Bed Bugs Myth Busting

Bed bugs are a real problem. They’ve been in the news a lot lately; infesting hotels and hitching rides on luggage to infest people’s homes. Thankfully, more people are becoming aware of the bed bug problem, but unfortunately, there is a lot of misinformation out there that we’d like to try and clear up. If you want to prevent a bed bug infestation then you have to know the facts! Here are some common bed bug myths that we’ve busted for you:

Myth: Bed bugs are only found in beds.

Busted: Even though beds are a common place to find these pests, they can also be found in other furniture like couches, chairs, and even nightstands. They also aren’t only found in the bedroom. They can be in an office or a living room, even a restaurant or a movie theater.

Myth: Bed bugs cannot be seen with the naked eye.

Busted: Thankfully you should be able to see adult-sized bed bugs even though they are very small. However, the younger nymphs (immature bed bugs) are even smaller and might require a magnifying glass to see. Look for small, flat, reddish-brown, oval-shaped insects.

Myth: Putting an infested mattress outside in the cold overnight will kill bed bugs.

Busted: Even though bed bugs do prefer warmth, they can survive for days and even weeks in sub-zero temperatures. In order for this myth to be anywhere near effective, the mattress would have to stay outside in below-freezing weather for at least a week or two. Not very convenient!

Myth: Over-the-counter bed bug treatments work.

Busted: Bed bug sprays that can be bought in a store contain pyrethroid-based ingredients that are simply ineffective on bed bugs. These sprays might kill some of the weaker bugs, but not all of them and bed bugs can also become resistant to the sprays over time. Bed bug bombs and foggers that can be bought over-the-counter can sometimes make the problem worse if bed bugs are given the opportunity to move over to other rooms in the house.

Effective treatment of a bed bug infestation requires the knowledge and experience of a pest control professional, like Emtec. We know where bed bugs like to hide and we use the best methods to treat them. Don’t waste your time and money on do-it-yourself home remedies, call the bed bug experts over at Emtec Pest Control at 800-522-4707.