Myth 1 - Bed Bugs Are Too Small To See
The first common myth or misconception is that bed bugs are invisible to the naked eye. Bed bugs are not only visible, but they are the size of an apple seed. They are not difficult to spot. A quick search online of common bed bug myths will yield plenty of examples that show just how easily they can be seen, especially on a white pillowcase or sheet. Bed bugs are dark brown to black with a flat, oval shape.
Myth 2 - Bed Bugs Are A Result Of Poor Hygiene
Bed bugs do not discriminate clean from dirty. Contrary to popular belief, bed bugs are not attracted to dirty homes. They are only attracted to a warm environment and a source of food - human or pet blood.
Myth 3 - Bed Bugs Only Hang Out Around Beds
Yes, they are called bed bugs, but that doesn't mean they are only found in beds.
Most people think that an unclean mattress is a source of bed bugs, but this is not true. Bed bugs can hitchhike on luggage, clothing, furniture, and electronics like computers and phones. Bed bugs travel on you as you move from place to place until they find a suitable place to call home; no amount of extra cleaning will help remove them once they've found their new residence.
It's true bed bugs are most commonly found where people sleep, including beds, sofas, and recliners, but you may also find them on chairs and other furniture inside businesses. They even reside in laundry rooms and closets, especially if there's something like an empty box laying around that could make for prime living space. Bed bugs can live anywhere there is accessible food, and at any time, you may find them lurking near their feeding grounds for easy access to a host when the need arises.
How To Identify An Infestation
Bed bugs can be hard to identify at first, but it doesn't take long to get a feel for what's going on if you get bitten frequently. Bed bugs have been discovered in places that one would not expect them to be, so don't limit your search to bedrooms alone. The signs of an infestation are similar to those of other insects; there will be a few blood spots on the sheets, mattress, or bed frame itself, but the number of spots is not indicative of the severity of the problem.
Other signs of an infestation include:
- Finding molted bed bug skins
- Spotting live bed bugs on mattresses or furniture
- Finding bugs or nymphs in cracks in the wall, in baseboards, behind outlets, even in electrical sockets
Myth 4 - You Can Get Rid Of Bed Bugs On Your Own
The answer is yes and no. Bed bugs are hard to get rid of, and people fail most of the time. Is it because we're not diligent enough? No. We've all heard that bed bugs can travel anywhere, and many people think that if they don't find a bed bug on their mattress after a few days, then the infestation has been eliminated; this isn't true either. Contact Guaranteed Pest Service of Oklahoma at the first sign of a bed bug problem. We provide reliable bed bug control and offer all our services to Oklahoma City properties.
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