If you don’t have bites, you don’t have bed bugs
False. Did you know that only about 50% of us react to bed bug bites? That means if two people are sleeping in the same bed, only one may show evidence of a bed bug bite although both people were bitten. Bed bug bites can be small red bumps all the way up to itchy welps. Sometimes bed bug bites are in a pattern such as straight or zig zag.
Bed bugs are called bed bugs because they only live in beds
False. Bed bugs can be found all over your home in sofas, chairs, cushions, picture frames, curtains, electrical outlets, baseboards, behind wall paper, and in dressers and other furniture. Eggs from bed bugs can be found in all of these areas too.
Bed bugs only live in dirty homes and apartments
False. Bed bugs can be found anywhere from luxury 5-star hotels to homes, apartments, and mobile homes. There is no link between the sanitation level of the home and prevalence of bed bug infestations. Clutter around the home is a significant risk though.
Keeping the lights on at night will deter a bed bug from coming out
False. Tempted to keep the lights on in your bedroom at night to keep bed bugs from coming out to bite you? While bed bugs prefer the dark, they will come out in broad daylight to feed. Bed bugs sense the C02 you exhale as a way to locate their next meal!
Bed bugs are so small you can’t see them
False. While bed bug nymphs can be difficult to see due to their smaller size and lighter color, mature bed bugs easily be seen. An adult bed bug can grow to the size of an apple seed, or 1/4 inch. Wondering how to check for bed bugs? Use a good flashlight during the inspection and you should have no problem seeing bed bugs, bed bug shed skins, and bed bug eggs. Check out this link to answer what does a bed bug look like:
https://www.medicinenet.com/bed_bugs/article.htm
Bed bugs can fly
False. Some people think that bed bugs move around a home by flying. Bed bugs do not have wings and therefore cannot fly. They can move under carpet and through walls to find their next meal though. One of the most common ways bed bugs move around a house is from humans sleeping in different bedrooms or discarding furniture improperly.
Bed bugs die quickly when they don’t have a daily meal
False. In colder climates, slower bed bug metabolism means they can live up to a year without a meal. In warmer climates, it is more like 3-4 months before they need to eat again.
Bed bugs only bite at nighttime
False. While bed bugs do prefer the dark, their stimulus for seeking a blood meal is by detection of warmth and CO2. Since most of us spend 6-9 hours in our beds sleeping at night, this is a perfect opportunity for bed bugs to feed. Bed bugs will also feed during the day when they detect the same conditions of warmth and/or CO2.
Bed bugs transmit several diseases
False. Studies have not been able to confirm transmission of diseases to humans by bed bugs with one exception. Recent data has shown that there may be a slight possibility of transmission of Chagas disease by bed bugs. Chagas disease is known for being transmitted by the Kissing or Assassin Bug.
It Is Easy To Get Rid Of Bed Bugs
False. Tempted to go the do-it-yourself route on getting rid of bed bugs quickly in your home? Home remedies to get rid of bed bugs are not very effective. Oftentimes the do-it-yourself route of throwing away furniture and setting off bed bug bombs can make the infestation worse. Removing furniture without first wrapping it completely in plastic can allow bed bugs to move around your home.
Bed bug bombs, such as the ones you can buy from Walmart and Home Depot have not been shown to be effective in bed bug management. This is because the insecticide in the bomb needs to contact the bed bug to kill it and bed bugs are very good at hiding in places the bomb cannot reach. Also, bed bug resistance to traditional pyrethroid insecticides is on the rise as bed bugs evolve. The bed bug spray at Walmart may do more harm than good. Usually the most effective bed bug treatment with permanent results is provided by a local pest company that specializes in bed bug extermination and treatment.
Bed bugs reproduce quickly and can lay over 500 eggs in a week
False. Bed bugs, compared to other insects, are very slow reproducers. An adult female bed bug is capable of producing one egg per day. From that time, it takes a bed bug about 4-6 weeks to reach maturity. Instead of asking yourself how to get rid of bed bugs fast, homeowners should be concerned about how do I get rid of bed bugs for good!
Bed bugs can’t live on foam mattresses
False. Remember bed bugs don’t usually live in the mattress. They live around and on the mattress, including foam mattresses. Check areas of the mattress including seams, corners, folds, and zippers. Also, don’t forget to check the box springs and the bed frame too! For more information on how to get rid of bed bugs in a mattress, visit: http://www.nbcnews.com/id/12133597/ns/dateline_nbc-dont_let_the_bed_bugs_bite/t/your-bed-bug-questions-answered/
Cayenne Pepper will kill bed bugs
False. Looking for the most effective bed bug treatment? There are a lot of “so-called solutions” out there that really aren’t. These include natural solutions such as cayenne pepper, neem oil, peppermint oil, diatomaceous earth, and products containing DEET. Bed bug bombs, such as those sold from Walmart, Home Depot, or Lowes are also ineffective at completely eliminating the bed bug infestation. Professional chemical or heat treatment(or a combination of the two) by a licensed pest company specializing in bed bug extermination is usually the best route to go:
https://www.epa.gov/bedbugs/do-it-yourself-bed-bug-control
If you wake up with bites you have bed bugs because bed bug bites are easy to recognize
False. There are other bugs that may be biting you at night including spiders, bat bugs, fleas, mosquitoes, and mites. Any of these could produce bite marks and reactions similar to bed bugs. Bed bug bites vs mosquito bites, its hard to tell the difference! Also, rashes are frequently confused with insect bites. If the rash persists, it may be time for a trip to the doctor.
You can get rid of bed bugs by throwing your mattress away
False. If not done properly, throwing your mattress away may do more harm than good by spreading bed bugs all over your home. If you decide to throw the mattress and box springs away, make sure they are wrapped and sealed in plastic before moving them. Don’t want to throw your mattress away? Check out this link on how to get rid of bed bugs in a mattress: https://www.bedbugs.umn.edu/bed-bug-control-in-residences/controlling-bed-bugs-by-hand
Looking for more answers on how to get rid of bed bugs? Check out:
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/bedbugs/symptoms-causes/syc-20370001
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/298185.php
https://synergy2ms.com/the-fastest-bed-bug-extermination-services-in-jackson-ms/
https://synergy2ms.com/bed-bug-bites-pictures-everything-you-need-to-know-about-these-bites/
https://synergy2ms.com/look-a-like-bugs-mistaken-as-bed-bugs
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