Bed bugs have tormented people throughout history. But from the early 1950’s through the late 1090’s bed bug problems became a rarity, at least in the developed world. After nearly a 50-year hiatus, the bed bugs began appearing on the radar screen of pest control professionals in the late 1990’s and recently over the last 5 years pest control professionals are reporting a 1,000-fold increases in bed bug jobs.
As the number of bed bug infestations continues to grow, so does consumer dissatisfaction with control efforts. Part of the problem is that many people know little about bed bugs beyond “Sleep tight, don’t let the bed bugs bite.” Even professionals – pest managers, property managers, hotel staff, and physicians-are often unfamiliar with the complex biology of bed bugs or their habits. People, as a rule, underestimate the effort and attention to detail required in order to control bed bugs successfully: effort that is required not only by pest managers, but also by residents, property managers, and facility staff.
Infestations of bed bugs often go undetected until they have become widespread. Bed bugs evolved to live closely with humans. They are cryptic and elusive. For most of the day, they hide deep in cracks and crevices, in furniture, and inside walls where they remain unseen. At night they come out and feed on their sleeping victims, and then scurry back to their hiding places undetected. They walk from room to room, and hitchhike long distances in luggage, furniture, and other items.
Today’s technologies combined with lack of understanding of bed bugs and poor cooperation from those infested often result in bed bug control that is unsatisfactory, expensive, and short-term. While pest control companies strive to eliminate a pest if possible, in most cases the realistic goal is to reduce a pest problem to an acceptable level. Few people are willing to accept this level of control. So, when it comes to “control” of bed bugs, in most situations, we really mean elimination of all the bed bugs. Elimination is no easy task for any pest, let alone a pest as cryptic, elusive, and well-adapted to the human environment as the bed bug.
We have little tolerance today for bed bugs, lice, and other human parasites that are living and feeding on us. Bed bugs are particularly repulsive because they suck our blood while we lie cocooned in our bed, our most personal space, which we assume is safe and secure. People are horrified to discover that those specks of blood on their sheets are theirs. They feel violated.
For professional help with bed bugs in the Phoenix, Scottsdale, Glendale, Mesa, Tempe Areas, call Invader Pest Management at 623-435-0228. We have highly qualified and trained staff who specialize in bed bug treatment and control efforts. We are confident that with your cooperation, we can help you sleep better tonight! Make an appointment on line at www.invader.net.