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Are Bed Bugs Afraid When The Lights Are On?

Bed bugs come out to feed at night and in the dark which causes many people to believe that the pests are afraid of the dark. This explanation isn’t exactly true although the critters do prefer to operate in the dark.

Bed bugs are nocturnal so naturally, they operate at night, when it is dark, rather than having a particular aversion to light. Some experts suggest that bed bug eyes are sensitive to light which might explain why they prefer to stay hidden away in the dark. Their eyes pick up on heat signatures of warm-blooded animals so this would be more useful and pronounced in the dark. The bed bug is able to ‘see’ better in the dark.

This isn’t to say that the pests won’t come out into the light. Bed bugs prioritize a blood meal over comfort and will come out to feed even with your lights on. As people who work night shifts may have noticed, bed bugs will also change their schedule to match that of their host. They will come out to feed during the day if that is when the host sleeps. However bed bugs can be mistaken by fleas and you need to know fleas in bed signs to distinguish both insects.

What Attracts Bed Bugs

People used to associate bed bugs with filth and dirt but it has become apparent that the pests don’t care one way or another how clean or dirty your house is. If they can hitch a ride on your clothing, briefcase or luggage, they will latch on, infest your home and proceed to breed effectively and would need to know early signs of bed bugs in your home. Bed bugs will, however, prefer cluttered houses, offices or spaces simply because there are more places to hide in clutter.

Unfortunately for humans, there isn’t much that one can do about the major factors that actually attract bed bugs. These include;

CO2: bed bugs find human beings by detecting the area of the room with the highest concentration of carbon dioxide. Since you are stationary while sleeping, the carbon dioxide accumulates around your bed tipping off bed bugs that there is a nice, warm blood meal. Even if you could somehow prevent the carbon dioxide from ‘piling up’ such as by sleeping with a fan on, there are other ways that bed bugs detect their prey.

Body Warmth: as previously alluded to, bed bugs are attracted to warmth and your heat signature. There isn’t much you can do about your body temperature and couple with the carbon dioxide you exhale is a big indication of the availability of a blood meal.

Bed bugs do not transmit diseases as ticks and mosquitoes do. These pests can, however, cause mild to severe psychological problems including insomnia, anxiety, stress and depression.

There have been some claims that bed bugs are attracted to some blood types more than others. It is not uncommon for two or more people to be in the same general area and the bed bug seems attracted to one and not the other. There isn’t enough evidence to suggest that bed bugs are attracted to certain blood types over others. It is, however, possible that some people produce more body heat than others which may attract the pests.  If you need an effecient and quick way to get rid of your bed bugs look no further than Bed Bug Exterminator Toronto. Your stop for everything bed bugs!

Hire an Exterminator to Get Rid of Bed bugs

Bed bugs are extremely difficult to treat and nothing short of professional help is going to get rid of them. Only a professional exterminator can get rid of the pests permanently. Bed bugs are impervious to over-the-counter pesticides. The strong active ingredients that can successfully kill bed bugs are only available to professionals.

Exterminators are also able to treat cervices and cracks that would be impossible to reach without specialized equipment. DIY extermination has a high failure rate so hiring a professional exterminator to get rid of bed bugs in Toronto right off the bat is the best decision you can make. Call The Exterminators – Pest Control Toronto today to book an appointment: 647-496-2211

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