You might assume that bed bugs are only found in beds, but these hardy, blood-sucking pests can make their home in almost any secluded area near humans. This makes the average living room especially vulnerable to bed bug infestations—bed bugs can hide in couches, pet beds, underneath rugs, inside the folds of curtains, and even under the seams between strips of wallpaper.
Signs Of Bed Bug Infestations In Living Rooms
Bed bugs are extremely small, and spend most of their time hidden, so you are unlikely to spot the bugs themselves. Most people only realise their home is infested with bed bugs when they start suffering from bites. If you are finding small, itchy welts on your skin, or small specks of blood on your clothing, at least one room in your house may be harboring bed bugs.
However, it is sometimes easier to spot the shed skins and droppings that bed bugs leave behind. Bed bug feces appears as black spots or streaks near cracks and crevices near your furniture. Shed bed bug skins are about the size of apple seeds, and may be left behind on couch cushions, flooring, and other areas near likely bed bug hiding spots.
If you are suffering from itchy bites that you suspect are caused by bed bugs, but can't find any signs of the bugs themselves, call in a professional bed bug extermination service. These services can use heat-sensitive cameras and other specialized equipment to detect bed bugs in your living room.
How Does Whole-Room Heat Treatment Kill Living Room Bed Bugs?
Bed bugs are very hardy creatures, and more resistant to pesticide chemicals than many other pests. Spraying pesticides on bed bug-infested furniture and fittings is frequently ineffective, especially with weak, over-the-counter pesticides.
However, bed bugs are very sensitive to heat, and exposure to high temperatures will kill them quickly and efficiently. You may be able to remove bed bugs from small furnishings (such as pillows and curtains) by wrapping them in garbage bags and leaving them out in the sun. Unfortunately, this method isn't really practical if you need to exterminate bed bugs living in couches and other large objects.
Whole-room heat treatment is a quick and effective way to exterminate every bed bug in your living room. Professional pest control personnel will install a specialized heater in your living room. This heater rapidly raises the temperature in the room, until it gets too hot for bed bugs to survive. Thermometers are placed in insulated areas to ensure that the entire room is sufficiently heated.
Because whole-room heat treatment does not involve the use of pesticide chemicals, it is ideal for homes with pets or young children, who may be vulnerable to accidental poisoning. This also means you can start using the room again as soon as it has been fully treated. An average living room can be fully treated in a single day, so whole-room heat treatment will cause minimal disruption.
For more information, contact a local bed bug exterminator.