Bed Bugs

"Sleep tight - don't let the bed bugs bite" is taking on new relevance these days. Reports of bedbug infestations have increased between 200% and 400 % nationwide.

Income isn't a barrier. They have been found in upscale hotels, fancy homes and deluxe high-rise apartments. They flourish in mattresses and box springs - also in luggage, curtain seams and under carpets.

Bedbugs can thrive just about anywhere . All they need are people.

What's Changed?

Bedbugs used to be associated mainly with crowded,  lower - income neighborhoods. Pest Control operators routinely sprayed homes and apartments. Because of concerns about pesticide safety , this isn't done anymore. Now Pest Control operators mainly use bait to control pests. This doesn't work with bedbugs , because they live on blood. There isn't a bait that's made from blood.

People rarely find just one bedbug. If you see one, there may be dozens, even hundreds, more in hiding. The females typically lay three to five eggs a day and eggs hatch in about five days.

What To Look For

It's a myth that bedbugs are too small to see . They usually are about the size of an apple seed  and a little plumper after feeding. They resemble ticks. Because they often feed late at night or very early in the morning, people rarely see them.

The Signs: Tiny blood spots on the sheets. They tend to live in out-of-the-way places. Bedbugs always are found close to the bed and furniture that people use often.

Call a bedbug specialist: All-Ways Exterminating has been killing bed-bugs for a long time.