BedBug Facts and Prevention in Kansas City

Many of our customers have discussed bedbug facts and prevention in Kansas City. We are asked if there are some facts they should know about bedbugs that can help them identify and understand more about bedbugs in Kansas City. Furthermore, our customers also ask if any prevention methods can be followed to help prevent bedbugs. ZipZap Termite & Pest Control has compiled some bedbug facts and prevention in Kansas City items below.

BedBug Facts

1. Bedbug saliva acts as an anesthetic and promotes increased blood flow. This helps the bedbug feed quicker and nearly painless. Moreover, it keeps the host from waking up during feeding.
2. Bedbugs can withstand temperatures from freezing to 122 degrees Fahrenheit.
3. Bedbugs survive months without eating.
4. 500-bed bug eggs can be laid in her lifetime
5. Bed bugs consume seven times their weight in blood. This is equivalent to an average male drinking 120 gallons.
6. When bed bugs hatch, they are so small that they can pass through a stitch-hole in a mattress.
7. A bed bug takes about five minutes to eat a blood meal, and then it retreats to digest.
8. Bed bugs can also feed on other animals, such as mice, birds, and family pests, but humans are their primary hosts.
9. Bed bugs were introduced to the U.S. from Europe around the 17th Century.

Tips for Preventing Bed Bugs

1. Thoroughly inspect your hotel room before unpacking. Areas would be headboard and furniture. Check the box spring and mattress, and pull back the sheets. You are looking for pepper-like stains. This could indicate evidence of activity from bed bugs.
2. Do not put your suitcase on the bed when you unpack. If possible, keep it covered and tied in a plastic bag—a large trash bag would work.
3. Inspect all belongings and suitcases prior to bringing them into the home after returning from a trip.
4. Wash and dry all clothing. Do this even if you have not worn them, just to be sure. Hot water for washing and extra hot water for the dryer is best.
5. If you notice bedbugs while staying at a hotel, notify the management and change rooms immediately, making sure the room does not butt up to the one infested.
6. Second-hand furniture, mattresses, and boxsprings are a problem. Never bring them into your home or college dorm without a thorough examination for signs of bedbug infestations.
7. You should regularly check areas where pets sleep for signs of bedbugs. Look for the same pepper-like stains you would see on sheets and mattresses. Look also for molted bed bug skins and white, sticky eggs.

Several steps can be taken to help prevent bed bugs in your everyday life. Inspecting regularly is the best line of defense against bed bug infestations. Above are some Tips and preventative measures to avoid bed bugs in the future.

If you have any questions or other concerns about bedbugs, don’t hesitate to contact our office. ZipZap Termite & Pest Control. Our Board Certified Entomologist can answer any questions you may have concerning bedbugs in Kansas City. Reach out to our office today at 816-407-7378

Jeffery Preece BCE,PHE

Jeffery is a Board Certified Entomologist at ZipZap Termite & Pest Control

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