Bed bugs in Kansas City are not a new pest, although reports and complaints of bed bugs have skyrocketed in the past several years. The escalation is probably the result of several factors including more frequent travel, lack of education about bed bugs and prevention of infestation, and the resistance of bed bugs to common pesticide products, among other things.
Bed bugs in Kansas City are a nuisance commonly found in homes, apartments, hotels, college dorms, hospitals, and even cars and trucks. They hide in the seams and folds of luggage, bags, and clothes, behind wallpaper and inside bedding, box springs, and furniture. They can crawl more than 100 feet in a night. They can be difficult to identify and even harder to get rid of.
How Common Are Bed Bugs?
Studies show that 1 in every 5 households report bed bug infestations every year. 21% of all bed bug infestations reported in the United States each year are here in the Midwest, second only to the Southeast at 29%.
In a 2018 survey, the three most common environments where pest professionals reported finding bed bugs were single-family homes (91%), apartments/condominiums (89%), and hotels/motels (68%). Past bed bug statistics have shown these places to consistently be the most common places bed bugs have been encountered.
Correctly Identifying Bed Bugs In Kansas City
Bed bugs are frequently confused with other common household pests due to their small size and the similarity of their bites to those of other insects. In the above mentioned survey, pest professionals reported that in 84% of bed bug cases, the original call was for a different pest.
Bed bug infestations are most commonly attributed to fleas initially. 71% of reported infestations were originally believed to be a flea problem. An additional 24% of infestations were reported as cockroaches. Accurate identification is crucial to effectively treat bed bugs in Kansas City.
Integrated Pest Management Is Critical
Traditional approaches to controlling bed bugs that rely on the use of pesticides alone are no longer effective because bed bugs have developed resistance to them. The best to handle a bed bug infestation is to use a multi-faceted approach.
Integrated Pest Management, or IPM, is a multi-faceted approach to dealing with many types of pest problems. IPM has been used mostly for agricultural pests in the past, but it is the most effective method for dealing with household pests such as bed bugs.
The primary components of an IPM plan for bed bugs include accurate identification, a thorough understanding of bed bug biology and behavior, the use of multiple control techniques (both pesticide and pesticide-free), and periodic re-evaluation of the infested area to ensure that the pests do not return.
Professional Control of Bed Bugs In Kansas City From Milberger
The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services recommends hiring a licensed pest control professional to identify and exterminate a pest infestation like bed bugs safely and appropriately. Milberger technicians are specially trained to thoroughly inspect your home or business to find all the places bed bugs may be hiding and determine how best to eradicate them, then provide you with a quote at no cost or obligation to you.
If you are concerned about bed bugs in your Kansas City home or business, call (816) 761-1313 in Missouri or (913) 384-6760 in Kansas, or click here to schedule your free inspection today!
