Bedbugs in Florida

Florida's warm climate lends itself to favorable conditions for a wide range of household and garden pests. One such pest is the bedbug -- an insect that lives indoors and feeds on the blood of living hosts like people and their pets. Bedbugs in Florida were practically unheard of after World War II, thanks to improved sanitation and the pesticide DDT. However, DDT was banned for being hazardous to people and animals. One reason why bedbugs have become so prevalent again is international travel. These pests can be found in abundance in certain regions of Africa, Asia and South America, and can easily stow away in a traveler's suitcase.

Bedbugs are most active at night and frequently take up residence in a mattress, hence their name. Bedbugs will bite sleeping humans and pets, leaving a red, itchy welt similar to a mosquito bite. An infestation is apparent by the appearance of dark spotting on mattresses or furniture. This dark spotting is actually dried bedbug excrement. Other signs may be small spots of blood on floors or walls.

Although bedbugs aren't thought to transmit diseases, no one wants an infestation of them in their home. These pests breed quickly and one female can lay 200 to 500 eggs in batches of around 10 at a time. You can see how easily a couple bed bugs can turn into a huge problem.

Prevention is a great way to control these irritating pests. Vacuum all carpeting, mattresses and upholstered furniture on a regular basis, and stay on the lookout for symptoms of bedbugs. Steam cleaning your mattress and furniture is also a great way to prevent infestation. Other, more creative methods of control include coating the legs of your bed with petroleum jelly or double-sided tape. Bedbugs cannot fly and aren't the best climbers, so these methods can prevent them from getting into mattresses.

Another way to get rid of bedbugs in Florida is to hire a professional exterminator. If you're worried about harmful pesticides around your family or pets, request that the exterminator use safe, organic pesticides. If they tell you they can't, then find someone else to do the job. There are many safe pesticides on the market today that can be used to get rid of bedbugs.

It's crucial to attack the problem as soon as you're aware of it. By doing this, you can more easily get rid of these pests before they multiply and spread.

Copyright 2006 Jim Sterling - All Rights Reserved

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