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The mere thought of bed bugs is enough to make many people’s skin crawl. However, there’s a good chance that not everything that you think you know about bed bugs is true. Keep reading to learn the truth about these common bed bug myths. 

Myth 1: Good Housekeeping Will Keep Bed Bugs Away.
Bed bugs like clutter because it provides them with plenty of hiding places, but they don’t care whether a place is clean or dirty. No amount of scrubbing and cleaning will prevent a bed bug infestation.

Myth 2: Bed Bugs Spread Diseases. 
Common parasites like ticks and mosquitoes can carry pathogens and spread them when they bite, so it’s no wonder that people are wary about bed bugs making them sick. Although they are parasites, there is no evidence that bed bugs spread communicable diseases. However, bed bugs bites aren’t completely harmless. They are itchy and uncomfortable and can trigger allergic reactions in sensitive individuals.

Myth 3: Bed Bugs Only Bite in the Dark. 
Stealthy predators that prefer to stalk sleeping prey, bed bugs are nocturnal creatures, so the majority of their activity tends to take place at night. However, a hungry bed bug will bite whenever the opportunity arises, and leaving a light or night light on won’t keep bed bugs away.

Myth 4: You Cannot See Bed Bugs. 
Bed bugs are small and secretive, but they are big enough to be seen. If you have an infestation, and you look carefully, you’ll probably be able to spot them. Adult bed bugs are flat, reddish brown and roughly the same size as an apple seed.

Myth 5: Bed Bugs Can Fly. 
Bed bugs are expert hitchhikers, but they don’t have wings. The only way a bed bug can fly is if it happens to catch a ride on a plane or some other flying object. 

Myth 6: Getting Rid of Your Mattress Will Get Rid of Bed Bugs.
They may be called bed bugs, but these blood-sucking pests don’t restrict themselves to beds and bedding. While those are favorite hiding spots, they can also lurk in nightstands, chairs and carpets, behind light switches and electrical outlets, and under wall paper and pictures. Throwing out a mattress may reduce the bed bug population in the bedroom, but it won’t eliminate the problem. 

Myth 7: Pesticides Are the Most Effective Treatment for Bed Bugs. 
Pesticides are not particularly effective against bed bugs. In fact, these pests are excellent at resisting chemicals. Generally, a professional heat treatment is your best bet for eradicating a bed bug infestation.

At the Florida Pest Control Center, our experienced technicians harness the power of hot air to provide a one-service treatment that can eliminate all stages of bed bugs. If bed bugs are bugging you, don’t wait. Contact us today.