It’s the Season for these Winter Pests in California

Why are pests present during cold weather? Due to the harsh cold outside, they seek warmth inside your home.

One of the most common pests in California, especially in the winter season, is bed bugs. Although small insects, they are resilient and love to lurk near your bed. This blog aims to help homeowners in California become aware of them since the winter season is coming.

Understanding Bed Bugs

You might have heard of them before, especially when you were a kid, as they’re used to scare small children before bed. However, time passed, and they are now a common issue for homeowners. Common signs of an infestation are:

• Red marks on your back
• Itchiness
• Trouble sleeping
• Foul odors, and
• Stains found on your sheets or mattresses.

As mentioned earlier, they are very resilient and also difficult to see. An adult is typically brown, only 4 to 7 mm long, or the size of an apple seed. For normal eyes, it is challenging to spot them.

Aside from their resilient nature, they are drawn to warmth since their primary food source is blood. These tiny creatures love to lurk in areas like:

• Cracks and crevices
• Inside your mattress
• On the floor, and
• Carpets

Bed Bug Treatment Methods

So, what are the treatment methods against them? Well, there are different types of treatment methods available on the market, and professional exterminators also offer different treatments.

Traditional approaches for bed bug treatment

This type of treatment is one of the common countermeasures against infestation.

1. Heat treatment

These small creatures hate the cold but don’t fare well in hot temperatures. Heat treatment involves exposing them to 113 degrees Fahrenheit for 90 minutes, which results in a 100% mortality rate.

2. Chemical treatments

Chemical treatment for bed bugs involves the application of insecticides to targeted areas where bed bugs are present, aiming to eliminate the infestation. These chemicals are designed to disrupt the bed bugs’ nervous system, leading to their eventual eradication.

During the treatment, professionals use the right equipment and tools to execute the task. So, if you’re considering chemical treatment alone, it’s much better to consult a professional first.

3. Natural Treatment

Natural treatments by bed bug professionals typically involve the use of non-toxic substances such as diatomaceous earth or steam treatments to eliminate bed bug infestations. These methods aim to address the issue without relying on harsh chemicals, providing an environmentally friendly and safer alternative for pest control.

Emerging techniques for bed bug elimination

As time passes, new, innovative techniques are developed to help prevent these pests. Aside from the traditional method, emerging techniques for bed bug elimination include the use of heat treatments, where specialized equipment raises room temperatures to lethal levels for bed bugs, effectively eradicating infestations without the need for chemical pesticides. Additionally, researchers are exploring the potential of biopesticides, such as fungal formulations, as eco-friendly alternatives for controlling bed bug populations.

Preventing Bed Bug Infestations

Cold weather and a blanket are a perfect way to pass the time during the winter.

Tips for bed bug prevention during winter

Here are some preventative measures to prevent pests from entering your home during winter.

1. Inspecting hotels and accommodation

If you book a hotel, ensure the bed sheets are new, the carpet is clean, and there is a regular inspection. Most of them are acquired through hotels. Those tiny creatures hitchhike in luggage from one person to another. So, make sure to check the accommodation.

2. Washing and drying clothes at high temperatures

Again, they also hate high temperatures. So, one way to prevent them from crawling in your clothes is to dry them at high temperatures after washing them to eliminate any of them that might be present.

3. Sealing cracks and crevices in the house

If your home has any cracks and crevices, make sure to seal them tightly. It can be the entrance of home invaders from infesting your home. A much better solution is to seal those cracks before winter to ensure it’s safe from these creatures.

Personal bed bug prevention methods

These types of pests are tough to deal with, but you can personally prevent them from entering your home.

1. Avoiding used furniture or clothing from unknown sources

Used furniture is more likely to have it lurking inside since you have no clue where it came from. Another one is clothing from unknown sources. If you love going to thrift shops, disinfect the clothes before putting them in your wardrobe.

2. Regularly cleaning bedding and furniture

Cold weather is a challenge. You might get lazy because of it, but even if you want to lay in bed, change your bedding once or twice a week and clean your furniture.

3. Encouraging awareness in the community

They tend to hitchhike from one person to another, so if one person in your community has an infestation, you might also get them. To prevent that, you can share this blog with your community to spread awareness.

Professional Bed Bug Removal Services

One of the benefits of hiring a professional is that they have years of training and experience dealing with an infestation. They have several treatments and techniques that you can try depending on the severity of your infestation.

However, when hiring a professional, check their legitimacy and certifications to avoid hiring fraud. Lastly, have your home regularly inspected and treated if any activity reappears.

A Cozy Winter Season in California without Bed Bugs

Don’t let them disturb your peace during a cold winter night. When faced with a pest problem, don’t hesitate to call a bed bug exterminator in San Jose, CA. Early intervention can prevent them from increasing their population.

To have a cozy winter season, always remember the preventative steps and spread awareness to your community.