Bed bugs are notorious little monsters. We read about them, maybe see them on television shows – either way, they make our skin crawl. And that’s because they infest your bed: the most sacred and vulnerable items in a home. It’s a disaster when they infest a home, obviously; but why are they so difficult to get rid of after the fact? Several reasons, actually:
First off, they don’t need food.
Their food is blood, which isn’t that hard to obtain for them considering where they seek shelter. However, bed bugs don’t need a steady supply of food like most pests or rodents. In fact, they can live up to a year or longer without food. This simple fact alone means that “starving them” and ignoring them doesn’t work. Ignoring them only amplifies the problem because…
They multiply quickly.
Female bed bugs can produce up to 500 eggs in a few months. Females within this offspring can also start to reproduce shortly after birth, continuing the cycle. Bed bug population can increase exponentially in a few months if left untreated. Worse, their ideal breeding temperature is between 70 and 80 degrees, which just happens to be the temperature most people have in their homes. This, compacted with the fact that they don’t need food, can make them all but impossible to eliminate.
Bed bugs have evolved.
They have been around for a VERY LONG time and a good reason. Bed bugs constantly adapt and evolve to meet the conditions of their surroundings – they have been, for millions of years. Their long life and continuous adaptation mean they have become immune to certain pesticides and methods that once worked to eliminate them.
What do you do?
To get rid of a bed bug infestation you need to locate and eliminate every, single one. Some methods that will help you in achieving this is to keep your home clean – everywhere. Also, wash your clothes with (permitting) bleach and dry them on high heat. There are other ways of dealing with bed bugs out there, but most are costly and not the safest or most convenient thing in the world. Most people would have a problem dousing their bed with pesticides.
To truly ensure you efficiently and safely deal with a bed bug infestation, you need a professional. If you think you may have a problem, or just want to schedule a Free Estimate, call us today!
