Bed Bug Identification & Prevention

Bed bugs are frustrating and difficult to control pests. The biggest reason bed bugs are so tricky to prevent is that they want to live with us and move from place to place by hitchhiking. We unknowingly move them into our homes in things like upholstered furniture, secondhand items, and in our clothing.

Unlike other insects that move into our homes to forage the food we eat, bed bugs move into our homes to feed on us.

Bed bugs are blood-feeding insects that prefer to feed on human blood, but our cats and dogs are also fair game inside our homes. Bed bugs are small, but you can identify bed bugs by their flattened oval shape (think apple seed), six legs, short antennae, lack of wings, and reddish-brown color. After feeding, their appearance will change, and their body swells, elongates, and turns a deep reddish, purple color.

A person's response to a bed bug bite can range from no physical response at all, to a small red bite mark, to a serious full-body reaction that can affect a person's breathing.

Unlike other blood-feeding pests that are efficient disease spreaders, bed bugs are not, but that does not mean we should allow them to use us as a free food source.

Despite their name, bed bugs don't just live in our bedrooms. They will migrate throughout a home and invade several areas. Inspecting the areas of your home where bed bugs like to hang out is the best way to find an infestation in its early stages and eliminate these unwanted hitchhikers before they have the chance to take over.

Top bed bug hiding spots:

• The seams of mattresses and box springs
• Cracks in headboard, footboards, and other wooden furniture
• Inside electrical outlets and electronics
• Under piles of debris and dirty laundry
• Walls voids
• Behind pictures and other wall hangings

Bed bugs have made a big comeback throughout the entire United States. They can be found living in homes, apartments, hotels, healthcare facilities, dormitories, airports, shelters, schools, movie theaters, laundry facilities, office buildings, and modes of public transportation such as planes, buses, taxis, etc.

Inside homes, bed bugs first take up residence in sleeping areas, hiding in the seams of mattresses and box springs. If the infestation is allowed to continue, those bed bugs will spread throughout the home, hiding out in the cracks of walls and floors, in the seams of upholstered furniture, inside outlets and electronics, and under piles of dirty laundry.

A bed bug infestation is easiest and most effectively eliminated with the help of an experienced professional. Trust the experts at Gold Star Exterminators to completely rid your home of bed bugs and provide routine services to stop a future infestation. Since 1979 our customers have been trusting us to solve their pest problems. We always have and always will deliver prompt pest control services that are reasonably priced. Our professionals take ownership and pride in their work to ensure we provide our customers with top-notch services. To learn more about our bed bug control services in New Braunfels and why they are best suited for your property's unique needs, give Gold Star Exterminators a call today!

Take advantage of the following tips to help stop bed bugs from easily entering your Texas property:

• When traveling, before bringing your belongings into a hotel room or other rental, always inspect it for signs of bed bugs.
• When returning from a trip, immediately wash and dry all clothing in the hottest heat setting the fabrics can handle. 
• After having overnight guests in your home, thoroughly vacuum the room they stayed in and wash all their bedding. 
• Any clothing you purchase, new or used, should immediately be washed.
• Take care when purchasing secondhand items, especially mattresses, box springs, electronics, and upholstered furniture. The money you are saving may not be worth the risk of a bed bug infestation.