When homeowners plan for their pest control in Savannah, they often make the mistake of focusing on the pests they can see. However, bed bugs are a common home-invading pest that often goes unnoticed and, therefore, untreated. When protecting your Savannah home, be sure to cover all of your pest bases to ensure a healthy home and a healthy you.
What Bed Bugs Look Like
Bed bugs are tiny, parasitic insects. Parasites are living things that derive their sustenance from a host, or another living creature. Typically, they receive nourishment without the host's knowledge and they offer nothing back in return. In fact, many parasites are actually a detriment to their host.
Bed bugs require blood meals from warm-blooded mammals in order to survive and grow. We are a popular food choice for bed bugs and they are excellent at seeking us out. Bed bugs can actually sense movement from large mammals and can detect carbon monoxide from the air we breathe out.
Bed bugs in Savannah are about the size and shape of an apple seed and appear reddish-brown before they have fed. Once they have fed, they become engorged and take on a plump and dark appearance.
The Symptoms Of A Bed Bug Infestation
If you are imagining what causes bed bugs to be attracted to someone's home, you may be picturing that only exceptionally filthy homes attract bed bugs. This is a common misconception when it comes to bed bugs. While dirty spaces do nothing to help a bed bug infestation, it is not the driving factor.
Anyone can fall victim to a bed bug infestation, as they are incredible hitchhikers. Bed bugs often hitchhike on used furniture, clothes, and visitors. Once inside your home, they have no reason to hide, as they are aware they are guaranteed a constant food source. Savannah residents can also pick up bed bugs from places with heavy foot traffic, such as hotels, theaters, and public transportation. Bed bugs will often be found in textiles, wallpaper, and bedroom furniture. They are notoriously fond of mattress folds, box springs, and headboards; this is because bed bugs are nocturnal and do their feeding at night when their hosts are sleeping and vulnerable.
Signs of a bed bug infestation include:
- Finding the shed skins of bed bugs: Bed bugs shed their skins during molting or growing stages. These shells look like pale, thin bed bug husks.
- Finding fecal staining on mattresses and upholstery: Fecal staining looks like mold or dark, reddish-brown specks.
- Seeing bite marks, particularly on the arms and legs: Bed bug bites are usually red, itchy, and arranged in a linear pattern.
These red flags could indicate a bed bug infestation is present in your Savannah home. It is important to eradicate a bed bug infestation as soon as it is found. A single female bed bug can lay up to five eggs per day; as such, bed bug infestation can get out of hand fast.
Why It's Impossible To Get Rid Of Bed Bugs On Your Own
The only natural pest control for bed bugs that a homeowner can perform is prevention. Preventing bed bugs from sneaking their way into your home can save homeowners time and money in the long run. Homeowners should inspect all secondhand items outside of their house before bringing them inside. Secondhand furniture and upholstered items should be immediately steam-cleaned or washed and dried on high heat before use. Additionally, homeowners should check hotel rooms and public seating before making themselves comfortable. Lastly, after a trip, examine luggage carefully before bringing it home. These simple tips can make the difference between a bed bug-free home and a full-blown infestation. Once bed bugs have entered the home, they procreate rapidly and are excellent hiders. Their tiny size and nocturnal nature make them almost impossible to spot until the infestation is intense.
Call The Pros At The First Sign Of Bed Bugs In Your Home
If you suspect you are sharing your home with bed bugs, then working with a professional team is a must to properly remove these pests from your Savannah home. For bed bug control that actually works, reach out to Prestige Pest Control. At Prestige Pest Control, we perform thorough inspections and use modern technology to rid your Savannah home of all bed bugs. Our products are EPA-certified so that you and your family can rest easy. With more than 30 years of experience, you can't go wrong with Prestige Pest Control. For quality pest control, reach out to Prestige Pest Control today.