Why Are Bed Bugs So Hard To Get Rid Of In Jacksonville?

Imagine a bug that feeds on the blood of bats and lives in caves. Imagine that bug developing a taste for human blood and moving from the caves into primitive dwellings. Imagine this clever bug living almost exclusively with humans through the centuries, though its presence causes irritation and often torment. Well, you don't have to imagine a bug like that. We have one. It's called the bed bug. If you're wondering why bed bugs are so hard to get rid of, you're not alone. People have been wondering that very question since the dawn of time. Today, we're going to take a look at a few reasons why you could have some trouble getting rid of bed bugs that get into your Jacksonville home or business.

Bed Bugs Don't Just Live In Beds

Don't let the name fool you. These bugs don't just live in beds. They can live in couches, chairs, desks, bed stands, electronic devices, luggage, pocketbooks, and other dark hiding places. Bed bugs can also hide behind baseboards, underneath carpets, in wall outlets, and even inside wall voids. If you're hoping to get rid of bed bugs by throwing away your bed or applying bed bug control products to your bed, you need to think again. Those bugs can be in many other places.

Bed Bugs Are Sneaky

There are four traits bed bugs possess that make them extremely difficult to detect when they get into a home. These traits make them naturally stealthy insects.

Tiny: A bed bug is only about 1mm when it first hatches. At its full size, it is only about 4.5mm. While not invisible to the naked eye, bed bugs are hard to see.

Transparent: When a bed bug first hatches, it is somewhat translucent. These can help it blend in slightly with its surroundings, especially light-colored surroundings.

Photosensitive: Bed bugs do not like the light. They will avoid it as much as possible. This causes them to hide in dark places that you need a flashlight to look into. And it causes them to come out at night or in dark rooms where the darkness conceals them.

Thigmotactic: Bed bugs prefer tight spaces. They'll get into creases, crevices, stitching, and compressed places, such as between a mattress and a box spring.

Bed Bugs Have A Super Power

As a bed bug develops, it sheds old skins and creates new ones. It does this five times. Each time, it becomes stronger. Why? Because bed bugs can develop a new skin that is more resistant to harmful chemicals present in its environment. If you spray for bed bugs and the spray doesn't kill your bugs, you're going to make your bugs stronger. Pest professionals that only use conventional treatments to eliminate bed bugs have to use a mix of products to get the job done, switching between them as they go.

Bed Bugs Are Hitchhikers

If you manage to get rid of bed bugs, it is very easy to get them again. You might even get them from the same source. It is important to understand that bed bugs hitch a ride into your home. If your infestation started after you returned from a vacation, you are probably okay. You're not likely to be exposed to them again. But, if bed bugs came from your work, your kid's school, the home of a neighbor, a daycare, an assisted living center, or some other point of contact that you commonly visit or commonly have visitors from, you can continue to be exposed to the external infested site.

What Works To Get Rid Of Bed Bugs?

We've only listed a few of the many reasons bed bugs are challenging bugs to exterminate. Hopefully, we've presented enough that you understand the nature of the problem. Bed bug elimination requires an understanding of bed bugs habits and habitats. We strongly recommend that you seek the assistance of a licensed pest management professional. If you live in the Jacksonville area, contact Lindsey Pest Services. Our pest professionals use steam, portable heat chambers, and EPA-approved products to completely rid homes and businesses of bed bugs. We also advise on how to make sure they don't come back. We can help you get those bugs the first time. Reach out to us today for service.