What Are Bed Bugs?
Bed bugs are small, flightless insects that survive off of the blood of people and animals while they're asleep. Bed bugs range in size from 1.5mm to 10 mm, have a round, flat body and a small head. Adult bed bugs are brown, but can appear red if they've just fed. Young bed bugs appear translucent to white in colour and are very difficult to see. A single female bed bug lays approximately two to four eggs each day, making containing an infestation very difficult. Eggs can take up to two weeks to hatch.
Bed bugs can go unnoticed for long periods of time, as they prefer to come out at night to feed. Spotting a bed bug during the day is not a good sign for a home owner or tenant. Bed bugs live in areas where they cannot be seen but have access to food. Their small flat bodies can easily hide behind baseboards, underneath carpet, under wall paper, inside picture frames, inside electrical outlets, nestled inside clothing, in nightstands or dressers, and of course, inside your mattress seams and box brings.
Signs of Bed Bug Infestation
- Multiple bites in a row on your face, neck, arms or hands
- Blood stains or smears on bed sheets or mattresses
- Small brown or black stains (feces) on mattress, bed sheets, box springs, base boards, head boards or foot boards
- Shed skin shells
Bed bugs are one of the most difficult insects to control, as they can potentially live a year or more without food in the right living conditions and they have developed tolerances to many pesticide treatments. That being said, beg bugs at any stage, including eggs, cannot live in temperatures 120 degrees Fahrenheit and above. For this reason, many companies have added heat or steam treatments to their bed bug removal services.
Bed Bug Bites
Bed bugs live off of blood. The most common places bed bugs bite are the hands, face, neck and arms. Bed bugs saliva acts as a natural numbing agent and increases your blood flow at the bite area, making their bites painless and quick. Every person reacts differently to a bed bug bite. Some individuals do not react to bites at all, while others develop painful rashes. Bed bug bites are very difficult to tell apart from other insect bites and often get mistaken for mosquito bites. The best way to differentiate a bed bug bite from other insect bites is if you have many bites in a row. Bed bugs are not confirmed to carry diseases from person to person.
How Bed Bugs Spread
Unlike many other infestations, bed bugs are not caused by insects seeking shelter or food. Bed bug infestations are directly spread by humans. Bed bugs take shelter in furniture, clothing, and fabrics. As people go about their day, they may unknowingly be relocating bed bugs attached to their clothing or are stowed away in their belongings. This is why in recent years many hotels, movie theaters, buses and air planes have been plagues by bed bug infestations. Individuals who have bed bugs and decide to move from their home are at great risk of bringing their infestation with them. This is why we recommend treating bed bugs, not running away from them.
Bed Bug Removal
Removing bed bugs from your home is not an easy process. There are no home remedies to rid your home of a bed bug infestation. Pest Kings does not recommend DIY treatments for bed bugs. These insects have developed a tolerance for all pesticides sold in stores. There are many methods you can use to relieve the severity of your infestation, all include general tidiness. The most recommended methods to calm the severity of an infestation include frequent vacuuming, laundering of bedding and clothing on the highest heat cycle, and use of alcohol on box springs and mattresses. Calling Pest Kings Wildlife & Pest Control at the first sign of a bed bug infestation is the best way to begin the bed bug removal process.