What are bed bugs?
Bed bugs are hard to see at one to seven millimeters, or roughly the size of Lincoln's head on a penny. Adult bed bugs are about the size of an apple seed or a ladybug. Although they feed on blood, bed bugs can live up to seven months without a blood meal. Bed bugs are so named because they commonly live in warm houses around bedding or sleeping areas. Their activity can go unnoticed because they release an anesthetic through their saliva and before you realize it you can be covered in bites. Depending on the person, bed bug bites can be uncomfortable and hazardous if you begin to have an allergic reaction. They are often misdiagnosed as misquito or flea bites.

How did I become a victim?
Bed bugs can make their way into your home through a variety of different ways. The bed-bug epidemic has grown 500% due to international travel and other factors. They can sneak in on the clothes or belongings of another person, can easily travel through duct work and false ceilings if you live near an infested area, or can be carried in on furniture. If you live in the country, wild animals are also suspected to carry bed bugs. They thrive in places where temperatures are around 80 degrees. In this climate, female bed bugs can lay 5-7 eggs a week or 500 eggs THROUGHOUT THEIR LIFETIME.

Detecting the Infestation
Bed bugs can be very hard to find if you don’t know the signs of an infestation. Since bed bugs mainly operate at night, it can be weeks before you see one, if you EVER see one. The lay hundreds of eggs in the creases of fabric and as an adult, live in dark crevices of your furniture and mattresses. If you haven’t experienced a bite from bed bugs but you suspect that they are around you, look for small droppings or the exoskeleton that bed bugs shed. They have been known to have an odor that has been compared to raspberries, musty and sweet.

If you have reason to believe that you have bed bugs, the sooner you call in an exterminator to get rid of them, the better off you'll be. At Cowboy Pest Management, we offer thorough bed bug inspections designed to give you answers. Bed bugs aren't always easy to detect, but we've developed our own method of inspecting properties for bed bugs. If we do find bed bugs in your home or business, we'll be able to recommend solutions for eliminating them quickly and efficiently so that you can move on with your life.

Call us today for a FREE estimate! 405-247-0108