April 26, 2022

A common complaint we hear from home and office clients is bedbugs. There are two types of bedbugs humans usually interact with: Cimex lectularius and Cimex hemipterus. Bedbugs look like tiny reddish- brownish apple seeds and their eggs look like white poppy seeds or those microplastic beads found in some body scrubs.

Realizing you have bedbugs doesn’t mean you have a dirty house and don’t clean. Bedbugs are tiny, proliferate at an alarming rate and are good at hiding. Anyone can find themselves with a case of bedbugs.

How do Bedbugs Get Into the House?

  • From the office. Bedbugs will hide in chairs, carpet, curtains, couches, etc.
  • From someone else’s house, whether you came from there or they brought them to yours.
  • From hotels. Luggage is one of the most common ways that bedbugs are transmitted. They will also ride along on shoes, socks, pant legs, anywhere they can get in and hide.
  • Used furniture. It’s highly doubtful that the previous owner had the furniture treated for

bedbugs before selling it.

  • Items that touched the previous items, like backpacks and purses.

Sleeping Easier Without Bedbugs

Bedbugs are often spoken of as a minor nuisance, but they’re really a nightmare. They come out at night and actually prefer human blood over other mammals’ blood. They’re good at hiding in crevices, seams, and fibers. They leave tiny bites that look like pin pricks or flea bites that don’t swell or turn the surrounding skin pink. Bedbugs lay eggs in the same places where they hide. Especially disgusting is that they also defecate freely. This and their bites are the main ways people become aware of them in their homes. Bedbug feces looks like dark or rust-colored smears. That’s your blood that they’ve excreted into your mattress. Disgusting.

Bedbugs are not known to spread disease through their bites, but some people are allergic to them. If you’ve been bitten by bedbugs, clean the bites with antiseptic. Try not to scratch too much, as that’ll only keep the wounds open and increase your chances of infection. If they become inflamed, seek medical attention immediately.

Check out more of our material on bedbugs and take a look at some government education on bedbugs. If you’re in the greater Rochester area and you suspect bedbugs, contact us on our website or call (585) 486-4815.