Why Bed Bugs Thrive in Maryland, Virginia, and Washington D.C.

Bed Bug Warning Signs 

In areas of infestation, you're going to see speckles of black droppings or black patches, shed insect skins, 1 mm white eggs in a batch or as individuals, and tan staining caused by blood excretions. Keep in mind that these are not going to be large and noticeable. They may be tucked in a crack or crease. They may be in a pocket or under a flap of cloth. Bed bugs are skilled at hiding. It is also possible for bed bugs to hide in a place you can't search, such as inside wall voids, outlets, electronics, and the interior of your couch.

Bed Bug Bites and Where They’re Found

There are many bugs that can bite you, and it can be difficult to tell what bit you by just looking at a bite. Fortunately, bed bug bites have some helpful characteristics.

• A bed bug will bite, move forward, bite again, move forward, and bite again. This is a common pattern. Entomologists jokingly refer to these bites as breakfast, lunch, and dinner. When several bed bugs feed, they may congregate and move across the skin together. If you see bites on your skin that look like they follow a path, it is likely that you've been bitten by bed bugs. Other biting pests usually bite once. So the bites left by mosquitoes, for instance, would look like a random pattern on the skin, not a path.
• Bed bugs tend to bite toward the top of the body because they are attracted to carbon dioxide emissions. If you have lots of bites on your feet and ankles, those are probably flea bites, not bed bug bites.
• Bed bugs can feed on the sides and back if these parts of the body are near the infested area. Look for the path across the skin to determine whether or not you have bed bug bites.
• Bed bug bites can be in areas of your body that your clothing usually covers. This can rule out horseflies, black flies, mosquitoes, and other pests that tend to attack exposed skin.
• When bed bugs begin to bite or when young bed bugs bite, the bites may be slight and not very noticeable. But the longer bed bugs bite and the older the bed bug, the more likely bites will begin to become swollen and inflamed.
• If you have a bite that has an ulcer or pustule in the middle, it is not a bed bug bite. 

Bed Bug Prevention Steps for Maryland, Virginia, and D.C. Homeowners
 

There are many ways to keep pests out of your home. You probably apply some of them, such as keeping exterior trash contained or controlling moisture near your foundation walls. But bed bugs are hitchhiking bugs that pass right over your pest control barrier to get into your home and infest it. Here are some ways you can prevent them from taking root in your home.

• When you spend the night anywhere, be sure to do an inspection for bed bugs and the signs they leave behind (black droppings, shed skins, tan blood stains, tiny white eggs). If you find bed bugs or their signs, move to another room that is not adjacent to that room.
• When you travel, make a habit of keeping laundry items in a sealed plastic bag. Bed bugs are drawn to garments that have been worn. You don't have to purchase special bags, a trash bag with a bread tie around the top is more than enough to keep bed bugs out.
• When you purchased used beds and other furniture, do an inspection for bed bugs and the signs they leave. Inspect gaps, cracks, and recesses. Bed bugs will rarely come out in the open, especially when there is light.
• When your children come home from school or daycare, do a quick check for bed bug signs. If you see something suspicious, put the item in a dryer for 30 minutes (if possible). This will kill bed bugs in all stages of development.
• Educate your kids about bed bugs. Teach them to identify bed bugs in all stages and learn what bed bug warning signs look like.
• Don't be afraid to talk about bed bugs with family and friends. The more you keep the lines of communication open, the greater your chances will be of preventing a bed bug infestation in your home, and theirs. We're all in this together.

If bed bugs take root in your home, don't turn to DIY bed bug solutions. You're likely to find that you can't get rid of bed bugs with many of the suggestions you find on the internet. It is best to get professional bed bugs control to eliminate all the bugs in your home and to prevent ongoing infestation.

Why You Should Call a Professional If You Have Bed Bugs
 

Bed bugs are extremely difficult to exterminate. They have natural behavior patterns and adaptive abilities that make them resistant to pest control treatments.

Behavior: Bed bugs naturally avoid danger. If you lay down the wrong product, you could drive bed bugs deep into your walls where they will come back out from time to time to feed on you. This will have you feeling as if you keep getting bed bug infestations when you never really got rid of them in the first place. It is also possible for bed bugs to avoid treated areas and simply continue to feed without cessation.
 
Adaptation: a Bed bug goes through 5 instars (development stages). As it passes from one to the next, it sheds its skin. If it encounters chemicals in its environment that are a threat to it, the bed bug can create a new skin that is resistant. Using chemicals to kill bed bugs can actually make chemical-resistant bed bugs in your home.
 
Danger: Attempting to get rid of bed bugs can be a threat to your health and your property. There are far too many cases of serious injury and property loss due to an improper application of household products and attempt to perform heat treatments with space heaters.

Professional Treatment Options for Bed Bug-Infested Homes
 

Okay. You have bed bugs. How do you get rid of those bugs? When bed bugs infest your home, you have many options. The best solution is to hire a licensed pest control professional.
 
There are also many methods pest control companies use to control bed bugs. They range from constructing a giant tent around a home and fumigating the entire structure to performing ongoing monitoring for bed bugs and an application of targeted treatments over the course of several weeks. While both of these can rid your home of bed bugs, they aren't the best solutions. Our approach to bed bug control is a combination of heat remediation and residual product applications for the effective, low-cost, and expedient control of bed bugs.
 
Heat remediation, also referred to as a heat treatment, is the application of heat to eliminate bed bugs in all stages of development. But performing a heat treatment in a way that will eliminate the bed bugs in your home requires the deployment of specialized, professional-grade equipment. And this equipment should be operated by a licensed individual. There are far too many cases of heat treatments destroying properties and leading to loss of life because someone thought they could do a heat treatment by opening an oven door or by placing space heaters in every room of their home or business.
 
With our specialized mobile heating units, we are able to raise the temperature of your structure to between 120°F to 135°F without placing your property in danger. By supporting this treatment option with other bed bug control methods as needed, we have the highest level of success in all of the many environments we treat.
 
Treatments come with professional inspections. These may be performed by highly-trained, licensed human inspectors or K-9 bed bug Inspectors, which are the most effective way to detect bed bugs.
 
When your bed bug treatment is done, you won't have to wonder if you did what was necessary to get rid of the bugs. You'll finally be able to rest easy—and that is a good thing because ongoing bed bug infestation can lead to sleep deprivation.

How to Prepare for a Bed Bug Treatment
 

Before your bed bug service, there are a few steps to consider. These will help make your treatment a success.

Why Call American Pest for Complete Bed Bug Protection
 

When you choose American Pest, you get the highest level of bed bug control. Our team includes board-certified entomologists who understand the behavioral patterns of bed bugs and how to counteract their natural defenses to rid your home of these tormenting pests. From beginning to end, we apply the most advanced methods and products to give you the level of treatment required. K-9 bed bug inspectors may be used or an inspection may be performed by a human inspector, depending on your specific situation. High-end heat remediation may be the solution or your technician might suggest a mixture of bed bug control methods. Which strategies are used will be determined by your licensed technician based on their experienced observations and attention to your individual needs. There are many misconceptions about bed bugs, so it is best to seek professional advice and instruction.
 
Do you need bed bug service or an expert to confirm an infestation within your home? We can help. Reach out to American Pest for immediate assistance.