For such a little creature, these parasites create waves of disgust at the thought that they may be lurking in your home sucking blood out of everyone in it. They have a well-deserved reputation, for as little as these tiny vampires are they are also notoriously hard to eliminate and quickly spread throughout your home.
While you know where they are usually found and that they are nocturnally feeding on you and your family as you sleep, you may assume that you are immune to the issue. Bedbugs are hitchhikers that get into your home by being brought in on things like purses, backpacks, secondhand furniture or other items that are already infested.
As small as these creatures are, they can be spotted with the naked eye if you know what to look for. Some of the things to look for when diagnosing if you have an infestation include:
- Small, reddish-brown bugs that can get as big as an apple seed but no larger
- They are flat and round unless they have recently fed
- They have disproportionate heads in relation to their bodies
What makes them hard to get rid of?
Once you have noticed them in your home, you will try to eliminate them as quickly as you can, but you will likely find your methods are ineffective and that their population will easily bounce back. This happens for a couple of reasons.
The first reason is that they multiply very rapidly. One female produces an egg a day which means their numbers increase at a frightening rate and their numbers are hard to reduce, especially if your attempts don’t kill all the bugs.
Second, bedbugs don’t have to feed very often. They only must have about one feeding a week to survive. So, they spend a lot of time digesting their meal and staying hidden from sight, which makes it difficult to get every bug, since they are not always out looking for their next meal.
Why Are DIY Methods Ineffective?
Another reason that bedbugs are hard to get rid of is that it is difficult to get them in each stage of their life cycle. Effective bug control means that not only do the bugs need to be killed, but their eggs must also be eliminated. If not destroyed, the eggs simply hatch and continue to reproduce and the life cycle continues. DIY methods do not usually locate and kill all bugs or eggs, due to their large numbers and their ability to hide in the small nooks and crannies of your home. Pesticides that you buy in stores are not usually sufficient to kill all eggs and bugs. Bed bugs are resistant to some insecticides and if even a few survive the infestation can come back.
Because the over-the-counter methods do not work very well, the best method you can use to eliminate your problem is to seek professional help. If you suspect you have a bed bug infestation, contact All-Natural Pest Control at 877-662-8449 for an inspection. We can eliminate your bud bug problems for you, so contact us today to help you with your pest control needs.
