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from What causes bed bug problems? Are bed bug bites itchy? There's a lot to know if you're dealing with a bed bug infestation. Here's what Westchester County homeowners should know about how to identify a bed bug problem, why they don't want bed bugs in their home, the problem with DIY methods for bed bug control, and the best way to completely get rid of bed bugs with pest control in Westchester County.
How To Identify A Bed Bug Infestation
Because bed bugs are more active at night and their bites tend to be painless at first, not everyone may realize they have a bed bug problem immediately. Here are the signs of bed bugs and how to identify an infestation:
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You or someone in the house wakes up with itchy, red welts after sleeping.
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There's an odd, musty odor emanating from your bedroom, living room, or other areas of high bed bug activity.
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You're finding tiny bloodstains on your pillows, sheets, or mattress.
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You're seeing dark, rusty spots, discarded exoskeletons, or eggshells around sleeping areas or furniture.
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You're finding dead or live bed bugs around your home.
If you've spotted one or more of these signs, you can check for bed bugs by removing your bedding and looking closely at your mattress, sheets, box spring, and the seams in the wood framing. But bed bugs don't just hide in your sleeping area, these critters can hide inside books, carpets, electrical outlets, and other furniture in your home too.
While the itchy welts they leave behind are often one of the first indicators that you may have bed bugs, it's important to note that not everyone may have a physical reaction to a bed bug bite—but that doesn't mean you aren't getting bitten.
Why You Don't Want Bed Bugs Hanging Around Your House
There are a couple of reasons you don't want bed bugs hanging around your house. Not only is a bed bug's favorite pastime biting you and drinking your blood, but they can also be extremely difficult to get rid of once you have them. Bed bugs are small, usually only growing to be the size of an apple seed, and they multiply quickly. A female bed bug can produce a new egg each day, so it doesn't take long for a couple of bed bugs to spiral into a full-blown infestation.
Something else to be aware of is that bed bugs are capable of surviving without blood for up to 400 days. This means that homeowners often assume they've gotten rid of their bed bugs when in fact, the remaining bed bugs hide and wait for the right time to feed.
The Problem With Do-It-Yourself Bed Bug Control
It's not uncommon for homeowners to turn to DIY bed bug control when they discover an infestation, especially if they're looking to save a little time and money. Unfortunately, home remedies and do-it-yourself pest control rarely accomplish the goal. To completely get rid of bed bugs in your home, you've got to kill every single bed bug, egg, and nymph. If there are even one or two eggs left, the bed bugs will continue reproducing and rebuild the infestation all over again.
Most DIY methods aren't effective enough to kill every single bed bug in the home, especially once the infestation has grown. As bed bugs reproduce, they may have multiple hiding spots in your home, which can make them even harder to locate and eliminate. Added to that, many of these products only target mature bed bugs, so while the problem may seem to disappear, once the unaffected eggs hatch, the infestation returns in full force. Not to mention, a lot of OTC pesticides can be toxic to pets or people when you spray them in larger amounts, so trying to control bed bugs on your own can put you or your pets at risk.
The Best Way To Completely Get Rid Of Bed Bugs In Your Home
The best way to completely get rid of bed bugs in your home is by working with local pest control for bed bugs. At Parkway Pest Services, we've been working to combat bed bugs and other harmful pests for more than fifty years. Our priority is excellent customer service and effective pest control solutions for your Westchester County home.
If you're worried that you may have a bed bug infestation in Westchester County or have recently discovered these pests in your home, don't wait for the problem to get worse. Contact us today at Parkway Pest Services to learn more about how our bed bug control services work!
