Who doesn’t love their bed? On a hot summer day in Auburn, AL the cool quiet of the bedroom is preferable to anything else. However, Auburn residents aren’t the only people who agree – bed bugs feel the same way.
Bed bugs are some of the most common home infestations in the world, including right here in Auburn. These pesky bloodsuckers often enter homes completely unnoticed, but the problems they cause are certainly noticeable. Let’s explore what these pests look like and the problems they cause to Auburn residents.
Bed Bug Identification Tips
Usually, people don’t notice immediately when they have a bed bug infestation. Rather, Auburn homeowners wake up with small, itchy welts. Since these pests are quiet, undetected insects, what do they actually look like?
Bed bugs only grow about 5mm long or about ⅕ of an inch. They are light brown or reddish-brown in color, though they often grow darker once they’ve ingested blood. That’s why bed bugs like your home: these nocturnal critters drink blood from exposed skin on your body – usually your forearms and shins.
Bed bugs have a small head and larger, apple seed-shaped body, as well as six legs and two short antennae. If you see them in your bed or around your furniture, it will most likely be at dusk or dawn.
These pests are known as hitchhikers because they move from place to place on items. A bed bug will latch onto an article of clothing or possibly a book bag and stay there until you get home. Only then does it crawl out and start crowding around the couch or bed. Bed bugs are usually picked up in high traffic areas, such as schools, airports, bus stops, hotels, and libraries. Additionally, they might already be hiding in someone’s used furniture and appliances, or even in grocery bags or shipping boxes.
Since these pests can get it from anywhere, it’s important to ask: are they dangerous to my family?
The Dangers Of Bed Bugs
The good news is, bed bugs don’t pose an immediate danger to your health. However, these pests can be harmful over time, and the longer you wait to deal with an infestation, the worse it can get.
Untreated bed bug problems pose the following health concerns to Auburn residents:
- Insomnia. Simply having these pests around the house can make people lose sleep.
- Secondary infections. Bed bugs themselves do not transmit disease, but the welts from scratching can allow other diseases in.
- Anemia. If bed bugs stick around long enough, the blood and mineral loss from these bloodsuckers can cause anemia.
- Psychological distress. Your once safe bed is no longer a sanctuary.
Getting Rid Of Bed Bugs In Auburn Homes
Finally, bed bugs are a problem because they are so difficult to remove from your home. Since bed bugs are so small, they fit inside the tiniest spaces and hide anywhere on your property. They will wait in the cracks of your home until you’re fast asleep, and only then do they crawl onto your bed and feast. When bed bugs find their way onto your Auburn property, your best solution is to contact the bed bug professionals at Prewett Pest Control.
Our comprehensive plan will keep these pests from ever bothering you again. Reach out today, and let’s take your bed back from bed bugs.