What are bed bugs?

Known for being troublesome pests that live inside of both homes and businesses in large numbers, bed bugs are pests that people want to avoid. Adult bed bugs have flat, oval-shaped bodies that are reddish-brown and grow to about 1/4 of an inch long. After feeding, their appearance changes slightly: their bodies swell and elongate, and they turn a deeper purplish-red.

In recent decades, bed bug populations have exploded around the world and in our country. Bed bugs live in all 50 states. While bed bugs can be a problem anywhere, urban areas are highly susceptible to bed bug infestations. Urban areas provide bed bugs with close contact with people and our belongings, allowing these hitchhikers to move from location to location with ease.

Are bed bugs dangerous?

While bed bugs usually don’t pose any danger to people, they are prolific breeders, and live together in large populations that are difficult to eliminate. Being bitten by a bed bug will affect each person differently. While others will develop an itchy reaction around the bite site, others may experience a severe allergic reaction. Bed bugs can carry some pathogens that can cause diseases, but currently, the spread of illnesses by bed bugs isn’t a big concern.

At the first sign of bed bugs in your home or business, contact Sweeney's Pest Elimination to provide the necessary services to remove the infestation altogether.

Why do I have a bed bug problem?

With the bed bug’s favorite food source being human blood, bed bugs are hard to avoid. Bed bugs become a problem inside of homes and businesses in a variety of ways:

• After coming into contact with bed bugs while traveling, running daily errands, or visiting family and friends, they will crawl onto us or our belongings, and into our homes, without much notice.
• Bed bugs also move into condos or multi-unit buildings by traveling behind walls, under floors, and along wires and pipes.
• Bed bugs hitchhike their way into homes inside of used furniture, box springs, and electronics.

Where will I find bed bugs?

Bed bugs live wherever there are people; libraries, movie theaters, shopping centers, airports, cruise ships, homes, apartment buildings, schools, and other public places can all be home to bed bugs. Bed bugs are ectoparasites, meaning they feed on their hosts from the outside of their bodies. Bed bugs are nocturnal; they hide during the day and emerge at night to feed on people’s blood while they sleep.

Places where bed bugs hide in our homes include the seams of mattresses and box springs, in wall voids behind electrical outlets, in upholstered furniture, in the spaces behind baseboards and wall trim, or behind pictures and other wall hangings.

How do I get rid of bed bugs?

Get rid of bed bugs from your Ithaca property with the help of local, experienced professionals. At Sweeney’s Pest Elimination, we have been protecting people and properties from our area’s most common pests for over 20 years.

If you are experiencing problems with bed bugs, our professionals will take care of the problem and put into place the services needed to stop them from returning. To learn more about our residential or commercial pest control solutions and eliminate bed bugs from your Central New York property, contact us at Sweeney’s Pest Elimination today!

How can I prevent bed bugs in the future?

In addition to our professional bed bug control services, avoid future problems with bed bugs by putting into place the following prevention tips:

• Place bed bug-proof covers on all mattresses and box springs in your home.
• Do not purchase used mattresses, box springs, electronics, or furniture.
• When out in public, keep personal belongings away from other people’s belongings and up off of the ground.
• Vacuum your floors, upholstered furniture, and the seams of mattresses and box springs regularly.
• Wash and dry any newly purchased clothing, clothing taken on a trip,  your family's outerwear, and all your bedding on the highest heat setting the fabrics can handle.

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