Bed bugs are a growing problem in the U.S., and Texas is among the top 10 states in the country for bed bug infestations. Although the pests aren’t known to transmit disease, their bites can be itchy and irritating. Over-the-counter foggers and pesticides don’t kill bed bugs. If you’ve spotted them in your Austin-area home, you’ll need a professional pest management company like BrockStar Pest Services to eradicate them. Read on for what you need to know about bed bugs — and how we can help if you see them in your home.
How Bed Bugs Get in Your Austin Home
Bed bugs are global insects. They’re often thought of as being residents of developing countries; however, international travel has transported them around the world. The prevalence of bed bugs has been growing, including in the U.S., Canada, the United Kingdom, and throughout Europe. According to the Centers for Disease Control, “Bed bugs have been found in five-star hotels and resorts and their presence is not determined by the cleanliness of the living conditions where they are found.”
After you encounter them in public, bed bugs can hitch a ride home with you in the folds of clothing or in your luggage. If you’re traveling, you may want to inspect your hotel room or property rental for bed bugs. When travel slowed throughout the pandemic, the incidence of bed bugs may have slowed, too. However, with travel returning to pre-pandemic levels, bed bugs are sure to be on the rise again.
If you live in a communal environment, like an apartment building or an attached home, bed bugs can easily migrate into your space from a neighbor’s residence. Bed bugs may also be transported into your home via furniture.
How to Spot Bed Bugs in Your Austin Home
Bed bugs are small, wingless, reddish-brown insects. They range in size from about one to seven millimeters, about the size of an apple seed. The parasitic insects feed on human and animal blood while they sleep (vampire, much?); however, they can live for several months without a meal. Their lifespan is four to six months.
The aptly named insects like to hang around places where people sleep, such as the seams of mattresses, box springs, headboards, and dresser tables. However, they’re not overly particular. In an infestation, they can make their ways inside any crack of crevice, like a baseboard, behind wallpaper, into couches and other furniture, and even in electronic devices.
You might first notice bed bugs by observing black or brown spots on objects. This is their waste. You may also observe their eggs, eggshells, or the exoskeletons of dead bed bugs. If you notice tiny red spots on your bedding, you surely have an infestation. Bed bugs tend to be active at night, so you may not see live, active insects during the day. Not sure what to look for? Check out these pictures from the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension.
Although bed bug bites are small and painless, they can cause itchy welts. These bites are also red flags that bed bugs are present. These bite marks may take up to two weeks to develop, so it’s wise to be on the lookout for other signs.
What to Do if You Spot Bed Bugs in Your Austin Home
As previously mentioned, store-bought foggers and pesticides don’t eradicate bed bugs. You’ll need a professional, who can access stronger chemicals, to kill the bed bugs. It often takes professionals multiple visits to successfully eliminate a bed bug infestation.
Before a licensed pest management company visits your home, the Texas Department of State Health Services recommends the following:
- Clear your home of clutter.
- Seal crevices around the home, such as those between the floor and baseboards.
- Seal infested items in plastic bags or airtight containers. Store them outside the home for six months to prevent a reinfestation.
- Remove and launder all soft items around your beds, including sheets, comforters, duvets, stuffed animals, pillows, and drapes. These should be washed in hot water and dry cleaned if necessary.
- Remove the mattress and box springs. Store them in a sealed plastic bag away from the home for six months to a year. The same goes for infested furniture. If you discard any of these items, paint them or otherwise indicate they have bed bugs to prevent someone from taking these items into their home and passing along the infestation.
How BrockStar Pest Services Can Help
BrockStar has been keeping it local since 2012, so we’ve been there and seen that. We can create a comprehensive pest-control plan to rid your home and yard of bed bugs now and prevent re-infestations in the future. Call 512-800-0437 for a free estimate!
