It's Not Goldilocks In My Bed, It's Bugs!

It seems that the bugs are everywhere today. Once a thing of the past, bedbugs are back in homes across America. After not seeing them for years, America is again on standby to keep bed bugs from their homes.

Bed bugs are small bugs that are sometimes mistaken for cockroaches. They are brown, red, and have a flat, oval body. They are about a quarter of an inch long as adults. They feed by sucking the blood of warm-blooded mammals, including humans. Fortunately, they can not fly and can only crawl. They were very common in the United States until 1950. With the widespread use of DDT, they became almost unknown in this country and were considered a thing of the past Now, reducing the use of hazardous substances and the enormous growth in tourism and abroad, bedbugs are back with a vengeance.

Although they are called bedbugs these insects live in any part of your home or workplace. Basically, anywhere you find people is a good place for bed bugs, the more crowded the better. We usually think of the typical bed bug attack taking place in a dirty, messy house, but bed bugs can live in a very clean and tidy home also. Trash and discarded food do not attract a bed bugs, only the blood of warm-blooded animals. Bedbugs can survive for months without feeding in order so vacating your home for extended periods will not get rid of them.

Seeing no bed bugs is not much protection against infection. They like to hide in places like the seams of a mattress or the folds of the curtains where you can not see them. At night they come out. It takes about 10 minutes to get enough blood, then they are good for another four days before eating. Other insects can transmit infectious diseases, but fortunately, the bed bugs can not. However, they are easily crushed and the blood that is in them can transmit bacteria and other risks.

There are certain things you can do when they travel to avoid bringing home the bedbugs. Use the rack that is usually provided by hotels to put your suitcase on instead of the floor of the landing on the bed. Once you've worn the clothes, put them in a a plastic bag before putting them back in your suitcase. When you get home, so do not put your suitcase on the bed and other furniture while unpacking. Wash all your clothes, even those you did not wear and make sure you put them in a hot dryer. That  kills any bedbugs that have managed bring back home.

If you have an infestation of bedbugs, do not try solve the problem alone. Don't spread pesticides in your home or in your bed, you may end up doing more harm than good. The hiring of an licensed expert in pest control is what works best to kill them. Deep cleansing treatments, sprays and insecticides by a professional is the best way to ensure the bed bugs are gone forever.