Why So Many Bed Bugs?

Until recent years, bed bugs were considered an uncommon household pest. Bed bug populations dropped dramatically in the United States in the 1940’s due to the widespread use of the pesticide DDT. Over the past few years, the United States, Canada and many parts of Europe have seen a resurgence of the creepy crawlers that nobody expected. Although experts cannot pinpoint the exact reason as to why we are experiencing a bed bug population explosion, it is speculated that the lack of available pesticides to treat infestations, the bed bugs new-found resistance to current pesticides on the marketplace, the ease of international travel, and the lack of education about bed bug infestations are all contributing factors to their resurgence.

Bed bugs are sneaky creatures that despite their name, won’t always be found living in your bed. You can find bed bugs congregating in the seams of mattresses, under box springs, and in the cracks and crevices of the frames of the bed. Bed bugs can also be found lurking behind headboards, behind and in picture frames, in night stands, behind floorboards, in the cracks of wood flooring, in carpeting (especially along the edges), and even behind electrical outlets. Bed bugs have also been known to hide in clock radios, televisions, gaming equipment, and even cell phones. You will find that nothing is off limits to a bed bug. Bed bugs are tiny and masters at hiding, so when looking for bed bugs, you must think about where a small insect would hide to avoid detection. Severe infestations reveal bed bugs during daytime hours. Because of their hitchhiking ways, it is easy to transport bed bugs anywhere, or pick up bed bugs anyplace people congregate.

It’s important for consumers to look for signs of bed bugs if they encounter symptoms of bed bug bites. Because it is estimated that only 50% of the population suffer from the allergic reaction from the bite wounds, everyone should make a habit of looking for bed bug infestations in their home on a regular basis. The only way to properly treat your NJ bed bug infestation is to contact a New Jersey pest control professional with experience in eradicating bed bugs!