From Arlington National Cemetery to the Marine Corps War Memorial, residents of Arlington are proud of the millions of tourists that come to admire its sites each year. But there’s one visitor that we would all prefer just go away – the bedbug. Here are 5 bedbug myths that won’t necessarily help you sleep better tonight, but will help you be better prepared should these little tourists ever make their way into your home.

Myth #1: Bedbugs love unsanitary, cluttered homes.

Fact: Bedbugs love warm bodies and blood, and those can be found in filthy homes as well as immaculate ones.

Myth #2: Mattress encasements prevent bedbug infestations.

Fact: Mattress encasements, commonly marketed as a way to prevent bedbugs, will indeed keep the critters from burrowing into your mattress and making it their home. However, it will not prevent them from taking up residence in other nearby
areas, nor will it prevent them from visiting your bed when you’re in it.

Myth #3: Changing the temperature will kill the bedbugs.

Fact: It’s true that bedbugs can’t survive in extreme heat and extreme cold, but adjusting your thermostat won’t do the trick. For bedbugs to be killed by heat, your entire home would have to be cranked up to over 120 degrees Fahrenheit for more than an hour. To freeze them out, your home would have to be below freezing for more than a month.

Myth #4: Moving out of my house for a few nights will get rid of the bedbugs.

Fact: Without blood to feed on, bedbugs will eventually starve, but this, unfortunately, takes more than just a few days. Most bedbugs can live comfortably in a home for 2-3 months before needing to feed. Some have even been known to live as long as a year without a meal.

Myth #5: Most pesticides will kill bedbugs.

Fact: If a pesticide isn’t registered with the Environmental Protection Agency, it can make any claim and won’t need to give proof for it. In addition, many bedbugs have developed resistance to certain pesticides.

If you get a visit from these tiny, terrible tourists, your best bet for eradication is a professional pest control company. Green Pest Services uses effective, state-of-the-art methods that are customized to your home’s needs and your specific bedbug problem. Our bedbug experts will give you a free quote and help you sleep at ease again.