By Elaine Gammon
Bed bugs are problematic for both commercial and residential customers. If not handled properly, bed bug infestations can be a public relations nightmare for companies and businesses, resulting in a damaged reputation, lost revenue, possible litigation and, in extreme cases, closure.
Homeowners and renters also face a troubling battle with bed bug infestations that can take a physical and emotional toll and prove to be an expensive and frustrating problem to solve. The first step to understanding bed bugs is to learn the facts about these nocturnal creatures.
Here are a few important facts to know:
- Bed bugs are year-round pests that feed primarily on the blood of humans.
- Bed bugs are extremely resilient and considered one of the hardest pests to control.
- Bed bugs do not discriminate and are not the result of someone’s social status or cleanliness.
- Adult bed bugs are reddish-brown or mahogany in color, flat, and grow to about 1/4” long and 1/8” wide.
- Bed bugs “hitchhike” into an environment on items such as luggage, backpacks, briefcases, clothing, shoes, handbags and used furniture.
- Bed bugs do not fly or jump, but can move rapidly over floors, walls and ceilings.
- Bed bugs are commonly found on the seams of mattresses and box springs; bed frames, headboards, night stands and dressers; flooring, carpets, baseboards and wood trim; curtains and upholstery; and any clutter or objects near a bed.
- Signs of bed bugs include dried feces (looks like mold), dark blood stains, eggs and egg casings and brownish molted skins of maturing nymphs.
- Reaction to bed bug bites varies from person to person; some people do not react to bites at all.
- Bed bugs are not known to transmit disease.
For more information about Modern’s bed bug control program, visit the bed bug section of our website or call 1-800-323-7378.