Management recommends washing the bedding throughout your entire home just to be safe. They can be hard to get rid of once they are in your home. Here at A-Tex Pest Management we provide bed bug services. Give us a call today and we can help you get rid of any bed bugs that may be hiding in your spare bedroom!
