Sleep Tight, Don't Let the Bed Bugs Bite! (But Seriously, How to Avoid Them)
Bed Bugs: The Tiny Terror and How to Keep Them at Bay
Bed bugs are small, parasitic insects that feed on human blood. If you have ever had bedbugs take up residence in your home, you know just how miserable they are. These tiny pests can cause some serious problems for you and your loved ones. Bed bugs will bite you and then suck your blood when you are sleeping, they use the protein and nutrients in your blood to feed and reproduce. Female Bed Bugs can lay between 200-500 eggs in their lifetime. In ideal conditions, bed bugs can live up to 400 days without a bloodmeal!
Understanding the Enemy:
Close up of Bedbugs
Appearance: Adult bed bugs are reddish-brown, wingless, and about the size of an apple seed. Nymphs (immature bed bugs) are smaller and lighter in color.
Behavior: Bed bugs are primarily nocturnal, feeding on humans while they sleep. They hide in cracks and crevices in mattresses, bed frames, headboards, and other nearby furniture.
Reproduction: Female bed bugs can lay hundreds of eggs in their lifetime, contributing to rapid infestations.
Signs of a Bed Bug Infestation:
Bites: Bed bug bites often appear as small, red, itchy bumps on the skin. However, not everyone reacts to bites.
Blood stains: Small blood stains may be visible on sheets, pillowcases, or mattresses.
Fecal spots: Tiny black or reddish-brown spots may be visible on bedding or furniture.
Shedding skins: Shed skins of nymphs may be found in infested areas.
Preventing a Bed Bug Infestation:
Bed bugs are most likely brought into your home through:
Used furniture: Inspect used furniture carefully before bringing it into your home.
Travel: Bed bugs can easily hitchhike on luggage, clothing, and even backpacks.
Second-hand items: Be cautious when purchasing used clothing, bedding, and other items from thrift stores or online marketplaces.
Tips for Prevention:
Inspect: Regularly inspect your bed, bedding, and surrounding areas for signs of bed bugs.
Travel: When traveling, keep luggage off the floor and inspect it carefully upon returning home.
Wash and dry: Wash and dry all bedding and clothing on high heat after staying in a hotel or other lodging.
Vacuum: Regularly vacuum your mattress, box spring, and surrounding areas.
Professional treatment: If you suspect an infestation, we are happy to give you a free inspection and recommend treatment if necessary.
Remember: Early detection and prompt action are crucial for effectively controlling a bed bug infestation. By following these preventive measures, you can significantly reduce the risk of encountering these unwelcome guests. DIY methods are often ineffective and can scatter the population to other beds or furniture in the home.
How we treat Bedbugs:
The first thing we do is inspect your home, we offer this inspection for free with no obligations. We know that even the thought of bedbugs can have a significant emotional impact and we want to help relieve this stress.
If we continue with treatment after the inspection, we treat with both an insecticide dust and an insecticide liquid. These products are specifically labelled for bedbugs and they are very effective. We treat all the cracks and crevices in the home to make sure that we get every single bedbug hiding in your home. These products are labelled for use on furniture and mattresses so we have the tools to treat them wherever they are.
Guaranteed to work. Our treatment plan comes with a guarantee. We will asses your specific issue and severity of infestation and come up with a plan to tackle these tough pests. We guarantee this plan to eliminate the issue, otherwise we will come back at no cost and make sure we kick them out!
Further reading:
https://www.cdc.gov/bed-bugs/about/index.html
