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For fifty years, humans and bed bugs lived relatively separate lives. Recently though, they’ve made a resurgence. Researchers blame an increase in international travel and ineffective insecticides. Regardless of the reason for the increased presence of the bloodsucking fiends, most people want to know how to get rid of them.

The first step in the battle against bed bugs is knowing what you’re up against. These parasites are recognizable for their small, flat, circular bodies. They start reddish-brown but become a darker red after feeding. The nocturnal creatures typically sneak out during the night, sinking their proboscis into humans and animals to suck their blood. They need just three minutes to fill up, and then, they’ll pull their tube-like mouthpieces from your skin and hide while they digest.

The bugs’ bites leave behind clusters of small red welts or bumps. Bites are often the first way people notice they have an infestation; markings, droppings, eggs, and blood stains are other clues.

It’s important to understand bed bugs are not a sign of dirty living spaces or business. They are known to hitch rides on clothing, upholstery, and used furniture. Any time you venture into the outside world, you risk encountering them. These creatures get their names because they hide in or around beds, including within mattress seams, bed frames, headboards, and box springs. They are fantastic at hiding and can squeeze into small cracks and crevices or sneak behind wallpaper to hide. Although they prefer to be near their nightly bloodmeals, they’ll travel over 100 feet in a night to feed.

Part of what makes them so difficult to eradicate is that they can live for as long as 18 months without feeding. If they need to go into hiding, they’ll do it. And if you’re trying a do-it-yourself remedy that kills off some of the bugs, you won’t be in the clear for long. The other factor that makes the bugs such strong survivors is how quickly they multiply. Bed bugs can lay as many as seven eggs a day for ten days after a single blood meal. When she feeds again, she starts the process over.

There are precautions you can take to minimize the chance of a bed bug infestation. When traveling out of town, it’s a good idea to wash your clothing immediately and dry it on high heat; bed bugs won’t survive temperatures over 115° Fahrenheit.

When dealing with a problem as serious as bed bugs, it’s important not to do anything halfway. Go with Texas Bed Bug experts, you know you can trust. At Bed Bug Texas Termite & Pest Control, our expertise is listed right in the name of our company. Our family-owned business works only with highly-trained technicians who use professional-grade equipment and the most modern pest control techniques to ensure infestations are dealt with quickly, carefully, and thoroughly. Contact your Bed Bug Exterminator today and get your home bed bug-free.