Bed Bugs 101: Everything You Should Know About Bed Bugs

Dealing with bed bugs in Long Island can be quite a challenge for both homes and businesses. Each year, many people lose sleep over these pesky critters, especially in New York, which is one of the hardest-hit states. But don't worry, now's the perfect time to learn more about bed bugs, how to safely seal them off, and the secrets to preventing them from spreading to other rooms. If you're having trouble with bed bugs, you can count on EM Pest Control for reliable pest control services in Long Island, Queens, and Brooklyn to help you get rid of them effectively.

What Do Bed Bugs Look Like?

Bed bugs are brown, flat, and oval-shaped insects with six legs and two antennae. They grow to about 3/16th of an inch long and 1/8th of an inch wide. These clever "hitchhikers" love to catch a ride on suitcases, clothes, or anything else they can find, ending up wherever these items land. Their hitchhiking skills make it easy for them to spread quickly.

Where Are Bed Bugs Found?

Bed bugs are found almost everywhere people gather, including homes, hotels, schools, offices, retail stores, and public transportation. This variety of habitats helps them thrive and spread, making them hard to control.

Can Bed Bugs Fly?

Bed bugs do not have wings and cannot fly. 

What Do Bed Bugs Eat?

Bed bugs feed only on blood. While they need regular meals to grow and survive, adult bed bugs can survive several months without feeding. These pests feed on various warm-blooded animals, but humans are their primary hosts, as they attach to any exposed skin. It typically takes 5-10 minutes for bed bugs to fill up on blood. Once they have fed, they retreat to hidden areas to digest their meal, reproduce, and lay eggs.

Are Bed Bugs Nocturnal?

Bed bugs are often referred to as nocturnal insects since they usually emerge at night to feed, although they may occasionally take a blood meal during the day. They are attracted to the warm, consistent flow of carbon dioxide that people exhale while sleeping, prompting them to come out at night. If there's a heavy infestation, you will definitely see bed bugs during the day.

Where Do Bed Bugs Hide?

As you might guess from their name, bed bugs often hide in the bedroom, but they can also make themselves at home in other parts of the property, such as:

• Cracks and crevices in walls or floor
• Armchairs and couches
• Behind baseboards
• Carpets
• Within bedding
• Inside box springs
• Stuffed animals
• Suitcases
• Backpacks
• Clothing
• Seams and pockets of purses
• Seats, carpet and vents on airplanes
• Inside electrical outlets
• Picture frames
• Wallpaper

Are Bed Bugs Dangerous?

Bed bugs are less dangerous than they are a nuisance. Bed bug bites are virtually painless and do not transmit diseases. However, most people develop an allergic reaction to the saliva transmitted during bites, causing red, itchy welts that can often be relieved with topical steroid creams. After periods of extended exposure, it is possible for humans to reach a point where they no longer have a reaction to bed bug bites, or those reactions may become more severe.

How Can I Prevent a Bed Bug Infestation at Hotels, Motels, or Airbnb?

• Thoroughly inspect the entire room you are staying in before unpacking, including behind the headboard, under lights and inside dressers, drawers, sofas and chairs.
• Pull back the sheets and inspect the mattress seams and box springs, particularly at the corners, for pepper-like stains, spots or shed bed bug skins. 
• Place suitcases in a plastic trash bag during the entirety of your trip to ensure that bed bugs cannot take up residence there prior to departure. 
• Do not place luggage on upholstered surfaces. The safest place is in the bathroom in the middle of a tile floor or on a luggage rack after it has been thoroughly inspected. Do not use a luggage rack if it has hollow legs, where bed bugs may hide unseen.
• If you suspect your room is infested, notify management and request to change rooms immediately. Be sure to avoid rooms next to and above/below the suspected room, as bed bugs can easily move and spread via housekeeping carts, luggage and even through wall sockets.

Ways to Prevent Bed Bugs at Home:

• Inspect your suitcases and bags outdoors before bringing them into the house.
• Vacuum your suitcase thoroughly before storing it. Also using a garment hand steamer on your luggage is preferable because it can kill any bed bugs or eggs that may have traveled home with you.
• Wash and dry all your clothes - even those that have not been worn – on high heat.
• Keep clothes that go to the dry cleaner in a sealed plastic bag until they can be transported.

How Do I Get Rid of Bed Bugs?

Once bed bugs find their way into your home, they can settle in pretty quickly and be quite difficult to remove, so it's best not to delay.  If you are worried you may have brought bed bugs home, reach out to the friendly experts at EM Pest Control. Our team of bed bug specialists is well-trained and experienced in getting rid of these persistent pests and helping prevent them from coming back. Call 516-455-6742 or 516-491-2768.