Bed Bugs

Bed bugs are very prevalent in the Houston region. They are small, nocturnal, wingless insects that belong to the family of Cimicidae. Bed bugs feed on human blood and other warm-blooded hosts. Bed Bugs are oval in shape and grow up to 4-5mm long when fully grown. Their skin color is rust brown to a deeper red brown. Bed bugs are also known as “mahogany flats”, “red coats” and “chinches.” The adult bed bug does not have any wings and has a flattened body.

Not only are they dorsoventrally flattened, but bed bugs are also thin which creates a great advantage for them. Bed bugs can hide in unusual places such as behind baseboards, floor cracks, and under carpets or behind loose wallpaper, which makes them difficult to detect.
Not only are they undetectable, but bed bugs also tend to stay close together and have a distinctively sweet, yet unpleasant smell. Blood spotting on mattresses and nearby furnishings are also signs of a bed bug infestation. The pest control professionals at Bug State Pest Control are Houston’s experts in getting rid of bed bugs.

Their bites can leave itchy, welts on the skin and can cause allergic reactions, such as severe itching.

Bed bugs have existed since the ancient times and are found in temperate climates throughout the world. There are different types of bed bugs, but the common bed bug with a scientific name of Cimex lectularius, is adaptable to human environments in the Houston area.

In tropical regions, including Houston, Texas, there are other visible kind of species called Cimex hemipterus, are also known to swarm among poultry and bats. Other places, such as West Africa and South America, are home to the Leptocimex boueti species that infests bats and humans. On the other hand, the species that are found among bats are called Cimex pilosellus and C. pipistrella, and are also lurking in the Greater Houston region.

Since they can survive in birds’ nests, they can be seen in houses and buildings that have several bird nests, particularly on rooftops. They are also known to feed on bats or household pets, but their typical and most popular source of nutrition in Houston is human blood.

Bed bugs have a great Houston distribution due to human travelers who transport luggage, clothing, bedding, and furniture. Though they may reside in unusual places, they are also likely to be found in small cracks near a bed or in comforters and bed sheets.