BED BUG TREATMENT

Have you been searching for how to get rid of bed bugs? Once an afterthought, these pests have made quite the resurgence recently. The more you know about bed bugs, the better your chances of avoiding them.

BED BUG BASICS

This pest gets its name from the fact that it is usually found in close proximity to beds. That’s because bed bugs need the blood of warm-blooded animals to survive. Unfortunately, bed bugs can mature in about 35 days. They then live about seven to 12 months. This makes bed bug removal difficult to do without the help of a professional.

THE BED BUG BITE

Bed bugs primarily feed on humans sleeping in bed at night. The bite is painless, and the blood meal takes about 10 minutes.

BED BUGS ON THE HUNT

How do bed bugs find hosts while they are asleep? Body heat, the carbon dioxide from exhaled breath and other biological signatures help focus the bed bugs on unsuspecting, snoozing hosts. The bed bug feeds, then retreats back to its place of harborage for days or even weeks before coming back out. This can make detection difficult until the infestation is well established.

BED BUGS ON THE MOVE

Bed bugs are skilled hitchhikers. In fact, they are primarily transported by humans and human belongings like suitcases.

SIGNS OF BED BUGS

• They differ from insects in that they have two, rather than three, body regions. These two regions are the cephalothorax – which contains the eyes, mouthparts and legs – and the abdomen.
• Shed bed bug skins, exoskeletons or shells
• Fecal stains on your mattress and bedding
• Blood stains on your sheets and pajamas

SIGNS OF BED BUG BITES

Bed bug bite reactions in skin look similar to those caused by fleas and mosquitoes. Telling which insect caused a bite might not be possible.

• Raised, red welts
• Burning and itching
• Bed bug bite rash across a localized area
• Straight lines of multiple bites

WHERE TO LOOK

Proper bed bug control requires a watchful eye. To feed on humans, bed bugs want close proximity to the host.

In the bedroom, box springs, headboards and bed framing are favorite spots for these pests. They may also settle into furniture and fixtures that are close to a bed.

Bedrooms are not the only place where bed bugs can be a concern. The feeding doesn’t have to be at night. All bed bugs are looking for are human hosts inactive long enough to provide a meal.

Getting rid of bed bugs is difficult. Any place that humans sit, rest or sleep can be a place that bed bugs are introduced or feed.

PUT BED BUG WORRIES TO REST

• First, check travel reviews before visiting a hotel, and be careful of those with multiple reports of bed bugs.
• When you check into a hotel, check the mattress, headboard, bed frame and pictures for any signs of bed bugs.
• Rather than storing luggage on the bed or floor, keep your luggage on the luggage rack.
• Avoid storing clothes in dressers and hang clothes that can be hung.

Do You Have Bed Bugs?

In the last 10 years, there has been an explosion in bed bug populations in the U.S. A 2013 survey from the National Pest Management Association found that 99.6% of respondents faced a bed bug infestation in the prior year. Bed bugs are found in homes and businesses in all socioeconomic categories. Our Bed Bug Treatment Service includes:

• Bed bug detection and proper identification
• Plant-Based Alternatives for Bed Bug Control
• Very detailed visual inspection (bed bugs can be hard to find)
• Monitoring traps to detect the presence of bed bugs

Keeping Bed Bugs Under Control

• Applications with products designed and approved for use in living areas • Mattress covers that control bed bugs and make it easier to detect them • Bed bug detectors and traps • Various monitoring programs to ensure there are no more bed bugs