Bed bugs have reemerged as a serious global problem since the turn of the century, and Yakima County doesn't get a pass from these sneaky and gross pests. You might think only "dirty" places like fleabag motels get bed bugs, but the truth is anyone can get a bed bug infestation at any time. So they definitely need to be a part of your Yakima County pest control plan.
How To Identify A Bed Bug
Contrary to commonly held misconceptions, bed bugs are not invisible to the naked eye. They are tiny but not so tiny as to be microscopic. However, the fact that you can see them doesn't necessarily mean you will because they are so good at hiding. Couple that with the fact that they only come out while you're asleep, and you may never actually lay eyes on a live bed bug, even if you have a severe infestation.
If you want to see a bed bug, you'll have to go hunting for them. Look in the seams, creases, and buttons of your mattress. You may also find bed bugs under couch cushions, between carpet fibers, in electrical outlets, and more. If you spot a bed bug, you'll know them by their flat, oval shape and brown color. Bed bugs also have segmented abdomens much larger than their thoraxes and heads.
Bed Bug Infestations Only Get Worse With Time
Bed bug control is the most straightforward and cheapest when you catch the bed bug problem early. Bed bugs don't breed particularly fast, but because they are so sneaky about it, their population can balloon out of control before you catch on to their presence. This is why you need to contact local pest control for bed bugs immediately if you spot bed bug signs in your home, like bloodstains on the bed or bed bug bites. The longer you wait, the more expensive and more challenging it will be to get rid of the problem.
The Many Ways Bed Bugs Can Find Their Way Into Your Home
Bed bugs are successful at spreading because they trick you into being the vector that infests your own home. Most of the time, you pick up bed bugs in one of two ways: through travel or secondhand shopping. For instance, if you stay at a hotel or resort with a bed bug problem, you are incredibly likely to unknowingly bring bed bugs into your home. Likewise, if you frequent garage sales and thrift stores or purchase used furniture or appliances, you could easily purchase an item infested with bed bugs and bring them into your home.
For these reasons, the best bed bug prevention measures revolve around travel and shopping. To avoid an infestation:
- Don't secondhand shop if you can help it.
- If you must secondhand shop, check your purchases for signs of bugs before bringing them into the house.
- When traveling, always lift the sheets off your hotel mattress and check it for signs of bugs before you sleep on the bed.
- When returning from travel, wash and dry all clothes on the hottest setting possible.
Following these measures can help prevent you from ever needing a bed bug treatment in the first place.
The Most Successful Way To Get Rid Of A Bed Bug Infestation
If you wind up with a bed bug infestation, there's not a lot you can do about it on your own. Bed bug foggers and sprays mask the problem without actually solving it. Don't waste your time with them. Instead, call the best bed bug control in Yakima County, Prosite! Our bed bug experts can turn your bed bugs into dead bugs!