Common Myths and Facts About Bed Bugs

Bed bugs are everywhere. Nearly eliminated in the mid-1900s, bed bugs are spreading throughout the United States, and can be found in every city in Arizona. Of all the pests we treat at Green Home Pest Control, bed bugs are the ones that tend to cause homeowners the most fear, as they are highly resistant to previous treatments and almost impossible to exterminate by hand.

Still, despite how well-known these pests are, they are still widely misunderstood. There are many myths about bedbugs that Arizona homeowners still believe today. Below are some myths and facts about bed bugs.

Myths About Bed Bugs

MYTH: Bed bugs tend to live in dingy areas and spread from cheap motels.

FACT: Bed bugs do not care about the quality of your home, and are just as likely to be at a Motel 6 as they are at a Ritz Carlton. The idea that they are found at cheap and dingy motels is a myth, and one that only exists because there tend to be a lot of motels in areas with a dense population (and thus more visitors).

MYTH: You can only get bed bugs if you stayed somewhere that had bed bugs.

FACT: Bed bugs are not afraid to travel. When they have outgrown one location, bed bugs may leave a house and wander to another home nearby or grab on a nearby pet and hitch a ride. You can get bed bugs even if you never leave your house and never invite guests over. And since bed bugs can theoretically live in offices, movie theaters, and your friend’s houses, you’re always at a slight risk for a bed bug invasion.

MYTH: If bed bugs don’t feed, they die.

FACT: While this is technically true, bed bugs can live for as long as 2 to 3 months or more without a blood meal, depending on the season. Waiting them out is impractical.

MYTH: Bed bugs feed at night.

FACT: Bed bugs do tend to feed at night, but have no problems biting during the day if they are hungry. They are happy to eat when they need to eat.

MYTH: Throwing out my mattress will help.

FACT: Bed bugs are not really bed bugs. They live on couches, in walls, on carpets, in cabinets – anywhere they can find safety and shelter. Throwing out your mattress is often a waste of a perfectly good mattress, as the bed bug population is unlikely to be eliminated.

Eliminate Your Bed Bugs

If you believe you may have bed bugs, and you’re located in Phoenix, Scottsdale, Mesa, or anywhere in the Arizona area, call Green Home Pest today at 480-568-3752. We are happy to come visit your home, and see what we can do to eliminate your bed bug problem.

See the original post: Common Myths and Facts About Bed Bugs on our official Green Home Pest website.