Bed Bugs

Chasing Down a Limerick

Many myths exist about where this saying came from and who started it. In the early days, folks didn’t have the luxury of spring mattresses with pillow tops and cooling gel. They slept on mattresses made of straw and feathers suspended on ropes to keep them comfortable.

Of course, the 16th-17th century folks didn’t know a thing about posh comfort, but historians know that people had to tighten the ropes as these mattresses would sag constantly. It’s possible that “sleeping tight” was just a throwback to the need to pull these ropes.

If a feather mattress made its way to the ground, it was more susceptible to bugs, including the troublesome bed bug. Today, we know that it doesn’t matter if the mattress is in the air or on the ground; if there are bed bugs present, they will find their way into the bed with you.

What is true is that anyone who’s dealt with these pesky critters will turn from joyous to full of anxiety and panic at the very mention of their name. An infestation can turn a house upside down and make sleepless nights all too familiar.

The History of Bed Bugs

Though it’s challenging to pin down their exact origins, one theory believes they originated in the caves of the Middle East. Fossils can trace them back more than 3,500 years. At this time, humans dwelled in caves with bats, spiders, and other creepy crawling critters.

They weren’t called by their hallmark name, though, as they were initially referred to as the cimex, which means bug. Humans weren’t the original target, as scientists believe they feasted on the blood of bats before turning to human beings. During these times, little was known about medicine and how to treat common ailments, so using bugs as a potion was commonplace.

It’s challenging to think that a bed bug served a purpose, but the Romans burned them to create a hot ember to place on a leech. Once the leeches felt the heat, they would release their hold. Additionally, the Egyptians believed that if they had been bitten by a snake, drinking the bed bug’s blood would cure the venom’s toxic effects.

As civilization grew, so did the population of these bugs. They spread from Asia and Europe to North America. There are reports of them making it to England in the late 1500s, and by the 1800s, they were in America hitching rides with European settlers. Soon, ships became overrun with these blood-sucking vampires, and no passengers were allowed to bring bedding onboard.

Though the bugs had their hay day, they dwindled in the 19th century due to plaques. In the 1950s, things died down, and the once prominent pest became only an occasional nuisance. They were found in homes where things were unkempt, and the family was socially depressed. They were also a common problem in places with many folks, like prisons or hotels.

However, they reemerged more aggressively in the 20th century. Things got so bad in the United States that in 2010, CBS Television declared it the year of the bed bug. Today, they will find any way to make it to your home, as they’re not picky passengers.

They will hitch a ride on clothing, travel from one country to another, and love places like apartment complexes, hospitals, and hotels. Sadly, the prevalence of these bugs is so bad that 25% of the population has had a problem at some time. Though they’re generally seen in the lower-class urban areas, no one is immune from them.

How Do Bed Bugs Get into Your Home?

You try your best to keep your home clean. You take out the trash, keep the dishes done, and love decency and order. How does a household like yours get an infestation of bed bugs? The reason is that dirt is only sometimes a factor in where they live.

Just because they prefer dirty environments doesn’t mean they can’t thrive in a clean one. All they need is a host to make themselves feel right at home. While they may have preferred bats in the early days, your blood is all they need to survive.

It makes it even scarier, considering a bed bug can go anywhere from 2 to 12 months without food. They can reproduce once they have sufficient nourishment, but they can live in your home all that time with or without food.

Fighting a bug that can survive on thin air makes the job challenging for pest control professionals. Another problem is that a simple ride on the subway or taking your child’s friend home is all it takes to get bed bugs. One can crawl from their coat pocket to yours, and you’ll take it home. Here are the top ten ways you get bed bugs:

• Guests in your home
• Secondhand clothing, books, or furniture
• Public transportation
• Sharing clothing, hats, or purses
• Hospitals
• Gym or country clubs
• Airplanes or cruise ships
• Movie Theaters
• Living in an apartment building
• Laundromats

Signs You Have a Bed Bug Infestation

Many people mistake the stink bug for the bed bug. They have similar shapes when the bed bug isn’t engorged with blood. Please make no mistake; they’re not the same bug. While the stink bug will emit a strong odor that makes the strongest person’s stomach cringe, they don’t bite you and hide in secret places.

Bed bugs like to hide, so you may have a significant problem for weeks or even months before you know about it. It all depends on where they are in your home, if they’re using you or a pet as a source, and if they’ve reproduced. The stink bug is out 24/7, but the bed bug only comes out at night when you’re sleeping.

The nocturnal pest likes to keep things on the down low, making finding them more challenging. Most people find bed bugs by strange bites appearing on their skin. If you have pets in the home, you might think these are flea bites, as the two bites appear very similar. Here are some other signs that you have a bed bug problem:

• Blood splotches – If you see any blood spots on your bedding and have no idea where they came from, it’s time to investigate further.

• Sightings – Any bug crawling around your home should be taken seriously and identified, especially if you see them on or near your bed. Remember that bed bugs can also infest a couch, closet, or even your shoes.

• Fecal matter – You might think it’s just a speck of dirt, but it could be fecal from a bed bug. The excreted matter of these bugs looks like a poppy seed. You can test to ensure the speck’s origins by smashing it or putting it on a wet paper towel. Since it’s made of dried blood, it turns red when wet.

• Molted skins – Bed bugs molt, and the discarded skins can become abundant during an infestation. You might find them around your headboard or mattress.

• Strong, musty odors – Have you ever smelled old blood? It has a weird smell that’s undeniable. Bed bugs feast on blood, so it has an odd smell when they excrete this matter. The aroma can be unmistakable when several bugs are defecating in one area.

• Eggs – A female in her prime can lay up to five eggs each day, which is over 500 in her life span. You may see these eggs around your home, especially if you have an active infestation and many females laying. The eggs are thick and can be as large as a dime, so you may see these lying around in piles in corners and other places they frequent. Be sure to check nightstand drawers and behind your headboard, too.

*You’ve gone through the list and have yet to determine if you officially have a bed bug problem. What should you do now? Should you head to the hardware store for a spray and try to combat this problem alone or call for professional help? Sadly, bed bugs have become highly resistant to pesticides, so you can throw money at chemicals that may or may not make a dent in the problem.

When dealing with these bugs, calling for professional help is always best. Since the dilemma can get out of hand quickly and they resist leaving, you need someone with expertise to handle the job most effectively.

Getting Rid of Bed Bugs

While the pest control professional will come in to save the day, there are some things that you can do to help them out. Additionally, you can take preventative measures to ensure this doesn’t happen again.

1. Put Bed Bug Protectors on All Mattresses

The first and most important thing is to protect the mattress. Bed bug protectors aren’t expensive, and they keep your nice mattresses from getting ruined.

2. Be Careful in Hotels

When visiting a hotel or other vacation home, ensure you never put the suitcase on the bed or floor. Use those suitcase stands to keep them up and away from hot spots like the headboard and nightstands. Never put your clothing in the dressers, as it’s safer to use your suitcase to keep things zipped tight.

Additionally, when you walk into a hotel, notice if there’s any strange smells, which can indicate a problem. You must also pull back the sheets and look at the corners of the mattress and the underside. If you’re strong enough, lift or flip the mattress to ensure there are no issues before you lay on it.

3. Isolate Secondhand Items

If you love going to thrift and antique stores, you must be careful when bringing items into the home. All clothing should be immediately washed, and any furniture should be sprayed before it is brought inside.

4. Don’t Share Clothing

While sharing clothing, purses, shoes, and other personal items with friends and family may be fun, it’s best to keep your stuff and not loan it out.

5. Be on Guard

If you’ve had bed bugs before, you already know how tenacious these pests can be. Even after you think the coast is clear, you want to be on guard and always look for any signs of a re-infestation.

Calling for Professional Help

We know the nightmares that exist when dealing with bed bugs. What seemed like a minor situation can quickly become a full-blown emergency that makes you question your sanity. We’re here to help you every step of the way.

Many people want to handle the situation independently because they fear scrutiny for getting these bugs. There’s no shame in getting bed bugs, but you must move quickly to control the problem. We see people from all walks of life that are affected, as these pests have no respect for anyone.

The key is to let go of the stigma and get the proper help to restore peace and tranquility to your home. Call us for immediate assistance if you suspect an issue or you’ve verified there’s a problem.

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