Bed bugs are a parasitic insect that feed on human blood. Infestation of bed bugs has recently been on the rise. Bed bugs prefer warm houses and particularly inside beds and bedding. Bed bug bites may result in skin rashes or allergic reactions. Bed bugs can be brought into the home from:

• A person’s clothing, luggage or body
• Infested furniture, clothing or backpacks brought in
• Wild animals that may host bed bugs

Detection of bed bugs may be difficult because they are elusive and primarily nocturnal. Their activity peaks between 10 pm and 6 am. They lodge in dark crevices and can nest hundreds of eggs in fabric seams.  Signs of bed bugs include bites, fecal spots, blood smears on sheets and the presence of their empty molted exoskeletons. Bed bugs can also be detected by their characteristic smell of rotting raspberries.

Adult bed bugs are light brown to reddish brown in color, flattened, oval-shaped and have no hind wings. Adults grow to 4-5 millimeters long and 1.5-3 millimeters wide. Newly hatched bed bugs are translucent, lighter in color and become browner as they molt and reach maturity.

Bed bugs can be extremely difficult to control because of their elusive nature and their unique ability to hide in the tiniest cracks and crevices of mattresses, box springs, upholstered furniture or behind electrical outlet covers. Eradication of bed bugs often requires a combination of mechanical approaches and the occasional use of pesticides. Vacuuming up the insects, heat treating or wrapping mattresses are some methods. A combination of heat and drying treatments has been found to be most effective. Bed bug heat treatments work by raising the temperature in spaces, over an extended period of time to levels that will kill bed bugs. For public health reasons, it is recommended that a professional pest control service is used to eradicate bed bugs.

Beggin’ Us Pest Control will first identify and confirm the presence of bed bugs in your home or business and then create a treatment plan that will eliminate them in an environmentally responsible manner.