Pest management is the carrying out of controlling or managing insects or animals that can be defined as pests. When invaded by pests, homeowners behave in different manners; some use commercially available pesticides, some create their own homemade pesticides, while some do nothing if the damage is minimal. However, we do not endorse the tolerating of these pests or cohabiting with them.
In Raleigh, NC one of the most notorious pests to invade homes is the bed bugs. Go-Forth Home Services, the leading pest control company in the Triangle region, has always made sure that their clients are well-protected from these bugs.
Origins Of Pest Control
Pest control methods appear to have been introduced as soon as humans roamed the earth. As early as the prehistoric times, pests were already bothering our early ancestors. We just do not know if diseases were already transmitted at the time, or if deaths occurred because of the ancient pests.
Our prehistoric ancestors were hunters and gatherers, so the pests that they had to deal with that time were mosquitoes, fleas, and rats. When humans began to understand how to cultivate the soil for their sustenance, pests appeared and began to induce economic damage. Pests like beetles, grasshoppers, locusts, and bugs began to feed on crops. Humans then had to learn how to control these pests. We can safely say that pest control actions were fundamental to human survival all throughout history.
Different forms of pest control were used. Egyptians used mosquito nets to stave off mosquitoes. The Chinese used mercury to kill lice. The past century experienced more complex pesticides using chemicals to wipe out pests. Chemicals would prove to be both beneficial and dangerous later on. While chemical pesticides successfully killed pests, it also eventually became harmful to other beneficial insects as well. Three days, more and more people are shifting to more natural methods.
Can Pest Control Get Rid Of Bed Bugs?
Bed bugs infestation is definitely a worrisome problem among residents of Raleigh today. Bed bugs bite and suck the blood out of their hosts. Their bites are extremely itchy and leave ugly marks on the skin. Aside from that, they are declared as pests with significant health risks by at least three government departments, namely the United States Department of Agriculture, the Center for Disease Control, and the Environmental Protection Agency. Though bed bugs do not spread diseases, their presence can lead to restlessness, stress, anxiety, social isolation, stress, and even depression. Of all the pests that bother Americans, only the bed bugs have such mentally draining effects.
The bed bugs population can spread very quickly. Female adult bed bugs can deliver hundreds of eggs in their lifetime. The more they become, the tougher it is to manage them. The positive news is that they can still be checked. The sooner they are detected, the easier it would be.
History Of Bed Bugs In America
Bed bugs first showed up in America during the 19th century through the ships that came from all over the world. These insects increased in its population in the early 20th century. Fortunately, advances made in pest control technology helped exterminate the bugs totally. By the 1950s, they were extinct in the United States. However, they made a huge comeback in the 1990s, and since then they have become stronger than ever.
The pesticides that were used before to eliminate the bed bugs are suddenly not as useful against them anymore. It has been remarked by professionals that bed bugs have built up resistance to some of the pesticides, and they are now stronger than ever.
It has been pointed out time and again that travel is the main cause of the sudden resurgence of these bugs. Advances in technology have enabled travel to be easier and safer, therefore making it enticing to more travelers in the United States. Due to this, they unknowingly carry these parasites back home with them. Bed bugs can be found in places where travelers stay, whether it is in a 5-star hotel, condo units, or in cheaper motels. Americans pick up these bed bugs from where they stayed and then bring them back home.
We also get bed bugs from stuff we bring home from old clothes or furniture that were bought from garage sales or thrift shops.
Identifying Bed Bugs
Knowing your enemy raises your success rates of beating them. Learning to identify bed bugs is the first step in getting rid of them. Bed bugs are small insects that are the same size of an apple seed. They are brownish in color with flat bodies but turn red and bloat after feeding on blood. They are nocturnal insects so they feed while you sleep.
Bed bugs have proboscis or piercing mouth parts that suck blood. Bed bugs inject an enzyme that acts as anesthesia as they bite, making it painless for the host. The effect of the bites would not turn up until after 7 to 14 days. Their bites are extremely itchy and ugly, appearing in a pattern of straight rows. It can be quite embarrassing for individuals.
Bed bugs develop into adults much faster when the conditions are between 70 F to 80 F. This allows them to reproduce faster, which can reach up to three generations every year.
A bed bug has three body segments: the head, thorax, and the abdomen. Bed bugs have two eyes, three pairs of legs, and a couple of antennae connected to their heads. Male bed bugs have scent glands, testis, and intestines. Female bed bugs, on the other hand, have scent glands, intestines, ovarioles, ovaries, microtomes, and genital chambers.
Bed bugs are not restricted to beds though. Eventually, they would spread around the house. They would be in headboards, mattresses, and bed frames. If left unchecked, they would soon be on the cracks and crevices of walls, floors, inside drawers, in electric receptacles, sofas, and other appliances. bed bugs do not build nests.
Starting The Pest Control Process
At Go-Forth Home Services, we recognize that there are many people out there who are not sure how to effectively get rid of pests like bed bugs. Here are simple tips for you that can make pest control simpler and more effective for you.
There are DIY methods of pest control. If you do not have the time, or you are unsure how to do it, then you can opt to hire professionals.
Know what type of pests you have. Knowing your foe gives you the advantage. There are different ways of how to approach each type of pest. They have different behaviors and habits, have different feeding times, and come out at different times of the day.
Determine if you can tolerate their presence, or if you desire to take action. If these pests are disease vectors, or if they destroy property, then it is imperative that you create and carry out a pest control strategy.
Pests may come back again later on. Remain vigilant by constantly looking for signs of infestation.
Pest Control Methods For Bed Bugs
Here are a few tips in handling bed bugs.
- Vacuum mattresses, carpets, couches, sofas, cracks and crevices on floors and walls, where the bed bugs might be hiding.
- Use diatomaceous earth and sprinkle it around areas where there are bed bugs. Diatomaceous earth is made of fossilized remains of diatoms and appear as tiny shards of broken glass and are in powder form. Once the bed bugs crawl on it, it would inflict tiny cuts on their bodies, causing them to bleed to death. You may purchase this item from a local gardening store near you.
- If your furniture is infested with bed bugs, do not throw it just yet. Try to salvage it first using diatomaceous earth and a vacuum cleaner. If you still have bed bugs, that is the time you can throw it outside. Make sure to place a sign that says “Bed Bugs” so that no one else would use it. Make arrangements with your garbage collector to have it picked up.
- If you live in an apartment unit, inform the landlord. They would be the ones to call the pest control professionals. Acting fast is crucial here before bed bugs spread to other units.
If you are already overwhelmed by the bed bugs, then it is time to get some help from the professionals. For the best pest control professionals in Raleigh, call Go-Forth Home Services.
Why Go-Forth Home Services?
If you are looking for the best fix, Go-Forth Home Services is at your service. We have experienced technicians who are highly-skilled and well-trained in their line of work. Go-Forth Home Services is an expert in dealing with most kinds of pets and uses the necessary methods. We will provide you with the best services to ensure the safety of your family. Our experts are dedicated to excellence. Just contact us now to experience a pest-free life.
Call us now for more information, or to request a free estimate. Our friendly operators are standing by.