Ending Bed Bug Problems in New York City and New Jersey

At Unlimited Pest, we are knowledgeable about eliminating pest issues that damage homes and businesses, including bed bug problems in New York City and New Jersey. Learn more about these pests and our treatment methods by browsing this page.

Our parents used to tuck us in at night and say, “Night, night. Don’t let the bed bugs bite!” with a smile. Like the boogie man, many people thought bed bugs were just in our imagination. But they are real, and they are becoming increasingly common in households.

The presence of bed bugs in American society was first noticed in the early 1700s. Then, many bed bug problems can be found in scripts and literature throughout North America.

People believed that bed bugs came from infested sailboats returning from Europe. Many sailors complained of bug attacks while they were sleeping in their cabins.

Bed bugs have made a comeback recently. According to research, up to 25% of residents in some cities have reported problems. These pests are a nuisance and a problem bordering on epidemic levels that have never been seen before.

History of Bed Bug Infestations in the US

Due to increased world travel, bed bugs are making their presence felt again as they are removed from one country and introduced to another through international transport on luggage, clothing, and the human body. The bugs can be found on cargo holds and airlines and are passed along during overnight stays in inns, hotels, and motels.

This is not the first time the US has experienced bed bug infestations. Before World War II, bed bugs were common. However, with developed sanitation and the extensive use of DDT in the 1940s and 1950s, bed bugs practically vanished from the country. Unfortunately, they remained active worldwide. With international travel and frequent immigration to the US, they are rapidly returning to our homes, hotels, dormitories, apartments, and other living spaces.

Their uncontrolled resurgence is due to ineffective pesticides and some pest control operators’ unfamiliarity with the appropriate actions needed to eliminate infestations.

Bed bugs are brownish with flattened oval bodies. Adult bugs are about 3/16 of an inch, while nymphs are smaller and lighter in color. Adult female bugs can lay about five eggs daily and about 500 in a lifetime. Their eggs are whitish and difficult to see without magnification. Bed bug eggs develop into nymphs, which can turn into a full-blown infestation before long. People often mistakenly identify bed bugs as cockroaches, ticks, or bat bugs.

Bed bugs are sneaky pests that hide during the daytime. Finding them is challenging because they like using their flattened bodies to hide in tiny cracks and crevices. They usually live near their feeding sources, such as in the bed or furniture. Unlike bees or ants, bed bugs don’t have nests but tend to congregate in groups.

These bugs often live in/or around your bed frame, mattress, headboard, flooring, and furniture. Generally, infested areas can be detected through small dark spots and reddish to brown specks, which are from the bugs’ dried excrements. You may also find nymphs, eggs, molted shells, and bed bugs themselves in the infested areas.

Bed bugs can quickly move along ceilings, floors, walls, and furniture. It’s common for them to travel swiftly from one room to another. Managers of apartments, motels, hotels, and other tight living environments must carefully and quickly identify an infestation and be exceedingly proactive when they occur.

We often think bed bugs show up out of the blue, are encouraged due to a messy room, or come from leaving the front door open. These are not true in just about every case. Instead, bed bugs are more likely to enter your home through hitchhiking. Think of your luggage next to everyone else’s on a ship or plane. They are crafty little pests that can easily sneak onto your bags, clothing, or furniture brought into your home.

During a trip, inspect your hotel or motel room and mattress for bed bugs before occupying it. Remember that even the cleanest, most upscale hospitality buildings worldwide are susceptible to bed bugs, so you should always take a quick, thorough inspection of your room to avoid bringing home any unwanted souvenirs.

When buying furniture for your home, pay close attention to small brownish spots, stains, and other signs of bed bug infestations. Even new mattresses and furniture have previously been found to have infestations. Therefore, check all furniture entering your home for such traces and possible infestations.