The last few decades have seen a large rise in bedbug infestations, which have affected people all over the globe, especially in populous urban centers. People dread them—possibly more than any other insect—and not just because they drink human blood: Bedbugs are highly undesirable because of how difficult they are to eradicate. Pesticides will have little long-term effect on them, so you’ll need a systematic approach sustained over a period of several weeks or months, which targets them at all of their life stages.

What makes them so hard to treat? These insects have developed a handful of adaptations that make them excessively hardy:

• Bedbugs Can Live for a Year Without Feeding: One important component of a successful bedbug treatment is sealing off all baseboards and other potential breeding places. After all, they don’t just live in beds but can nest anywhere it’s dark, relatively undisturbed, and near a feeding source. This alone, however, is not enough to contain the pests, as they can live for several months without feeding—in some cases, up to a year. If you try to renovate your home too soon after a treatment or otherwise open up the walls or floors, surviving bedbugs could emerge and re-infest your house.

• They Can Survive Extreme Temperatures: Unlike some other pests, bedbugs do not proliferate any more or less depending on the temperature outside. It takes unnaturally extreme temperatures to kill them—for example, by using a dryer on the hot setting to eliminate them from clothing. Temperature isn’t always a feasible solution on its own, however, as the cost of super-heating or super-cooling an entire room, let alone a home, can be prohibitive.

• They Spread Like Wildfire: Bedbugs have been described by some as the great equalizer when it comes to pests, as they can affect anyone, regardless of their walk of life. People of all backgrounds are equally likely to get them, whether from an infested movie theater, park bench, house party, or bus seat. Bedbugs can wander anywhere, often undetected because of their small size, and all it takes is one pregnant female to start a new infestation.

The only way to get rid of bedbugs is through a sustained and targeted approach. If you find yourself dealing with these horrific pests, you need to call the professionals at Acme Pest Control Co. Located in Concord, NC, and serving the surrounding areas for over 70 years, they have the knowledge and experience to help life get back to normal. Call (704) 786-4166 to schedule an inspection, or visit them online for more information about their residential pest control services.