Bed bugs are not only unsettlingly creepy but tough to get rid of. Once they find access to your home, bed bugs have a nearly infinite number of ways to hide, lay eggs and continue their lifecycle. For this reason, they are notorious for rendering apartments impossible to rent and causing homeowners unending headaches. To understand your situation, it is important to understand your problem. Here is a brief overview of peak bed bug times as well as what to look for before calling pest control in Brampton.

When Are Bed Bugs Most Active?

Like ticks and other parasitic bugs, bed bugs are most active during the warmer months of the year. This is because insects and arachnids living outdoors have a harder time surviving in cold conditions. Since bed bugs primarily thrive indoors, however, it is possible to acquire an infestation any time in the year. Since relatively few cases of bed bugs come from bugs that live in nature, whether or not it is cold outside is rarely relevant to your likelihood of ending up with a problem.

Human behaviour is most often the cause of bed bug infestations. In the spring and summer, you are more likely to travel and therefore come into contact with an established colony where you choose to stay. Disreputable hotels and youth hostels are especially common places to pick up opportunistic bed bugs that can hitch a ride on your belongings all the way back to your home. Because insect eggs are extremely small, you may still be carrying them inadvertently even if you have carefully inspected your belongings. 

When travelling, you may suspect or know that you have picked up several unwanted hitchhikers. This can be worrying, but there are things you can do. Perhaps the simplest method to kill bed bugs is to remove all of your belongings and heat them in a dryer for at least 30 minutes. Make sure that you have heated everything, including any bags or backpacks you use to carry clothes. Do not attempt this process once bed bugs have been brought back to your home. At this point, professional intervention is necessary.

What Are Signs of a Bed Bug Infestation?

The presence of bed bugs can be difficult or exceedingly simple to detect. Subtle signs include small blood stains or dark flakes of bug excrement on sheets or pillowcases. Bed bugs can also exude a musty odour. More obvious signs include shredded bug carapaces and obvious bite marks on your skin. Although many different infestations can cause bite marks, bed bug bites tend to present themselves as raised, itchy, red and disturbed bumps that occur in zigzagged clusters. Because receiving regular bed bug bites can be a relatively dismal prospect, you should contact pest control services as soon as you notice a problem.

What Can Bed Bug Removal Professionals Do for You?

Bed bugs are exceptionally difficult to remove on your own. To successfully banish them from your home, you will need to work closely with a pest control service. The removal process isn’t a single event but a process in which quarterly check-ups help to ensure that your infestation doesn’t come back or experience a resurgence. It is important for you to understand that bed bugs are not the end of your peaceful home life, but they take a bit of work and coordination to eliminate. At Truly Nolen, we work together with clients to make sure their infestations are resolved completely.

Whether you plan to travel in the summer or winter, you should be on the lookout for unwanted pests. Pay close attention to hotel conditions, overused lounge areas, and high-traffic locations. If you have an infestation and need immediate service, call Truly Nolen today.