Bed Bugs Are Here To Stay
It seems that everyone in and around Omaha have thought about, talked about, or have even witnessed an infestation of bed bugs. Omaha, Nebraska ranks 17th out of the largest 50 cities in America when comparing bed bug activity, cities ranking the highest are Detroit, New York, and Chicago. You can get bed bugs no matter where you live, clean suburban homes and messy apartments are both at risk. They are difficult to exterminate.
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Bed bugs are small, flat, parasitic insects that feed solely on the blood of people and animals while they sleep. Bed bugs are reddish-brown in color, wingless, range from 1mm to 7mm, and can live several months without a blood meal. Bed bugs are found almost everywhere across the globe. Bed bugs have been found in five-star hotels and resorts and their presence is not determined by the cleanliness of the living conditions where they are found.
Bed bugs infestations usually occur around or near areas where people sleep. They hide during the day in places such as seams of mattresses, box springs, bed frames, headboards, dresser tables, inside cracks or crevices, behind wallpaper, or any other clutter or objects around a bed. Bed bugs have been shown to be able to travel over 100 feet in a night but tend to live within 8 feet of where people sleep.
How Do I Know I’ve Been Bitten?
Most people do not realize they have been bitten until bite marks appear anywhere from one to several days after the initial bite. The bite marks are similar to that of a mosquito or a flea — a slightly swollen and red area that may itch and be irritating. The bite marks may be random or appear in a straight line.
How Bed Bugs Survive & Spread
- Bed bugs feed on the blood of humans, small animals or birds, typically at night.
- Bed bugs can live as long as a year and a half and survive almost a year without eating.
- They are very resilient and can tolerate a wide variety of temperatures.
- Bed bugs do not fly or hop, but they can crawl and run both vertically and horizontally, making them excellent hitchhikers.
- They will hitch a ride on clothing, furniture or other items and set up home at their new location.
Signs I Have Bed Bugs
- Reddish blood and/or dark fecal spots on bedding and furniture.
- Shed skins of young bed bugs.
- Crushed or dead bed bugs.
- Red spots on your body that weren’t there before you went to bed. However, not everyone has a reaction to bed bug bites.
I Have Bed Bugs – What Do I Do?
- Contact a professional at Omaha Pest Control to request a free bed bugs inspection. Bed bugs are difficult to find and remove on your own.
- Careful vacuuming of bedding and furniture can help, but the vacuum must be emptied and cleaned immediately after. Bed bugs can survive in the vacuum cleaner.
- Mattresses do not have to be thrown out; they can be saved by using bed bug approved mattress and box spring encasements.
- Remove clutter. It provides great hiding places for bed bugs and makes it more difficult to treat and remove those unwanted pests.
- Don’t change where you sleep. This will just cause the infestation to relocate to other rooms.
- If you do remove bed bug infested items, make sure they are placed in plastic bags that are tightly secured. Placing items on the curb results in those bed bugs spreading to a new location.
Please feel free to contact us at Omaha Pest Control if you have questions or would like a free inspection from a licensed and certified professional exterminator. Our treatments are competitively priced and are based upon the size and scope of the structure infested. (402) 250-0425