Got Bed Bugs? Tips for Detecting These Parasitic Pests

Aug. 1, 2011 - PRLog -- Bed bugs continue to pose a threat to households across the Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill-Cary region.  

These parasitic insects are invading not only bedding as their name implies, but also furnishings, carpet, wall voids, and any crack or crevice where they can hide and be in close proximity to their human hosts.  Although small (about 1/4 inch in length), these flat, reddish-brown insects can consume up to six times their body weight in blood.

And while a decade ago bed bugs were barely an issue, today they are a topic on everyone’s mind.

"Most people realize that the bed bug problem in the Triangle is here to stay for the foreseeable future," says Donnie Shelton, President & CEO of Triangle Pest Control, a Raleigh pest control company that is the North Carolina leader in bed bug management and bed bug extermination.  "Because bed bugs today are largely resistant to common pesticides, homeowners have to be much more diligent in preventing infestation from happening to them."

Shelton notes that there are simple steps homeowners can take to determine whether or not they have a bed bug problem.

1) Look for live bed bugs.  Use a flashlight to examine your bedding and furnishings, especially around seams, holes, and crevices.  Because bed bugs tend to hide in secluded, darkened spaces, having a bright, concentrated light will help to reveal live, active bugs.

2) Look for exoskeletons and excrement.  Bed bugs frequently shed their outer skins.  If bed bugs are present in your home, you will find these discarded exoskeletons along with spots of reddish-brown digested blood on your bed linens.

3) Detecting an unfamiliar odor? Bed bugs release a secretion from their glands that can leave a home smelling foul and musty.  If you detect an unusual, fetid odor,  this may be a sign of bed bugs.

4) Are you noticing unusual welts on your skin after waking?  Bed bugs are nocturnal, feeding on their hosts as they sleep.  If you are finding numerous, painful bites on your extremities each morning, the culprit may be bed bugs.

Should homeowners see any of these signs of infestation, they should contact a Raleigh bed bug exterminator immediately.

"The key is identifying the problem quickly and then allowing a trained professional to address the problem with the proper tools."

To find out more about bed bugs and bed bug extermination options, visit Triangle Pest Control online at http://www.trianglepest.com/bed-bug-control/bed-bug-exter....

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Founded in 2003, Triangle Pest Control is the North Carolina leader in Bed Bug Management. A Raleigh extermination company, Triangle Pest Control specializes in an integrated pest management process that includes both elimination and prevention. The company has a firm commitment to working only with materials that have maximize the safety of families, children, and pets and is ranked #1 in customer service among Raleigh pest control companies.