Common Myths Associated With Bed Bugs In Yakima County

Do you know that bed bugs are a relatively new pest problem in the United States? It's true. Entomologists between the 1950s and the turn of the century were hard-pressed to find bed bugs in the continental United States. So for most Yakima County residents, these bugs can seem like a new problem when they're actually a problem that is as old as recorded human history.

Bed bugs have been around as long as humans have, but most U.S. residents don't know all that much about them. For this reason, many Yakima County residents believe some of the myths connected to these bugs. Let's take a look at a few of them.

Do Bed Bugs Only Live Around Beds?

Don't let the name fool you. Bed bugs can be found in locations that don't have a single bed. This is because bed bugs can bite people while they're sitting or lounging. They don't have to be asleep. All a bed bug needs is ten minutes in a dark environment to draw a blood meal.

Do Bed Bugs Only Live In Dirty Homes?

There is nothing about your home that will attract bed bugs. These insects spread passively. They don't choose to live with you, they're carried into your home from another location by accident. When they get into your home, they're going to make the best of whatever environment they find. They're not going to go back outside because they don't live outside, they are indoor bugs.

Do Bed Bugs Spread Diseases?

There are currently no reported cases of diseases that can be traced back to bed bugs. But bed bugs can make you sick. Ongoing bloodletting can lead to a condition called anemia. The bites themselves can present a medical issue if they're not properly treated. An open wound can lead to infection.

Are Bed Bugs Too Small To See?

You might think so. These insects are experts at hiding. But let us assure you, they're not so small that you can't see them with the naked eye. Bed bugs range in size between 1 mm and 4.5 mm in length. That's really small - but not so small that you have to get out a magnifying glass to find them. If you uncover bed bugs, you'll know it. The problem is that it is difficult to uncover bed bugs.

• Bed bugs hide in tight spaces. You can have hundreds living in your mattress and not see a single bug. They can be in the seams or they may get inside the mattress through a tiny rip.
• Bed bugs hide in voids. You can have bed bugs living in your alarm clock. Good luck ripping your bed apart to find them when they're not even in your bed.
• Bed bugs avoid the light. These insects are photosensitive. You'll only see them under dim lighting conditions or if you catch them with the beam of a flashlight.

Can You Get Rid Of Bed Bugs On Your Own?

When Yakima County residents find bed bugs, they're often surprised at how small these insects are. There can be a dozen of them in a small spot the size of a thumbnail. It can seem like this is a small problem that is easily handled. But there can be bed bugs in several locations in a home. Treating one spot isn't likely to arrest the infestation.

Another misunderstanding regarding bed bug treatments is that some people think they have had success and they take to social media or Youtube to tell the world about their home remedy, only to discover that they simply caused the bed bugs to go into hiding for a few months. Few people go back onto social media or post another video that points out the fact that they were wrong.

What Is The Best Way To Deal With Bed Bugs?

If you live in Yakima County, we hope you'll consider Prosite for your bed bug control. We use a field-tested strategy to address bed bug infestation. This process is as follows:

• Your technician will do a thorough inspection and locate areas of infestation and develop a treatment plan based on the findings.
• You'll be given a preparation checklist so that you can get your home ready for treatment. This helps to protect your pets, plants, cell phones, make-up, food, and other sensitive items.
• We will perform a bed bug treatment. This will be a heat treatment, conventional treatment, or a mix of both.
• We'll set monitoring devices to make sure no bugs remain.
• We will perform follow-ups as necessary over the course of three weeks. During your visits, an inspection will be performed and monitoring devices will be checked.

If Yakima County bed bugs are giving you a problem, reach out to Prosite today. We know what is needed to make sure no bugs remain in your home.