It is important to recognize the signs of a bed bug infestation. The bed bug gets its name from its close association with humans and their beds. Bed bugs were introduced to the US by the early colonists. It was thought after World War II that bed bugs were eradicated in the US. In recent years, the numbers of incidents of people being bitten by bed bugs has increased exponentially in Raleigh, Charlotte, Wilmington and across the country.

How to Identify Bed Bugs

Bed bugs are small, oval, wingless insects that reach about 1/4 inch in length. They have flat bodies and are reddish-brown in color. Bed bugs feed by sucking blood from people or animals. They do not develop wings and cannot fly. Fortunately, they are not known to carry any diseases.

Where do Bed Bugs Come From?

Bed bugs are great hitchhikers and are easily transported. Their transmission points are points of high human occupancy like hotels, etc. Because of their flattened bodies, bed bugs hide in small crevices, particularly those associated with mattresses, box springs, bed frames and headboards. In addition, they may be carried as stowaways in luggage, furniture, clothing and boxes when these are moved between hotels, homes and apartments.

Bed Bug Biology

Under normal conditions, bed bugs can live for over 300 days. The female bed bug lays up to 5 eggs a day. These eggs are approximately 1 mm long, white and are glued in protected cracks and crevices. A female can lay over 500 eggs in her lifetime.

Where do you See Bed Bugs?

Usually people do not see bed bugs because the pests hide during the day. At night, bed bugs become active and are attracted to sleeping people and animals.

Bed bugs do not build nests but they do tend to congregate in habitual hiding places. These areas are marked by dark spotting and staining, which is the dried excrement of the bugs. You can also find eggs and eggshells, cast skins of nymphs and even the bugs themselves.

Another likely sign of a bed bug infestation is the presence of rusty or reddish spots of blood on bed sheets, mattresses and walls.

They may also be found along the edge of and under wall-to-wall carpet, behind pictures, switchplates and outlets, in clothing and inside clocks, televisions, phones and smoke detectors.

A sign of being bitten is the presence of small, red, itchy bumps on the skin.

Humans are bed bugs' preferred host.

Do-it-yourself ways to prevent the introduction of bed bugs into your home:

• Become familiar with the signs of an infestation
• When traveling, examine your hotel or motel room for the presence of bed bugs
• Bag suitcases and soiled clothing in plastic bags while in motel rooms
• Thoroughly examine all personal belongings before leaving for home
• Once home, remove soiled clothes from plastic bags, wash and dry immediately
• Seek the help of a licensed pest control operator such as Economy Exterminators

Economy Exterminators' bed bug control program uses the 3-step approach to solve your bed bug pest problem:

• Our 1st step is the inspection of your property by a Wilmington, Raleigh or Charlotte customer service specialist. It is very important to have this pest properly identified since there are other pests that are very similar, like bat bugs. Bed bugs can spread throughout a building, hide in cracks and crevices and come out at night. These are just a few of the areas that need to be inspected: mattresses, box springs, bed frames, wall coverings, pictures, light switches and electrical socket covers, drapes and stuffed chairs where carpets and baseboards intersect, etc. Bed bugs prefer wood over plastic and steel.
• The 2nd step is the initial treatment by a customer service specialist of all areas that the inspection revealed as critical areas. This can be a very extensive treatment taking hours depending on the severity of the infestation. Critical areas usually include the bedrooms, family rooms and any areas that humans rest or sleep. This service will require customer cooperation and prior preparation to get the best results possible.
• The 3rd step is our ongoing Economy Exterminators bed bug control program.