Bed Bug Treatment
How Do I Identify A Bed Bug Infestation?
Appearance - Bed bugs are small, usually only 4 - 5 millimeters in length. They have flat, oval shaped bodies. Bed bugs are usually light brown or reddish brown in color but will have a bright red abdomen immediately following a meal.
Behavior - Bed bugs leave straight rows of small itchy bumps on your body. Bed bug bites can cause itchy spots which can lead to infection if continuously scratched. Bed bugs can also bite pets in the home. Some people may not react to bed bugs bites, so while one person sleeping in an infested bed may show bites, another may not. Carefully check your bedding, take off all sheets, and inspect the mattress, paying close attention to the seams. If you see small rust colored, black or brown spots, these may be bed bug droppings. Bed bug droppings are made of digested blood, usually about the size of a felt tipped marker dot. You may also see bed bug skins that have previously been shed. Bed bugs can survive for up to a year without feeding.
Why Could I Have Bed Bugs?
There are many different ways you can get a bed bug infestation in your home. Contrary to popular belief, bed bug cases do not just affect people in unclean living conditions. Purchasing pre-owned furniture, travel, and unknowingly visiting an affected home are common origins of a bed bug problem. In apartments, often one apartment with a bed bug problem can spread the bugs to neighbors.
Do not feel embarrassed about a bed bug infestation. Many times it is beyond your control. We are here to help make sure your home will be bed bug-free by the end of our bed bug treatment.
Why Should I Treat My Bed Bug Problem Immediately?
Bed Bugs begin to multiply in your home if you do not treat quickly. More bed bugs mean more bites, greater chance of spreading bugs to your family and friends, and a more difficult time getting rid of a bigger infestation. Our bed bug treatment addresses both live bed bugs and any hidden bed bug eggs. By calling our trusted company, you are taking the first step to reclaiming your and sanity from a bed bug problem.
How to Get Rid of Bed Bugs
Bed bugs are an extremely annoying insect. They are becoming more prevalent throughout the United States. Unfortunately, you will likely encounter bed bugs at some point in your life.
Because bed bugs are such resilient pests, they are hard to eradicate once established. You must find a bed bug problem before it gets out of control.
How Do I Spot a Bed Bug Problem?
Spotting a bed bug problem is the first, and most important, step in getting rid of a bed bug problem. The sooner you spot a bed bug infestation, the easier it will be to remove. Because bed bugs are parasites, they are more often found in bedrooms. That makes it a little easier since you have a limited area to check for signs of bed bugs.
If you notice the following signs in your bedroom, you likely have a bed bug problem.
- Seeing a bed bug.
Bed bugs are extremely small, about 3/16-1/4-inches. That's about the size of an apple seed. They are also nocturnal. Both of these facts make them hard to spot. So, if you see a bed bug, you know there are more you don't see.
Bed bugs have a flat, oval-shaped body. They are a red-brown color. They are most often found in hiding spots, like underneath a mattress, in bed corners, or pillowcases.
- Bloodstains and bites.
Bed bugs are a parasite. They eat by sucking the blood of mammals. So, if you wake up to bloodstains on your sheets or pillowcases, then bed bugs may have been feeding in the night.
Bed bug bites are typically small. They are usually itchy and red. Unlike mosquito bites, bed bug bites often appear in a line. They will be found in exposed areas of the body, like the arms or shoulders.
- Bed bug excrement, shells, or skins on your sheets or mattress.
Bed bugs will leave their excrement, shells, and skins in their hiding places. Their excrement will look like dark or rusty-colored spots on your sheets and mattress. Skins and shells are typically found in bed corners or under mattresses. - A musty odor.
Lots of bed bugs together will create an unpleasant, musty odor. If you smell something “off” in your bedroom and notice the other signs listed here, you likely have a bad bed bug infestation.
How Do I Get Rid of Bed Bugs?
You don't want to live with bed bugs. Their bites are annoying and can cause allergic reactions. Plus, the longer you live with them, the harder they are to remove. Follow these steps to get rid of your bed bug problem.
- Clean everything you can in hot water and dry on the highest dryer temperature setting. If you can't wash an item, at least place it in the hot dryer for thirty minutes or more.
- Remove all signs of bed bugs from your mattress and furniture. Then vacuum your bedroom thoroughly.
- Purchase a special, zippered cover for your mattress and box springs. This will trap any remaining bed bugs and kill them. You will need to use it for at least a year.
- Contact GoLocal Pest Control. We will help connect you with the best bed bug removal services in your area.
How to Prevent Bed Bugs
There has been a rise in bed bug infestations all over the country. These infestations are not due to filth. It is actually a misconception that bed bugs are attracted to filthy homes. Even if your home is immaculate, you could still get bed bugs. That is because bed bugs are attracted to use. They are blood-sucking parasites. Because bed bugs cause itchy bites and can even spread disease, it is important to do everything you can to prevent them.
Why do I Have Bed Bugs?
The biggest reason why you may get a bed bug infestation is food. Bed bugs need the blood of mammals to survive. Thus, any home with people or pets is acceptable to them. This is also why they are most often found in bedrooms. They will live where they know they can get an easy meal.
Another reason you may get a bed bug infestation is accessibility. Bed bugs are often spread from hotels to your home. If you go on a trip, bed bugs may hitch a ride in your luggage. Once you get home, they have easy access to your bedroom and you.
If you live in a multi-unit building—either a condo or apartment building—the danger of bed bugs is even greater. It is very easy for bed bugs to spread from unit to unit in a multi-unit residence. This is also why they are so common in hotels and motels.
How Do I Prevent Bed Bugs?
Bed bug problems are extremely hard to solve once they get out of hand. It is better to prevent the pest from gaining a foothold in your home than trying to fix an infestation. While you cannot be 100% sure you will never get bed bugs, following these tips will help.
- Don't store your luggage under your bed.
If you have nowhere else to store the luggage, keep it in plastic containers to minimize bed bug exposure. - Immediately wash your clothes and luggage after returning from a trip.
This will ensure any bed bug eggs are killed before you put the items back in your bedroom. Don't just wash the items, also make sure to dry them on the hottest setting. - Keep your bedroom vacuumed.
Vacuum at least once per week. Always vacuum after returning from a trip. This will help keep a bed bug infestation from occurring. - Check for signs of bed bugs on your sheets and mattresses.
Checking for the signs of bed bugs is a great way to prevent an infestation from getting out of hand. - Wash your bedclothes on a high setting at least once per week.
The cleaner you keep your bedclothes, the less likely it is that bed bugs will be on them. - Contact a bed bug removal company.
Preventative visits from a good exterminator will reduce the possibility of a bed bug infestation. Let us here at GoLocal Pest Control help you find the best bed bug removal services in your area. Contact us today to learn more.
What do Bed Bugs Look Like?
Bed bugs are the bane of many homeowners' existence. They are extremely hard to completely eradicate once they gain a foothold. They are also extremely annoying, blood-sucking pests. It is easy to determine the signs of bed bugs. But do you know what they look like?
To help your bed bug removal efforts, we've included a description of the pest below.
How Many Species of Bed Bugs Are There?
The bad news is that there are ninety species of bed bugs. Yes, that's right, ninety. Thankfully, of those ninety, only three species feed off of humans. The three most common species of bed bugs are C. lectularius, C. hemipterus, and L. boueti. Only two of those species, C. lectularius and C. hemipterus live in the United States. L. boueti is most common in West Africa and South America, essentially, it prefers tropical climates.
What Do Bed Bugs Look Like?
Cimex lectularius and Cimex hemipterus are the two most common bed bug species in the United States. These are such small pests, that they are hard to tell apart. The biggest differences are the locations where they are found. Cimex hemipterus is primarily found in the tropics and sub-tropics. Cimex lectularius has a more universal distribution.
All bed bugs have a similar description, so they are easy to distinguish once you know what they look like.
- Scientific Name: Cimicidae
- Size: 4-5 mm. This makes them less than 0.2 inches in length.
- Color: Reddish-brown to brown.
- Diet: Bed bugs feed on the blood of mammals. Both of the bed bug species in the United States will latch onto humans. Other bed bug species prey on bats or other mammals.
Adult bed bugs will look like small moving brown spots on your mattress or bedclothes. They are fairly easy to spot. However, bed bugs have a unique life cycle. Females lay two or three eggs per day. This is one of the major reasons why bed bugs are so hard to completely remove. The eggs will hatch within ten days. What hatches out of the eggs is the larval form of the bed bug. It will molt five or six times before it becomes an adult bed bug. Larval bed bugs also need blood meals to grow.
Bed bug females can lay a lot of eggs, which then stay viable even in extreme temperatures. It is no wonder then, that bed bug infestations can happen fast and get out of control quickly.
If you suspect a bed bug problem, make sure to call an exterminator right away. You need to use the best bed bug removal services you can find. At GoLocal Pest Control, we can help you find the top companies in your area. Our database holds the information of hundreds of exterminators throughout the country. Put your zip code in and then enjoy sifting through the many results. To learn more about our process, visit this page.
How to Find an Exterminator to Help with Bed Bugs
Bed bugs are a horrible pain. They are blood-sucking parasites and cause itchy red bumps. They can even spread diseases with their bites. Unfortunately, bed bug infestations have been happening more regularly all over the country. These annoying pests can be easily transferred from place to place in suitcases and clothes. They are especially common in hotel rooms.
You don't want to let bed bugs get secure in your home. They can be extremely hard to remove once they start laying eggs. This is where the help of a good exterminator comes in. However, to get the most for your money, you need to find the right bed bug exterminator. Here's how.
What Should I Look for in a Bed Bug Exterminator?
When choosing a bed bug exterminator, there are a few questions that you need to ask. These will help you narrow down your choices by telling you how experienced each company is in bed bug removal.
- How many successful bed bug removal jobs have you competed in the last year?
- What's the worst bed bug infestation you have experienced, and how did you solve it?
- Are any of your technicians bed bug specialists?
- Do you provide extra services?
- Do you provide a guarantee or warranty for your bed bug removal?
- What kind of treatment do you use?
What Should I Expect from Bed Bug Exterminators?
Bed bug treatment typically has multiple parts. We've listed the common steps below so that you know what to expect. Make sure to go over the treatment procedure with your technician before they begin. You should especially clarify when you can return to your home after the treatment and what items need to be thrown out.
- Inspection:
Any bed bug exterminator will begin with an inspection. Many companies provide this for free. They will give you an estimate at the end of the inspection that outlines their treatment recommendations and the expected cost. The inspection will identify the bed bugs, determine how many bugs, eggs, and larvae are in your home, and find their locations. - Treatment:
Bed bug treatment can involve many things. Insecticides will likely be applied. The technician may also use mattress encasements, steaming, vacuuming, and bed bug monitoring devices. Your exterminator will be able to go over their exact treatment procedure with you. - Follow-up treatment:
The best pest control companies will offer follow-up inspections or treatment to ensure that the bed bugs have not reinfested your home.
How Do I Find an Exterminator to Help with Bed Bugs?
Bed bugs can be a hard problem to solve. Your best bet is to find the top company in your area. But, you don't have to waste your time and money looking for a good exterminator. At GoLocal Pest Control, we have done that work for you. Just use our location finder and you will have access to pre-screened, qualified, and quality pest control companies near you.