BED BUG FACTS YOU MAY NOT HAVE KNOWN

Thanks in part to increased domestic and global travel and the decreased use of effective pesticides; bed bugs have become the most travelled insect in the world, despite the fact that they can’t fly. So how do they do it? These tiny, blood-sucking insects are incredibly sneaky and can hitch a ride in your suitcase, purse, backpack or diaper bag and quietly crawl out once you arrive back home and because of their elusive nature, you may not know you have a bed bug problem for several weeks. The most obvious clue that you may have a bed bug problem is waking up with bed bug bites on your skin, typically in a row of 3, but your local NJ, PA, MD, and DE pest control experts at Viking Pest Control warn there’s more to bed bugs than just their bites. Here’s the facts:

What Do I Need to Know About Bed Bugs?

• The name bed bug comes from their tendency to remain close to resting, sleeping people otherwise known as their dinner
• It takes a bed bug 3 to 10 minutes to feed
• The common bed bug, Cimex lectularius, prefers human blood, but can feed on all warm blooded animals
• Bed bugs can live up to 1 year without feeding, so even if you have been away, like in the case of college dormitories, you may still have a bed bug problem
• The eggs of bed bugs are the size of a speck of dust and extremely sticky; lay your suitcase down on them and they are going home with you
• The nymphs of bed bugs are the size of a pinhead and light tan in color
• In order to reach maturity, bed bugs molt their skin 5 times
• In order to shed their skin, they must have a blood meal
• Bed bugs are rarely seen during the day; if you do spot one in your home during the daytime hours, it may indicate that you have a severe bed bug problem and that the insect was pushed out of hiding due to overcrowding
• If you have a severe infestation of bed bugs, you may notice a sweet, musty odor in the air

If you have recently traveled and suspect you may have brought home more than memories and souvenirs, it is important that you contact your New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware and Eastern Shore of Maryland pest control experts at Viking Pest Control right away. Infestation of bed bugs can spread very quickly and the professionals at Viking Pest Control are ready to help. For more information on bed bugs and how to get rid of bed bugs, contact the local bed bug extermination experts at Viking Pest Control today.