Bed Bugs

What are bed bugs?

Bed bugs are flat, oval-shaped, reddish-brown insects (resembling an apple seed) that can travel across cities and countries with people through the act of hitchhiking. The insects are ectoparasites, feeding on the blood of their hosts from the outside of their bodies. Bed bugs in Lake Orion, MI will feed on human and animal blood, but people are their preferred hosts.

Additional physical features of a bed bug include:

• About 1/4 inch long when fully grown
• Six legs
• Short antennae
• Wingless
• A proboscis, which is a tube-like mouthpart for feeding

Are bed bugs dangerous?

A bed bug bite will affect every person differently; some will experience no reaction, while others will experience a red, raised, itchy rash. Those who experience a rash are prone to developing secondary infections at the bite site from excess itching.

In addition to physical reactions to bed bug bites, having these pests living in your home is stressful and can lead to a lack of quality sleep. Bed bugs are currently not a significant vector of disease, but their presence still requires swift action. Bed bugs are quick breeders and, without professional treatment, can develop substantial populations in a short period of time.

Why do I have a bed bug problem?

There are several ways that bed bugs can find a way into your home or business. The most likely reason is that they were introduced by people or on our belongings. Bed bugs are found wherever there are people. It is common to come into contact with them in a public place where they then climb onto you or your belongings, and then you accidentally introduce them into your home.

Bed bugs hitchhike into new locations on things like used clothing, furniture, mattresses, and rugs. If bed bugs live in a multi-unit building like an apartment building, they can also move from unit to unit through spaces behind walls or under floors and doors.

It is essential to note that a bed bug infestation can happen to anyone in any home. Bed bugs are hitchhikers and move from place to place with us, wherever we take them. Having a bed bug infestation is not a reflection of how clean you keep your home. Bed bugs care less about the cleanliness of their environment and more about the availability of food sources.

Where will I find bed bugs?

There are a wide variety of places where people commonly come into contact with bed bugs; examples include the following:

• Family or friends' homes
• Hotels and motels
• Airports and bus stations
• Dormitories and schools
• Hospitals
• Shopping centers and movie theaters

Bed bugs are nocturnal and rest during the day and emerge at night to feed, finding their way to sleeping human or animal hosts at night. They are attracted to our body heat and the carbon dioxide we produce as we breathe. Some of their favorite hideouts within our homes include the seams of mattresses and upholstered furniture, under rugs, behind wall hangings, and inside electrical outlets. Spaces behind door trim, cracks in walls, and underneath piles of clutter are other favorite hideouts.

How do I get rid of bed bugs?

Trust Wells Pest Control to rid your Michigan home or business of bed bugs. With more than 18 years of pest control experience, you can put your trust into our knowledgeable and dedicated professionals. We take pride in building close relationships with our customers and working together to ensure that your property’s unique pest control needs are met.

Our bed bug services include a free inspection, an effective treatment, follow-up visits, and a six-month warranty. To learn more about saying goodbye to your Lake Orion area property’s bed bug problems, reach out to Wells Pest Control today!

How can I prevent bed bugs in the future?

The following prevention tips can help prevent bed bugs from taking over your home:

• Use bed bug-proof covers on mattresses and box springs to keep bed bugs from hiding within their seams.
• Before bringing secondhand furniture into your home, check it over for bed bugs.
• Remove areas of clutter from your home.
• When traveling, always inspect your accommodations for signs of bed bugs before bringing your belongings inside.
• If possible, do not place your personal belongings on the floor of public places for long periods.
• When at school or work, make sure to keep your personal belongings away from other people’s belongings.
• Vacuum your home often to pick up stray bed bugs.
• Cover power outlets to keep bed bugs from moving through them and into wall voids.
• Regularly inspect your bedding and pet bedding for bed bugs.

Learn more about our home pest control and commercial pest control solutions.