The Ultimate Guide To Bed Bug Control For Del Rio Homes

How vast is your bed bug knowledge? Are you able to pick out a bed bug in a lineup of insects? Do you know that these reddish-brown insects have a shape likened to an apple seed? Do you know what bed bug bites look like? 

While bed bugs are common pests, many Del Rio residents don't know even the basics about them. If you're in this camp, we understand. Life is busy, and who has time to learn about insects? But we guarantee if you take a few short minutes to read this article, you'll have everything you need should you ever come face to face with a bed bug.

Today, we'll look at how to detect bed bugs if they end up in your house. We'll look at how they behave and how easily they hide from view. We'll also cover the common ways bed bugs get into Del Rio homes. Stick with us all the way to the end, and we'll tell you how to keep them out. If you need help immediately and don't have time to read an article about bed bug control, remember that the Gold Star Exterminators - Del Rio professionals are here for you. We can help you deal with bed bugs in Del Rio; just call, text, or email us for assistance.

Step one in getting control of a bed bug infestation is learning how to find bed bugs. You'll need to use a butter knife to examine cracks, stitching, seams, and pockets. You'll also need a flashlight to search dark voids. And, along with these tools, you'll need clear vision because these insects (and the warning signs they leave) are minuscule.

• Bed bugs leave black spots on fabrics. These spots are their excrement.

• Bed bugs often excrete blood with excrement. You'll likely see brown or tan stains along with the black spots.

• Bed bugs shed their skins as they pass between instars. These skins are white or tan.

• Bed bugs have an odor to them. If you smell something off-putting, the scent you're detecting may be bed bug pheromones.

• As you search for bed bugs, you may actually find them. They start as tiny white insects, with adults ranging between 1/4 and 3/16 of an inch. If you find a baby bed bug that has recently had a blood meal, it will have a red abdomen. Growing nymphs are tan and will still show red in their abdomen after meals. Adult bed bugs are reddish-brown and shaped like apple seeds.

You can search for these signs inside your home to catch bed bugs early and eliminate them quickly. You may also use these methods to detect bed bugs while away from home and take steps to keep them from bringing them home with you.

Later, we'll introduce some tips to help you keep bed bugs away. But first, let's look at how bed bugs behave and the problems that come with having these annoying insects in your house.

The Problems That Come With A Bed Bug Infestation

When you discover bed bug signs, what comes next? Is there a simple fix to exterminate these insects? Sadly, the answer is no. Bed bug control requires focused efforts and strategic methods. Since DIY bed bug control is challenging, frustration is often the result. Here's why:

• Bed bugs have behavior patterns that help them avoid treated surfaces if they detect products that can harm them. For this reason, repellent products don't work at all.

• Bed bugs work together to avoid danger. When some of their population dies off, they take notice. The methods used to get rid of them must account for this.

• Bed bugs hide in tight spaces and hidden voids. For this reason, topical treatments don't stop them.

• People have tried over-the-counter products for decades; unfortunately, some of these don't work on them anymore. Bed bugs have developed a resistance.

• Bed bugs will flee treatments. Therefore, a common result of DIY treatments is that they drive bed bugs to other areas throughout the treated home or business. The result is an increased cost when a professional must treat the problem.

Another common factor we see is that bed bugs keep coming in as property owners work to get rid of them. Let's take a look at how bed bugs spread and some of the many ways they may find their way into your home.

How Bed Bugs Find Their Way Into Our Homes

Whether you're dealing with a bed bug infestation or hoping never to have these irritating pests in your home, knowing how they get inside is important. How do bed bugs spread? It isn't quite as straightforward as you might think. Bed bugs don't live in the great outdoors or come into your home from your yard. They are indoor pests that move from location to location. Here are a few ways they may do it:

• When you stay the night somewhere, they can get into your luggage or clothing and come home with you. They may also lay their eggs in these places. Bed bug eggs don't need the mother. They hatch on their own.

• When your child spends the night somewhere, they could bring bed bugs home in their clothing, a duffle bag, or a sleeping bag.

• When you go to work, you could get bed bugs. These insects infest many workplace environments, including office spaces.

• If you're a student, you can get bed bugs from other students in school. It happens most often when bookbags sit next to each other.

• You can get a bed bug infestation when you buy used clothing or furniture.

• You can get bed bugs by doing nothing at all. Bed bugs may pass through shared walls if you live in an apartment.

It is helpful to know what causes bed bugs because you can take steps to catch them and stop them before they find a pathway into your house. It takes diligence, but it is possible.

Okay. We've covered a lot of ground. You know how to detect bed bugs in your home, better understand why bed bugs are a challenge to control, and now understand how they find their way into your house. Now, it's time to get into the meat and potatoes of our discussion. Let's take what we've discussed and look at bed bug control and prevention.

The Best Way To Get Rid Of Bed Bugs And Keep Them Out

When it comes to getting rid of bed bugs or keeping them out of your home, there are things you can do and things that a licensed pest control professional is best suited for. The measures you can take are related to prevention. The things we do are for control.

Prevention Steps: You'll find bed bugs in many public places. They travel from location to location passively. Your goal is to catch them and stop them. Try the following:

• Always perform a quick bed bug inspection when you spend the night somewhere away from home. When you do this, keep your luggage in your car or store your bags on the floor in the bathroom. Use the inspection tips provided earlier.

• During your stay away from home, take a few steps to prevent bed bugs from getting into your luggage or laundry. Consider sealing these in plastic bags. If you don't want to use a bag, sprinkle your luggage with a lavender scent to help keep bed bugs out. When opening your luggage, use the luggage rack provided.

• When you return home, always launder your clothing immediately. High heat exterminates bed bugs in all stages of development.

• Teach your children to look for bed bugs and take steps to prevent them from coming home with them.

• While at work or school, keep your carriables separate from those of others. Bed bugs can transfer between bags. 

• Always check used furniture and other items you purchase second-hand, even if you get them from a second-hand store.

• If you have neighbors and live in a home with someone living on the other side of the wall, get to know them and let each other know if you find bed bugs. You may also use caulk to seal any cracks bed bugs may use to exit walls and enter your living space.

Bed Bug Control: The licensed, professional technicians at Gold Star Exterminators - Del Rio apply industry-standard products and methods to track bed bugs, exterminate them, and ensure no bugs remain in your home. Here are a few ways we do this.

• We perform an inspection to zero in on where the bed bugs are active in your home.

• We get you ready for treatment and provide a prep sheet.

• We apply the initial bed bug treatment using control materials that uniquely target bed bug physiology.

• We suggest the installation of mattress encasements to keep bed bugs out of these critical locations.

• We perform a follow-up 14 days after the initial treatment. This treatment aims to ensure the complete success of the treatment plan.

Bed bug control is a process that requires training and experience. Your trained Gold Star Exterminators - Del Rio technicians can handle even the most complicated bed bug infestation. Contact us today for pest control in Del Rio. We get results.

Gold Star has been spraying our house for a few years now and I can't express how much it has helped.  I was spraying Demon WD myself and barely made an impact on the scorpions and spiders.  after they started doing it, we have very few sightings now.  Great company.

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