Bed Bugs Denver

June 9, 2011

Bed Bugs in Denver

Bed bugs have been a problem in the past and still continue to be one of the increasing pest problems that have been infesting both commercial and residential structures in Denver. As a matter of fact, according to Terminix, Denver was ranked as the 6th most Bed bug infested areas in the United States. Bedbugs manage to infest major cities in the country mainly through hitching a ride on clothing and luggage when residents travel, by old or second hand furniture and by guests who have just arrived from travelling both domestically and internationally. This surge of Bed bugs has severely affected the hospitality industry, retail stores, movie theaters and even schools. Evidently, they have not just become a problem for the homeowners of Denver, but for nearly everyone else as well.

The existence of Bed bugs has been for years and no one can actually tell when they had actually begun. They had become a major problem in the country till DDT was applied in the 1930’s to eliminate Bed bugs. It had been a success as it had eliminated a large number of Bed bugs infestations, but with the dangers DDT had on humans and the environment, it then was banned. Today, a variety of chemical and non chemical treatments are available for Bed bug infestations in Denver, but not all of them guarantees complete Bed bug control, especially if not applied appropriately.

Identifying and Detecting Bed Bugs

Bed bugs are quite difficult to detect and it may at times take several months till you realize that Bed bugs have already taken over your home. People are somewhat alerted about Bed bugs living in their homes when they are bitten. The appearance of Bed bugs bites vary for every person as there are some who show severe allergic reactions while others have none. For those who have severe reactions, Bed bug bites can show as small red welts that are formed in a row, one after the other and they can also show in clusters evidently as a sign of severe rashes. Moreover, these welts can have mild to intense itching that leads to people scratching endlessly, then inflammation and finally infection that will require immediate medical attention.

Bed bugs are small blood sucking insects that can be detected along bed frames, nightstands, mattresses and furniture, including clothing and electronics.  Bed bugs do not stay in just one room in a house or hotel. As a matter of fact they can crawl through wall cracks and wirings and find another host as well.

Since Bed bugs fancy hitching rides on travelers, they can usually been seen in motels, hotels and even in airplanes and luggage. If you begin to suspect that you have a Bed bug problem, you may want to inspect your bed frame and mattress with the help of a flashlight. The main indication of infestations are the tiny blood stains or spots on the mattress and dark stains or spots on the frame, cracks and crevices. If you are able to find molting or their shed skins, then you already have an infestation as it is a sign that new Bed bugs are being born and have already been advancing to their adult stage.

Eradicating Bed Bugs

It is definitely possible for Bed bugs to be eradicated on your own, but you must never underestimate and assume that you can deal with the situation effectively alone. There are sprays and treatments that could be bought at a store, but they may not be as effective for severe Bed bug populations and may not eradicate the entire infestation since they are meant for surfaces and not cracks and crevices. Another problem with applying chemicals is that, if you happen to apply or handle it wrongly, it just may end up causing harm on yourself, family and the environment.

The most effective way of eradicating Bed bugs completely is by engaging the services of a professional pest control in Denver that can provide services to homeowners, nursing homes, hospitals, dormitories, hotels, motels and other lodgings. Before you sign any contract with a professional pest control, you should do your homework and do a complete research about the pest control company, their credibility in Denver and that all chemicals that they are using is approved by the State laws.

Selecting Suitable Non Chemical Treatments

A budget friendly treatment would be the use of chemicals like liquid pesticide, dust pesticide and fumigant that are effective and have residual effectiveness. Bed bugs have been known to have become resistant to several pesticides, but several other EPA labeled pesticides is still effective. Before you opt to use any chemical treatments, bear in mind that it is still not completely effective and can increase migration and result to discarding infested items. Nevertheless, chemicals are chemicals and they can cause health conditions if they are not properly applied. If you result to chemicals of any sort even if they are bought in stores, do your research about the active ingredients and its contents.

A preferable non toxic method in Denver is rapid freezing that eradicated Bed bugs of all life stages that are also resistant to pesticides. However, prior to treatment application, the area must be de-cluttered. Its only problem would be is that the treatment is only useful for direct contact and will not penetrate any materials.

Heat treatments on the other hand do not require chemicals to eliminate infestations. It can efficiently penetrate materials but is quite expensive and will require extensive preparation before the treatment is applied. The treatment depends on the heat temperature that is exposed in an infested room for several hours.

Another environmental friendly treatment is steaming that requires direct application to the infested area with steam cleaners. This certain treatment effectively eradicates Bed bugs of all stages from eggs, to nymphs and to adult Bed bugs. Steaming treatment is very effective, but is still not completely effective and could leave moisture behind.

Bed Bugs Infestation

There is nothing as terrifying and disgusting as Bed bugs attacking and feeding on us as we sleep. The annoying thing is, they are not even the result of a poorly maintained house, because regardless if your house is neat and tidy or cluttered, Bed bugs end up in our homes by hitching rides on us, our luggage, and old furniture and through wall cracks and wirings.

How They Bite

The mouth structure of Bed bugs consists of 2 tubes like parts. One tube is to pierce and inject anti coagulant and anesthetic saliva into the skin if their host while the other tube part sucks out the blood that flows freely because of the anti coagulant property injected that prevents the blood from clotting. The Bed bugs bite can actually refer to the allergic reaction caused by the anesthetic property contained in their saliva. A large number of people have had severe allergic reactions while a few are non reactive, leaving them clueless as to whether they have Bed bugs in their house or not.  For those who react to the saliva, small red welts will form on the skin that can be formed in a row or in clusters. Such welts itch terribly and if constantly scratched, it can bleed and become infected.

Indications of Infestation

There are always signs of Bed bugs infestation. You can find their excretions that are tiny trails or even spots of digested blood smeared on a pillow or mattress. They can even look like as though you had a small scrape and had bled a little on the bed. However, the more smears you find, the worse the infestation is getting. It is hard to catch them during the day as they are nocturnal; therefore hiding in folds and edges of mattresses till it is time to feed. There are times when you may find streaks and dots of their excretions on walls leading to certain hiding places such as electrical outlets and behind switch plates, lamp fixtures and bed frames.

As the life cycle of Bed bugs begin from them hatching from eggs and the rest of their life stages in 5 molting till they mature into adults, their shed skin or exoskeletons that measures about the size of half a grain of rice. More of these skins and you already have an infestation problem.

Bed bugs infestation can also be determined by the odor they let out. Trained canine are used to detect such odor to locate the area of infestation. This method can help you find Bed bugs aside from the other indicators, so looking at cracks and crevices is essential.

Bed bugs infestation cannot be blamed on anyone. But with our own efforts and vigilance, we can manage to prevent and control Bed bugs from becoming a severe infestation problem that can spread and affect other people and their homes but we must not allow these pests to ruin our lives while we are asleep.

 

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