Bed Bugs are real…
Many people think of bed bugs as no more than part of a cute bedtime cliche’: “Sleep tight. Don’t let the bed bugs bite!” But they are quite real, and far from cute. Bed bugs are small, brownish insects with flat, no bigger than a pinhead, or even undetectable by the naked eye.
They feed on the blood of animals, including humans. Their name comes from their tendency to live between mattresses and feed on bed occupants at night. Bed bugs don’t fly, but move quickly over floors, walls, and ceilings. Female bed bugs lay up to five eggs a day and 500 during a lifetime.
And they’re a real problem
Bed bugs are believed to have originally traveled to the United States from Europe in the 17th century. Efforts to control them after World War II dramatically reduced the occurrence of U.S. infestations. But recently, as you have heard in the news, bed bugs have made a big comeback. Five or six years ago, pest control companies reported one or two bed bug calls a year. Now, we are getting calls daily. And the National Pest Management Association’s member pest control companies have reported 50 times more bed bug calls than usual in the past few years.
How can I identify a Bed Bug?
Bed bugs are flat, wingless and oval shaped (although young bed bugs can be too small for the naked eye to spot). They are often mistaken for ticks or small cockroaches. Distinguishing characteristics include:
Mahogany to rust brown/red color
Six Legs
Short, golden body hair
Two antennae
