Good Night, Sleep Tight...

And don't let the bed bugs bite! That saying brings back mixed feelings for me. Growing up in the 60's, I recall my favorite aunt saying this to my siblings and me, whenever she was visiting us, and it was bedtime. I never actually knew what a bedbug was at that time, but I was scared to death that they were going to come and bite me in my sleep. I loved my aunt, and I miss her dearly, but I remember thinking it was a rather scary thing to say to a little kid! I would lie awake, imagining these huge bugs crawling out from under my bed, or out of my closet, to get me. As I got older, I never heard anything at all about them and decided they were just a myth.

As it turns out, I was wrong. They are NOT a myth at all! In recent years, I have learned that they not only exist, they are becoming more and more prevalent right here in the good old U. S. of A. Which is why Orkin would like to get the word out about what to look for if you think you may have them lurking in your house, and what to do about it if you do. About three years ago, I developed a mysterious rash on my arms and legs, at that time, I researched bed bugs, along with other possible causes of my rash. I never did determine exactly what caused my own itchy problem, and thankfully, it eventually went away...but meanwhile, I learned a lot about these tiny creatures, that for years I had thought to be nothing more than folk lore.

What are bed bugs?
Bed bugs are flat, light tan to brown and oval-shaped until after they feed; then they fill out and turn a reddish color. The adult is approximately the size of an apple seed. Adult bed bugs can live for more than one year without feeding and can sustain extreme temperatures, making them difficult to kill.

For more information, or for a free inspection, visit http://www.orkin.com/ or call 1-800-800-ORKIN.