Myths Associated With Bed Bugs In West Palm Beach


January 15, 2022

In life, there aren’t too many things that will get your skin crawling faster than encountering bed bugs. These pests feast on the blood of humans and animals, and if you see one in your West Palm Beach home, there is a good chance there are many more that you haven’t seen, more than likely taking up residence in the cozy bed where you sleep all your worries away.

There are many myths associated with bed bugs. Let’s debunk a few of these myths to set the record straight on bed bugs in West Palm Beach and how bed bug control from the professionals at Empire Pest Defense can strike back at these nasty fiends.

a bed bug crawling on a bed

Myth: Bed Bugs Are Too Small To See

Many people are under the assumption that bed bugs are not visible to the naked eye. While baby bed bugs, called nymphs, can be less than 1/6 inch in length and very difficult to see, the adults are usually around ¼ inch long and can be visibly identified. The nymphs are so small that they are more than likely the reason why most people think bed bugs are too small to see. One of the more unusual features of these bugs is that their appearance depends on whether they have just eaten or not. Unfed adults are mahogany in color and flat and oval in size. If they are engorged with the blood of their last meal, they will be reddish-brown in color and swollen and elongated in size. Bed bugs have six legs and two antennae and have small wing pads, but they do not have actual wings, so thankfully, flying is not an ability they possess.

Myth: Bed Bugs Are A Result Of Poor Hygiene And Dirty Homes

Bed bugs really aren’t attracted to filthy areas like most bugs are. They just want to be around people, their main source of food, and are good at hitching a ride on their host and then setting up shop wherever they end up. They are not known to spread diseases as much as other bugs but some researchers have suggested that they may transmit a few diseases, including roundworm infections, leishmaniasis, and Chagas disease.

For the most part, a bed bug bite is painless; however, most people develop an allergic reaction to the saliva that is transmitted during the bite, which causes the skin to become red, itchy, and swollen. These bites don’t usually result in the spread of diseases but bacteria can get into the opening in the skin from the bite and cause infection.

Myth: Bed Bugs Only Hang Around Beds

With a name like bed bugs, you would tend to think that they are only found in beds. While beds are a primary area to discover this bug, whose proper name is Cimex lectularius, there are many other areas where they will hide. Once their population begins to grow, bed bugs can be found in couch seams, under cushions, behind baseboards, behind wall hangings, inside outlets, and under piles of clutter.

Bed bugs can generally be found wherever people can be found. The most common places you can encounter them are:

  • Hotels, motels, and any place of lodging
  • Cruise ships and resorts
  • Movie theaters, laundromats, libraries, and museums
  • Airports, bus stations, and other public transportation stations
  • Schools and dormitories
  • Businesses and offices

As you can see, bed bugs can definitely be found in places where there are no beds, so chances are you have been around a bed bug without even being aware you may have been their next meal.

Myth: You Can Get Rid Of Bed Bugs On Your Own

Getting rid of bed bugs on your own is a near-impossible task. There are several things you can do to try to prevent a bed bug infestation, like:

  • Being familiar with their appearance and always checking places you are staying before bringing your luggage inside.
  • Placing bed bug-proof covers on your mattresses.
  • Keeping personal belongings off the floors of public places as much as you can.
  • Doing your laundry regularly and not letting it pile up on the floor.
  • Thoroughly inspecting mattresses and furniture before bringing them into your home.

However, once you have an infestation, there is not much you can do on your own. At the first sign of a bed bug, you should call Empire Pest Defense. We are the best local pest control to kill bed bugs and have nearly 15 years of treating pest problems in West Palm Beach.

Our treatments will eliminate active pest infestations while also working to protect your home from future threats. Contact us at Empire Pest Defense for your bed bug control and let us send these vermin packing.

Tags: bed bug control | bed bug prevention | bed bug infestations |