Don't Let The Bed Bugs Bite

Information About Bed Bugs and Facts You Need to Know About Them

06/28/2011

Bed Bugs have been around long enough to become part of a night time rhyme. We all know the old adage "Good night, sleep tight, don't let the bed bugs bite". It became a bedtime saying because it was a natural occurrence to wake up with bites from bed bugs. Bed bugs did bite; they lived in the old straw of mattresses. But obviously Bed Bugs are not a problem now, right? False, bed bugs are a huge problem and have amassed as a new epidemic in Florida. These are the four things you should know about bed bugs.

1) What Are They?
These blood sucking parasites imbed themselves in mattresses. Hence, the term ‘bed bug'. They can also be found in other upholstered furniture, as well as the box spring and frame of beds. The six legged vampire will engorge itself on the blood of its live host as they silently sleep. With a stable source of blood and the right temperature these sanguine suckers can live up to a year before having to refuel.

2) What Do They Look Like?
Common bed bugs are a light to dark reddish hue depending on when they last fed. They are about the size of a sunflower seed.

3) How Do They Eat?
Bed bugs do not attach themselves to their prey like ticks do; they instead pierce their victim with an elongated beak which features two fanglike tubes. One tube contains a numbing agent, while the other is the tube used for extracting their breakfast. They most often feed just before dawn. This technique will cause red bumps to appear on the skin, some symptoms that can occur due to the buggered bite include lack of sleep, and allergic reactions, which if not treated, can lead to an infection at the bite site.

4) How to Get Rid of Them?
Bed bugs enjoy a rousing game of hide and seek, so it is very difficult to eradicate an infestation quickly. Vacuum the infested area extensively, paying special attention to crevices. Once vacuumed, call a pest control professional to have them complete the exterminating process in order to banish the buggers from the premises.

No one wants to think about uninvited night visitors, but it is important to be aware of the current pest problems in order to keep them at bay. Bed bugs can travel rather quickly by hitching a ride on a backpack, or an article of clothing. This is why it is pertinent to stop the spread of the insidious insect.

Fortunately for residents, Florida bed bugs are still comprised mostly of the common variety and not their much more dangerous cousins, the Tropical bed bug. If you wake up with unexplained red bumps on your skin, call a pest control company right away. You want to have a good night where you sleep tight, but not one where the bed bugs bite.

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Suncoast Pest Control has been providing homeowners with effective Miami Pest Control and Tampa Pest Control solutions since 1993. This family owned and operated pest control company has technicians throughout Central and South Florida who utilize an environmental, pet and child friendly approach to the extermination of tick. Call Suncoast Pest Control today at 1-800-270-3086.