Bed Bugs invade Ohio

Bed Bugs invade Ohio

A recent report was released for an annual ranking list for bed bug infested cities in the United States on Thursday. It would appear Detroit is the leader with Philadelphia in second place. Philadelphia has been the leader for the last six years. Ohio leads the race with the most cities infested with bed bugs. Dayton, Cincinnati, Columbus. Cleveland/Akron area and Toledo are all on the list.

Steady Increase in infestations

The release went on to say that there has been a steady increase since the 1990’s. This is mainly due to travel. People are traveling internationally much more than they have been in the past. People associate bed bugs as a problem that happens at home. Bed Bugs are notorious hitch hikers and you can pick them up at places you would never expect. When traveling, you need to understand how you bring them back to your house in order to avoid them.

Bed Bugs and Travel

Most people don’t understand exactly how you can bring them  home. They can be picked up on airplanes, at hotels, taxi cabs and if you go to see a movie while in town or out. You can get them from anyone that might have had them while watching the latest movie. While Extermital Termite & Pest Control does offer some very important tips while staying in a hotel, you can read about it on our blog “How to search your hotel for bed bugs.”  We don’t go into great detail about other ways you can get them. We will write another blog within the next few days on various ways you can protect yourself while traveling.

The list was compiled using data nationwide from Jan. 1, 2015 to Dec. 17, 2015.
Top 15 bed bug cities in the United States:
Detroit, Mich.
Philadelphia, Pa.
Cleveland-Akron, Ohio
Los Angeles, Calif.
Dayton, Ohio
Chicago, Ill.
Columbus, Ohio
Cincinnati, Ohio
Dallas-Forth Worth, Texas
San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose, Calif.
Denver, Colo.
Toledo, Ohio
Oklahoma City, OK
Baltimore, Md.
New York, N.Y.

Bed Bugs Control: History – What are they and health concerns

We’ve all heard the saying “Sleep tight, don’t let the bed bugs bite,” but what are bed bugs and what do we really know about them? In this article we will offer the answer to all of that and so much more!

What are bed bugs?

Bed bugs are small insects which are oval and live on the blood of humans or animals. The older bed bugs have flat bodies and their size is similar to an apple seed. The body of a bed bug will change its color after feeding, as it becomes reddish. An important thing to note here is that even if bed bugs can’t fly, they can move very fast on the wall, ceiling or floor. Not only that, but the females are known to deliver hundreds of eggs at the same time so the population can increase exponentially.

Bed bug history

Even if they might seem like a menace now, bed bugs have been a part of history. The first signs point to the caves in the Middle East, but their first mention was in the Ancient Greece, more specifically around 400 BC.  And, they were later mentioned by Aristotle in some of his work as well.

An interesting thing about bed bugs in history is that even though people have tried to eradicate this species, it continue to oppose by evolving while we continually try to figure out new and improved ways to remove them.

Health concerns

While some of the major issues caused by bed bugs include constant itching, continual exposure to them can cause dermal issues.  In this case, you would need to contact your doctor. There are situations in which people had some problems with their immune system due to bed bug bites, but this is a rare thing.

Signs of infestations

There are many ways you can see if your bed/bedroom is infested with bed bugs.  The major signs are blood stains on the pillowcases or the sheets, rusty or dark spots on the mattresses and bed clothes or even walls. You might also have a bed bug infestation if you see fecal spots, egg shells or even some shed skins in the damp areas of your home. An important thing to note is that such infestations can come with a musty odor that is usually generated by the bed bug glands.

How to get rid of bed bugs

The best thing you can do is to clean your bedroom.   Clean everything from clothing to curtains and bedding.  Everything needs to be washed and cleaned with hot water. Clean every item in your room as this will reduce the risks of having another infestation. Use a stiff brush to scrub the mattress before you vacuum, as this is their usual hiding spot. Of course, you should try and vacuum your bed as often as possible, as well as the surrounding area near your bed. A totally enclosed mattress and box spring protector may help.

Another important thing to do is to repair cracks in plaster or remove the peeling wallpaper as that is yet another place where bed bugs tend to hide within a home.

The only sure way to rid yourself of bed bugs is to call in a professional. You want someone that has been in business for years, someone with a great reputation.
Extermital Termite & Pest Control has been in the pest control industry for almost 80 years. We are one of the leaders in Ohio, Indiana and Northern Kentucky for pest control. Our reputation and reviews speak for themselves.

We have 3 locations and can handle any of your pest control needs.

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