Bed Bug Identification & Prevention Guide For Alabama

What are bed bugs?

Bed bugs have an oval-shaped body, six legs, and are wingless. In order to move from host to host, bed bugs crawl onto people or our belongings. We then transport them, unknowingly, into our homes where they don’t hesitate to make themselves at home. Bed bugs that have recently fed are a bit easier to spot because after a blood meal, their body swells in a balloon-like manner and turns a deep purple color.

Blood-feeding pests that move onto people and our belongings with ease, bed bugs are a tough pest to avoid. Blood is the sole food source for bed bugs, and people are their favorite hosts. If we aren’t available, they will feed on other warm-blooded animals. Bed bugs can, however, survive for up to a year or more without eating if temperature and humidity levels are favorable.

Are bed bugs dangerous?

Bed bugs bite our skin to feed on our blood, which means they are not ideal to have in our homes. However, bed bugs are still mainly considered nuisance pests instead of dangerous pests because the spread of disease by them is not a concern so far. Bed bug bites can be itchy and excessive itching at the bite sites can create a secondary infection. Also, the presence of bed bugs is unnerving for people and leads to increased stress levels and sleepless nights.

Why do I have a bed bug problem?

Contact with bed bugs can happen in many different areas. Bed bugs want to be near food sources, so wherever there are people, bed bugs may potentially be present.

Places that people may come into contact with bed bugs:

A family or friend’s home
Hotels or motels
Shopping centers
Hospitals or other health care facilities
Airports, bus stations, cruise ships
Schools
Museums, libraries, movie theaters
Used furniture, electronics, mattresses, or box springs

Where will I find bed bugs?

Bed bugs are tricky pests to deal with as they do not make their presence well-known. But, if you know where some of the bed bug’s favorite hiding spots are, you certainly can find these critters and expose them.

Common areas of a home where bed bugs seek shelter include:

The seams of mattresses and box springs
Cracks in wooden furniture, walls, and floors
Behind wall hangings, clock, and pictures
Behind wall voids
Inside of electrical outlets and electronics
Under of clutter or piles of dirty laundry

In addition to seeing adult bed bugs, other signs they are present include the following:

Discovering blood stains or dark marks of excrement on linens, pillows, mattresses, or box springs.
As bed bugs move through the stages of development, they shed their skins. The shed skins will piles up under mattresses, along the floor, and other areas where the bed bugs have gathered.
Waking up with unexplained bug bites and experiencing an allergic reaction to the bed bug’s saliva.

How do I get rid of bed bugs?

If you are looking to eliminate bed bugs from your property, reach out to the professionals at Prewett Pest Control. Through advanced technology and convenient and modern services, we offer our customers exceptional bed bug control treatments. Get rid of bed bugs and keep them from returning to your residential or commercial property by reaching out to the professionals at Prewett Pest Control. Contact us today to learn more about our local and effective bed bug control services in Auburn, Mobile, Tuscaloosa, and the surrounding communities!

How can I prevent bed bugs in the future?

To help you stop bed bugs from taking over your Alabama property, we want to offer some easy-to-execute pest prevention tips:

Purchase used furniture, mattresses, and electronics with caution, knowing that they may be infested with bed bugs.
Minimize hiding spots within your home by keeping clutter to a minimum. Do not leave piles of dirty laundry on the floor for long periods.
Seals any cracks in your walls and floors.
Place covers over electrical outlets that aren’t in use.
Take the time to inspect your hotel or other rental space for bed bugs before bringing your personal belongings inside.
Be aware of your surroundings when in public places, and never leave personal belongings on the floor or near other people’s belongings.