| By :
Mark Etinger
Bed bugs. Just uttering the name is enough to send a shiver down most people's spines. And rightly so! These nocturnal blood sucking creatures are harder to kill than Stephen Segal in a bad action movie, and unless you kill every single one, they multiply and come back for more blood. It may sound like a plot for the latest horror flick, but for anyone who has experienced a bed bug problem, it's a terrifying reality. If you're new to the terrifying world of bed bugs, or have experienced them before, here is a little guide to help you identify what they are, how you can prevent them, and if it's too late, how you can get rid of them. What exactly are bed bugs? They are brown nocturnal bugs that feed of blood. They are most commonly found inside mattresses, and sneak out to feed just before dawn, usually for about 5 minutes. Getting rid of bed bugs is hard because they can hide out and live without feeding for up to a year. And to make matters worse, each bug can lay up four or five eggs a day thus creating a large, blood-hungry bug family under or inside your mattress. What are the signs of an infestation? If you have noticed dark spots on your mattress, brown shed skin, eggs, or dead bugs, you have a problem and are in need of bed bug control. These can be found in the mattress, in the box springs, or in your sheets. How can I prevent bed bugs? A great way many people prevent bed bugs is to invest in a plastic mattress cover. This will keep anything from going in and out and keep you from getting bitten if there is bed bug activity in your mattress. Another way is to repair any cracks visible in your home's exterior to prevent them from sneaking in and invading. If you buy used furniture, inspect it thoroughly before bringing it home for optimal bed bug control. How can I get rid of bed bugs? The first step in getting rid of bed bugs is identifying the problem and measuring how severe it is. The most accurate way of detecting the problem would be dog inspection teams. A bed bug dog inspection is up to 95% accurate and a human inspection is only 17-30% accurate. If you do choose to go with a human inspector, make sure the inspector is a separate entity from the exterminator, as it they would be more likely to identify problems in order to get you to use their services. All in all, professional extermination gives you the peace of mind that the problem has been taken care of. A common method in professional extermination is fumigation using anti-termite chemicals like Vikane. Vikane is a gas that doesn't stain or leave lingering odors and is only available to professional exterminators. In addition to professional extermination, there are many home treatments available, but may not work depending on the severity of your particular case. Remember that if you want to kill bed bugs for good, professional help may be your best bet. As stated earlier, bed bugs can live without feeding for up to year, so be especially thorough when utilizing a home treatment, as they could come back when you thought you killed them all.
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