Have you ever woken up and found that an insect has bitten you during your sleep? While spiders and other insects might attack overnight, bed bugs are by far the most merciless and difficult to eradicate. Itchy, painful bites can develop into blisters, guaranteeing you’ll never get a full night’s rest until they’re completely gone.

If you’ve noticed a bed bug invasion in your home or workplace, act quickly to solve the problem. Learn more about bed bug traits in Bartlesville, OK, then call your local pest control company for help getting rid of this persistent pest.

What is a bed bug?

There are two different species of bed bugs: Cimex lectularius and Cimex hemipterus. Cimex lectularius is the most common type in America (the other is found in tropical environments). Both are invasive, blood-sucking pests that live in dark corners and hidden places, such as in mattress seams and along the wall.

Bed bugs can survive for up to a year without feeding. They’re small (about four to five millimeters), reddish brown and flat, without wings. They leave behind lines of three bites, and rarely bite in the armpit or knee.

How do bed bug infestations spread?

Bed bugs are attracted to warmth, carbon dioxide and some chemicals. Although you may have heard that they’re attracted to messes, there’s no evidence linking poor hygiene to bed bug infestations—except that they prefer dark, hidden places to shelter. They only leave their shelters when it’s time to feed, which usually happens every five to seven days when active.

Bed bugs can spread in a variety of ways. They might hitch a ride on someone’s clothes or personal items, or travel through your ductwork. You might catch them by sitting on an infested item (such as a couch or bed) and bring them back home. Wild animals can carry the bugs, and it’s even possible to pick up bed bugs during air travel.

How are bed bug infestations treated?

Once you have a bed bug infestation on your hands, it can be very difficult to get rid of them. Not only do they choose hidden places to shelter, but since they can live up to a year without feeding, if you don’t kill them all, the infestation will continue.

The key to killing bed bugs is to call a pest control company. At home, you should clean all your linens, upholstery, stuffed animals and clothing as thoroughly as possible—if you can’t wash an item, try sticking it in the dryer for half an hour. Sealing items in plastic can also deprive hidden bugs of needed air supply.

Your pest control company will use special chemicals to exterminate the colony. Work with a company that uses bed-safe pesticides, and consider investing in a zippered mattress cover to keep the bugs from invading your space ever again.

Bed bugs can be a nightmare, but working with a great local exterminator will help shorten your suffering. Now that you know the facts about bed bugs in Bartlesville, OK, keep Excellence Pest Control in mind. If you notice the signs of a bed bug infestation, we can help.