Are you having less restful nights of sleep in your new home?
Buying your home is an important milestone in your life. However, this shining achievement can become tainted with a bed bug infestation. Bed bugs could affect your quality of sleep and affect your performance in your waking hours.
Think you have a bed bug infestation? Don’t worry; we got you.
With this guide, you’ll learn about the different types of bed bugs you’ll find at your home. That way, you’ll know the proper bed bug removal tactics for each. Read on and find out more:
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Common Bed Bugs
Cimex lectularius is the most prevalent species in the world. These bed bugs’ population has increased since the 1990s. Now, you can find these pests in every American state and European countries.
These bed bugs are the size of an apple seed, with a round rear and a pointy front. It has a dark brown color, broad but flat. This form allows them to fit into cracks and make them hard to reach.
They have six legs, with four pointing backward and two straight out. Sometimes, these medium-sized front legs point ahead. They drink your blood like a mosquito, using a straw-like organ called the proboscis.
In most cases, these bed bugs will find shelter in enclosed and dark spaces. The common ones include cracks in the wall and floorboards. You may also find them underneath your furniture and mattress.
Here, they lay eggs and live in large numbers. Do you want to learn the bed bug life cycle? If so, click the linked article to discover a detailed process.
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Tropical Bed Bugs
This bed bug type is similar to their common counterparts. Their primary difference is that they prefer warmer climates. This means you’ll find them in tropical and subtropical habitats.
They inhabit regions within 30 degrees latitudinally north and south of the equator. It means you’ll most likely find them in Asia, Africa, and South America. However, you can find them anywhere, as long as it’s warm.
Tropical bed bugs are the same as common bed bugs until you put them under the microscope. It’s because they look and behave the same way. Regardless, they’re now the second most common species in the United States.
In the 1940s, these bed bugs almost went extinct because of DDT. They made a comeback in 2016 because of their reintroduction to Florida. Since then, they’ve spread across the southern US due to their preferred climate.
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Bat Bugs
This bed bug type will only attack humans when it has no other means of sustenance. As its name implies, the bat bug feeds on bat blood. In terms of appearance, they’re the same as the first two species.
It’s almost impossible to distinguish these bed bugs from the aforementioned pests. If you find these bugs in your home, it’s likely because you have bats roosting somewhere nearby. You can ask any of the 29,509 pest control companies in the US to get rid of the bats and the bed bugs that come with them.
The good news is that you need not harm or send the bats away. Instead, you can make bat houses outside your home and relocate them there. This keeps them safe while they help control other pests around your property.
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Poultry Bug
This is the last type of bed bug that attacks humans when no other options are present. Also known as the Mexican chicken bug, it lives in areas where poultry animals are. They feed on various species of poultry, including ducks, geese, turkeys, and chickens.
Sometimes, they attack wild birds like eagles and hawks. Most domestic birds are in danger because of an illness from a poultry bug infestation. If you live in rural areas and raise domestic birds on your property, consider bed bug removal.
Getting rid of these pests is a priority if you’re making a living out of raising chickens. It’s also necessary since your family is at risk as well, especially when the infestation worsens.
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Barn Swallow Bug
The Barn Swallow bug is one of the 87 different types of bed bugs that won’t attack humans. The only reason they’re here is that they can show up and infest your home. This happens because they migrate along with the birds they feast on.
In most cases, you’ll find a barn swallow bug nest in cliffs since swallows nest there. They hibernate and survive for a few days without feeding. If your home has these bugs, it means that some birds nested somewhere within, like the attic or the basement.
How to Identify Bed Bugs
You have two methods of identifying the bed bug species infesting your home. The first option involves talking to professional exterminators. It’s because they have enough experience and knowledge to identify subtle differences.
Professionals worth their salt will often keep up with pest news. That means they’re aware of the bed bugs infesting your region. They share this information to ensure that everyone uses the same treatments to kill any bed bug species.
The second method is to ask a researcher to identify the bed bug for you. Because of the resurgence in bed bug infestations, researchers are looking for ways to eliminate them. The only drawback of this method is that no bed bug researcher might be near your area.
Regardless, if you want to exterminate these pests, call professional pest control businesses. They will use the same treatment methods for all bed bug species and get rid of them.
Learn the Types of Bed Bugs Today!
Here are some common types of bed bugs you might find in your home. Regardless, a bed bug infestation is unacceptable, meaning you must get exterminators to deal with it. From Bat Bugs to Barn Swallow Bugs, here are some bed bugs to look out for.
Getting rid of bed bugs can ensure your overall health and quality of sleep. Looking for more ways to enhance your quality of life? Check out our other health and fitness guides.
