Bed Bug Identification & Prevention

Bed bugs are small parasitic insects that feed off humans and sometimes animals, primarily during nighttime. They earn their name from their love of hiding out around sleeping areas; sleeping humans are easier to feed off of. You can identify bed bugs by their small size, dark coloration, and flat, oval shape.

While bed bugs don’t transfer diseases or introduce pathogens into properties,  bed bug bites can be dangerous and tend to be itchy and seen in zig-zag clusters. Scratching at the bites can lead to secondary infections. Their bites can also trigger allergic reactions. Bed bug infestations also lead to anxiety, insomnia, and stress, all of which encourage significant health problems over time.

If you notice a bed bug problem around your property, you likely brought them home after traveling through infested areas or bringing an infested item into your house. Bed bugs are notorious hitchhikers, and they will hide in any space possible for a free ride to another location with plenty of human hosts to feed on.

Around your property, you can expect to find bed bugs hiding in bed frames, the corners of mattresses, on sheets and pillows, in the cracks of furniture, along the seams of upholstered items, and even in the gaps or holes around walls and utility outlet areas. Due to their small size and skill at hiding, bed bug infestations can spread out throughout your property without you even noticing at first; professional inspections are a key part of total bed bug removal.

The best way to get rid of bed bugs is to trust Gecko Pest Control. Professional bed bug control for your home is much more effective and reliable than DIY bed bug removal tactics, and our team will work with you closely to ensure that all bed bug problems are taken care of. Our bed bug treatment plans include an inspection, treatment, and follow-up maintenance to ensure we remove all bed bugs and their eggs.

To prevent bed bugs in the future, follow the below steps to deter infestations from occurring around your property.

• Always elevate your luggage when traveling and use luggage racks to prevent bed bugs from crawling inside your bags.
• Check for signs of bed bugs around hotels or motels, such as reddish staining, unpleasant odors, and sightings of bed bugs.
• Always ensure that secondhand appliances and furniture are free of bed bugs before moving the item into your property.
• Wash clothes you’ve traveled with in hot water immediately upon returning home to eliminate any unnoticed bed bug hitchhikers.
• Be wary in bed bug hot spots such as hotels, schools, libraries, and public transportation to avoid accidentally picking up this insect.

Bed bug infestations are a nightmare. Don’t hesitate to contact Gecko Pest Control at the first signs of bed bugs on your property to benefit from thorough, dependable bed bug and pest control services in Longview.