Bed bugs are common pests for homeowners in Salt Lake City and the United States. A common myth associates bed bug infestations with poor, unhygienic conditions, but this is not necessarily true. Although bed bugs can better thrive in unsanitary conditions, they can infest even the most pristine homes in Salt Lake City.
If you suspect you have bed bugs, you’ll want to act quickly. Although these pests aren’t known to spread disease, they can cause irritation and asthmatic reactions as a result of their bites and also attract other pests into your home.
Read on for more about how to identify bed bugs in Salt Lake City and whether bed bugs are harmful to health. A few tips on effectively getting rid of bed bugs are suggested, followed by preventing a bed bug infestation in Salt Lake City from returning.
How To Identify Bed Bugs In Salt Lake City
Bed bugs are small, oval-shaped insects that measure a quarter-inch long. The bodies of adult bed bugs resemble flattened apple seeds, though their bodies appear engorged after a recent feeding. They are tan or brown in color and mahogany after a feeding.
Bed bug nymphs are hardly visible to the naked eye, measuring just 1.3 to 4.5 millimeters in length, and are white or yellowish in color.
Are Bed Bugs In Salt Lake City Harmful To My Health?
Bed bugs aren’t linked to the spread of disease, but they can pose a risk to homeowners in other ways. Bed bugs can:
- Cause allergic reactions in people due to their bites, which can range from mild to severe. In most cases, bed bug bites cause redness, itchiness, and skin irritation, but in extreme cases, bed bug bites can cause swelling, insomnia, and anaphylactic shock.
- Cause psychological distress and overall discomfort as a result of the infestation; it’s possible to be bitten over 500 times in a single night due to a large bed bug infestation.
How To Effectively Get Rid Of Bed Bugs In Salt Lake City
The only way to safely and effectively get rid of bed bugs in your Salt Lake City home or business, for good, is with professional pest control services. Pest Pro Pest Control, a family-owned and operated business, has been serving the residents of Salt Lake City for more than 12 years, providing services for residential and commercial clients.
If you suspect you have bed bugs, call Pest Pro Pest Control at the first sign.
How To Stop Bed Bugs In Salt Lake City From Coming Back
Because bed bugs are, in almost all cases, accidentally carried inside by homeowners or guests from places they frequent or traveled to, it’s impossible to prevent bed bugs entirely. However, in addition to bed bug control services, homeowners in Salt Lake City can strongly deter bed bugs’ entry with the following three easy-to-implement suggestions:
- Vacuum several times a week. In the weeks immediately following an infestation, be sure to vacuum every day. This will help remove bed bugs that may have fallen onto the carpet and remove debris such as food crumbs that attract other pests.
- Wash and dry bedding on high heat. High temperatures kill bed bugs, and frequently washing and drying bedding and bedclothes on the high-heat setting will clear these textiles of bed bugs.
- Thoroughly wash and inspect clothing and luggage after traveling. Travel is one of the most common ways to bring bed bugs into homes in Salt Lake City and elsewhere. When traveling, store luggage on luggage racks and off the floor, and when returning home, enclose luggage in plastic luggage wrap. After arriving, wash all contents of the luggage and vacuum inside and around the luggage's outer shell.