10 Myth-Busting Facts to Avoid Bed Bug Bites

Between their inconspicuous nature, their sudden spike in prominence, and their minuscule size, there is a lot of mystery surrounding bed bugs. Naturally, this leads to many misunderstandings about the ways that they operate and the ways we must deal with them. To stay safe from bed bugs, it’s important to be aware of common misconceptions about them. If you want to separate fact from fiction about bed bugs in Santa Fe NM, read on for expert insight from our bed bug exterminators at New Mexico Pest Control!

10 Common Myths About Bed Bugs

1. You can’t see bed bugs with the naked eye. Bed bugs are actually about the size of an apple seed. Younger bed bugs and their eggs can be difficult to spot because they’re smaller and lighter in color, but adult bed bugs are reddish-brown and become even bigger when engorged with a blood meal.
2. Bed bugs can fly and jump. Thankfully, bed bugs aren’t all that mobile. They only get around by crawling, and they do so slowly. This doesn’t quite matter, though, because they’re only active while you’re sleeping.
3. Bed bugs can live a year without blood. Not quite so long. Adult bed bugs can go about 2-3 months without a meal, sometimes a bit longer in colder conditions. They will not survive a year without blood.
4. Bed bugs only bite at night. Bed bugs actually adjust their schedules to be active whenever a local host usually sleeps. If you work a night shift, your bed bugs will adjust to being active during the day while you rest.
5. Bed bugs are only found in beds. Bed bugs infest all kinds of places, from furniture to cupboards, to electrical outlets and light switches. Any hiding place near a host is viable.
6. Bed bugs like unsanitary conditions. The cleanliness of your room doesn’t do much to attract or deter bed bugs. While clutter can provide them with more hiding places, what they really care about is a reliable host to feed on.
7. Bed bugs travel on people. Bed bugs don’t latch onto their hosts to travel like ticks or fleas. Instead, they travel in backpacks, luggage, clothing, furniture, and other transported goods.
8. Bed bugs transmit diseases. Bed bugs can cause lots of anxiety, sleeplessness, and itchiness, but they do not pass diseases on to humans through their bites. You can develop an infection from scratching your bites, though.
9. Doctors can identify bed bug bites. It’s actually more difficult than one would imagine to do this reliably. People can react to bed bug bites very differently, ranging from a rash-like appearance to bumps, to nothing at all.
10. DIY bed bug control methods work. If you have a bed bug infestation that you aren’t addressing professionally, it is almost guaranteed that their numbers are growing. Without a house-wide treatment, you can miss bed bugs caught in secluded corners where you wouldn’t think to look.

Professional Bed Bug Extermination in Santa Fe NM

If you have a bed bug problem, it’s imperative that you have them dealt with professionally. The bed bug control team at New Mexico Pest Control can inspect your home to find all active bed bugs and determine the best possible solution to your infestation. This is usually a house-wide heat treatment that kills all active bed bugs with unsurvivable temperatures. To learn more about our bed bug treatments and receive a free quote, contact us today!