Complaints of bed bug infestations continue to rise; despite extensive eradication efforts report New Jersey pest control experts. Because of their nighttime antics and sneaky behavior, it’s easy for bed bug infestations to go un-noticed for an extended period of time. It is estimated by NJ pest control experts that most people do not realize that there could be some type of bug causing bites in their home until the bed bug population has reached an army of over 200 or more.

It is estimated that about 50% of people that are bitten by bed bugs suffer from the allergic reaction from their bite wounds. Bed bugs prefer to bite humans, but will turn to cats, dogs, birds, or rodents if they are hungry and a human blood meal is not easily available. Unlike ticks, bed bugs do not latch on and stick with their victim. Instead, bed bugs creep up on their sleeping victim, usually in the wee hours of the morning. Bed bugs have two beaks for feeding. With one, they stab their victim and inject an anesthetic so they can numb the feeding area. With the second beak, they leisurely suck blood. It will take about 5 to 10 minutes for a bed bug to become fully engorged. Once bed bugs are done feeding, they will scurry away to digest their blood meal.

The allergic reaction to bed bug bites can leave red itchy bite marks that resemble flea or mosquito bites. New Jersey pest control experts warn that bed bug bite symptoms can appear within a few hours after being bit or up to 10 days after being bit by the little vampires. Bites can appear in lines of three, often referred to as “breakfast, lunch and dinner” or can be sporadic throughout your body, neck and face. Bed bugs are lazy creatures and will often choose to dine on skin that was exposed during their nighttime hunt, rather than covered areas, but because of their small and sneaky behavior, no skin source is off limits to these creepy bugs!

It’s important to contact a licensed NJ pest control professional immediately if you think you have a NJ bed bug infestation in your home.