3 Bedbug Myths and the Truths Behind Them

Unfortunately, there are many common bedbug misconceptions that increase the chances of someone unknowingly bringing these pests into their home and decrease the chance of these pests being eradicated before a bedbug problem gets out of control. 

 

Read on to learn three bedbug myths and the truth behind these common misconceptions. 

One common misconception about bedbugs is that they live only in beds and bedding. While bedbugs are commonly found in beds where they have access to their favorite food source (your blood) when they prefer to eat, which is at night, they can be found in virtually any area and item in your home. 

 

Bedbugs will also hide out inside of the crevices and joints of wooden furniture, inside of picture frames, in dresser drawers, and inside of sofas and other pieces of soft furniture. In addition, they can sometimes be found inside of cracks in the floor or ceiling and even inside of electrical appliances. 

 

If you ever notice one or more tiny bugs in your home, they could be bedbugs, even if they arn’t on or near your bed.

Another common misconception about bedbugs is that everyone develops an itchy red sore where a bedbug bites them. The truth is that people react to bedbug bites in various ways. While some people do develop a small, red, itchy spot after a bedbug bites them, others develop blistery sores where bedbugs bite them or break out in hives. 

 

However, surprisingly, an estimated 30 to 60 percent of the population does not develop any skin reactions at all after being bitten by bedbugs. Instead, they may only notice barely visible tiny holes in their skin where bedbugs bite them. 

 

If you ever suspect you may have bedbugs in your home yet do not have the itchy red spots you think you should have, then you may just be lucky enough to not be allergic to the bugs.

There are also many misconceptions surrounding how to kill bedbugs that could be hiding out in items such as backpacks and luggage before you bring them into your home.

 

You may have heard that you can kill bedbugs by leaving infested items outdoors for a few hours when the outside temperature is below the freezing point. The truth is that bedbugs can be exterminated by exposing them to extremely low temperatures, but this task is very difficult to perform outdoors. 

 

To exterminate bedbugs by exposing them to frozen temperatures outdoors, the temperature of the item placed outside must stay consistently under 0 degrees F for at least four days straight to exterminate all bedbugs inside of it. While this might not sound like a tough goal during the cold winter, outdoor temperatures typically fluctuate too much to properly exterminate bedbugs outdoors. 

 

You can instead kill bedbugs in a home freezer. First, ensure that your freezer is set to 0 degrees F or lower. Then, place the item you suspect may be infested with bedbugs in the freezer and wait until the temperature of the entire object you place in the freezer reaches 0 degrees F. Then leave the object in the freezer for a full four days to kill all bedbugs and eggs that may be hiding out in it. 

 

Remember these bedbug myths and the truth behind them next time you suspect you may have a home bedbug infestation or you bring potentially bedbug-infested items home. Contact Craig & Sons Termite & Pest Control, Inc., today if you suspect you have a bedbug infestation that needs professional extermination.