At one time, bed bugs were thought to be completely extinct. But these tiny blood-feeding parasites are extremely resilient and have been able to survive and thrive for over 3,000 years. The bed bug population has increased in and around Colorado Springs in the last few years.
If you think you might have bed bugs in your home, our Colorado Springs pest control specialists know what steps to take next. High Country Pest Control has been providing innovative bed bug control options for decades, and we know the right solution for your bed bug problem.
What Are Bed Bugs?
Bed bugs are small insects that are only about a quarter of an inch long. Although ticks are not a part of the insect family, many people compare bed bugs to ticks. The main reason for this is that, like ticks, bed bugs live on a blood-only diet. Also, a bed bug's body will swell after having a blood meal.
When bed bugs are unfed, they have a flat, oval-shaped body that is a dark mahogany color. After having a large blood meal, they will turn reddish-brown and have rounder bodies.
How Do Bed Bug Infestations Spread?
Bed bugs reproduce steadily. The female bed bug needs a blood meal in order to lay eggs. But once she has fed, she can lay around one to seven eggs every day for ten days. After an egg has hatched, the bed bug nymph only takes about seven weeks to reach full maturity.
These bugs are extremely small and able to go undetected for a long time. This is why it is important to clean and inspect your home often. If a few bed bugs are able to get inside your home and go undetected for several weeks, by the time you find one bed bug in your home, you could already have a full-blown bed bug infestation.
How Do Bed Bugs Find Their Way Into Homes?
Even though bed bugs have tiny legs, that doesn't stop them from getting from place to place. On average, bed bugs can travel around four feet in one minute. Their small size makes it easy for them to sneak into your home without your knowledge. If you get too close to them, they will climb onto your clothes, bags, purses, and other accessories to hitch a ride back to your home. Some of the places that you might pick up bed bugs could include:
- Hotels
- Hospitals
- Schools
- Nursing homes
- Public transportation
Any public place that gets a lot of visitors on a daily basis has the potential to be infested with bed bugs. You should always be vigilant when in public. Don't leave your luggage or bags on the ground in hotels, and check your belongings when returning home from trips. You should also check second-hand items for signs of bed bugs before bringing them into your home.
What's The Fastest Way To Get Rid Of Bed Bugs?
Bed bugs can easily invade your Colorado Springs home. Once you have several bed bugs in your house, it can be extremely difficult to get rid of them on your own. These sneaky bugs can hide in some of your home's most hard-to-reach crevices, making them exceptionally challenging to find.
At High Country Pest Control, after we thoroughly inspect your home, we will use a multi-step bed bug control method to ensure that all of the bed bugs and their eggs are gone for good. Give us a call today and ask about our same-day service options!