Bed Bug City Ranks

The bedbugs are coming to the Midwest, according to a Fox News article, "Where Does your City Rank When it Comes to Bedbugs?" These nasty things are making their way across the country as we speak. Fox News got their data from Terminix, one of the major pest control companies in America, listing off the top 15 infested cities.

Should we be afraid? Not really, but it is cause for concern. There has been a steady rise of bed bugs in Des Moines. This is caused by the number of people buying cheaper used furniture and more people staying in hotels. Bed bugs are becoming more frequent, and even staying in hotels is not an absolute to not get bed bugs. 

You may be asking what has caused this sudden increase of bed bugs? Well, bed bugs were nearly eliminated from America in the 1960s with the use of heavy pesticides. These pesticides were very toxic though, so the government banned the use of these throughout America. You may recognize one of these pesticides, DDT. Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane, DDT, was most famous for what it did to Bald Eagles' population.

Bed bugs do not spread diseases like most pests. Their bites are similar to that of mosquitoes. Just because you wake up with some bites, it does not mean it is bed bugs. There are other types of insects that can give the same type of bite, but the one thing different about bed bug bites is the pattern of the bites. Bed bugs tend to bite in a line or in a pattern of three. This is commonly known as the "breakfast, lunch, and dinner pattern."

Getting rid of bed bugs is a timely, expensive ordeal. Bed bugs are about the size of a mustard seed and can hide in any crack or crevice, that most people do not even recognize. The time for the inspection and the amount of detail done to reach all these spots is what makes this so expensive. Multiple treatments may be needed just because the eggs are so resilient to the process, and when the eggs hatch more treatments will be needed to be sure the population doesn't grow again.

Bed bugs like to hide near the corners of beds and in the seam in the back of the couch.  If you have a bed bug infestation, try to capture one to show a professional to make sure it is a bed bug. Do not stay in other people's beds or other rooms, for it only worsen the infestation.

Downs Pest Control is family owned and operated pest control company that serves Des Moines and surrounding areas. We are dedicated to helping residents and businesses in Altoona, Ankeny, Bondurant, Carlisle, Clive, Grimes, Johnston, Norwalk, Perry, Urbandale, Waukee, West Des Moines, and Windsor Heights prevent and remove pest infestations. We are dedicated to safety and high quality customer service. Downs Pest Control