Bed bug Picture
Bed bug bites
Adult bed bugs are about the shape and size of an apple seed and go through molt stages,shedding their skins, which is an indicator their presence.After feeding, bed bugs return to their harbor age to hide. They eventually defecate in these areas, which appears as black to brown stains on porous surfaces or black to brown mounds on nonporous surfaces.Bites also may indicate bed bug activity, but further signs will need to be found, since other sources can cause red welts on the skin.
People often don’t consider bed bugs before bringing second hand items into the home. Consider that people often acquire used items in the following ways:
•Buying goods that have been returned to a store and are being sold as new.
•Receiving hand-me downs.
•Buying things from garage and tag sales.
•Buying things from flea markets.
•Taking items left curbside for free.
•Buying items through online and offline classifieds.
If you bring things into your home that you have obtained through any of the above channels, make sure you check everything thoroughly. It may even pay to isolate those things in storage somewhere for a bit until you can inspect them and possibly treat them.
Trap and Kill Bed Bugs | Bed Bug Treatment & Extermination
It is always a good idea to leave an infestation to the Bed bug professionals as it will cost you more in the long run. Remember the soon you deal with the problem the quicker it get solved .That being said here are a few things you can do to control a bed bug problem.Sticky traps will help you figure out where in your home the infestation is heaviest. Bed bugs will become stuck to the traps and you can see how many are in certain areas. Bed bugs are susceptible to heat and if they are exposed to temperatures in excess of 130F both bed bugs and their eggs should be killed on contact. Diatomaceous earth you find at the pool supply store is NOT what you want to use! You want Food Grade Diatomaceous Earth which is a safe all natural pest control
Identifying Bed Bugs life cycle & Bites
Looking for bed bugs is similar to looking for fecal spots in that bed bugs often leave numerous fecal spots where they get together after feeding. However, these aggregations also contain a variety of other bed bug evidence:
• Live bed bugs (multiple life stages)
• Fecal spots • Cast skins (from nymphs that have molted)
• Live and hatched eggs Where to look for Fecal Spots
• Along the mattress seams and on the tag
• On the wood frame of the box springs
• Behind the head board
• Along the tops of baseboards or the edge of carpeting
• Ceiling/wall junctions and behind pictures on the wall
• At electrical outlets
• In curtain seams where they gather at the rod Where to look for molted bed bug skins
• Along mattress seams
• Behind head boards
• In ceiling/wall junctions
• Along baseboards
• Stuck to personal belongings Where to look for bed bug aggregations
• Along mattress seams, in the tufts and under the mattress tags
• Behind the headboard
• Inside the holes for set-in screws
• Along wood creases in the box
• springs or in bed frames
• Where the box springs fabric is
• stapled to the wood frame
• Behind loose wallpaper
• Behind chipped paint
• Under the base of the air conditioner
• Beneath the wood framing that holds the bar in the closet
• Along the interior frame of closet doors
• Behind baseboards
• Inside the baseboard heaters
• Inside curtain rods, and on the curtains near the top where they are pleated
• In personal belongings, including books, stuffed animals, picture frames and hundreds of other locations
Pest control operators across the nation agree, bed bug arethe most difficult pests that they have ever had to control. To be effective, your pest management professional must be knowledgeable about bed bug biology and behavior and up to date in the latest bed bug control techniques. After a preliminary inspection of the premises the pest professional should be able to provide you with the following information:
• Information regarding basic bed bug biology, behavior, and medial importance
• The potential scope of the infestation, emphasizing the limitation of visual inspections
• A copy of the treatment protocol including the specific terms of the service agreement
• Your treatment preparation responsibilities
• A list of the chemical and non-chemical treatment products that they will use
• An estimate of how long treatment will take to complete based on the company’s current manpower.
• The labor for two technicians minimum and pricing estimates The pest management professional should also be able to answer questions regarding the pros and cons of each treatment method, and why their treatment methods may be differ from other companies you may have interviewed. Some companies will provide a 30 or 60 day treatment warranty/guarantee. Be aware this is not a guarantee that the bed bugs are gone. It just means that their company will treat again for free (or for less money) if any bed bugs occur within 30 or 60 days of treatment. Beware of anyone who guarantees that all the bed bugs, every last egg, will be gone after treatment. They are amateurs. How could they possibly know?
Getting Rid of Infested Items with the help of Eastside pest control bed bug technician
Get rid of furniture or bedding at the first signsof bed bugs. Cleaning and enclosing is often adequate.
• Box springs should only be discarded if they cannot be covered and are heavily infested.
• Use plastic sheeting or place securely in plastic bags any items to be thrown away. Label with a sign that says “infested with bed bugs.”
Controlling Bed bugs in multi-property dwellings
Provide tenants with information about bed bugs.
• Encourage everyone to report bed bugs as soon as they know of a problem.
• Notify tenants, and inspect all units adjacent to, above and below apartments found to have bed bugs.
• Consult with pest management professional to treat for bed bugs. Be wary of companies that make unrealistic claims that bed bugs can be controlled with one visit.
• Help tenants if they cannot move furniture themselves or need help to get rid of clutter.
• Give advance notice of the planned use of pesticides. • Inspect upon vacancy and if necessary treat units to ensure they have no bed bugs or other pests before renting.
Inspecting for Bed Bugs Look for bed bugs, blood stains, droppings and eggs (a flashlight and a magnifying glass will help). Start by looking in an area 10-20 feet aroundwhere you sleep or sit. That’s the distance a bed bug will usually travel.Keep a written record of every room and location where you find signs of bed bugs. Share this record with a pest control professional
Preventing Bed Bugs from Infesting Your Home
Bed bugs can enter homes by latching onto used furniture, luggage and clothing, and by traveling along connecting pipes and wiring.
• Never bring bed frames, mattresses, box springs or upholstered furniture found on the street into your home.
• Check all used or rented furniture for bed bugs.
• When traveling, inspect the bed and furniture.Keep suitcases off the floor and bed, and inspect them before you leave.
• If you suspect you have been around bed bugs,immediately wash and dry your clothing on hotsettings or store it in a sealed plastic bag until you can.
• Seal cracks and crevices with caulk, even if you don’t have bed bugs. This will help prevent bed bugs and other pests from coming in.Checkmattresses, box springs,bed frames and bedding
• Check the top and bottom seams, tufts and any rips in the covers of mattresses and box springs.
• Look underneath the bed and along the bed frame and headboards.
• Use a flash light to inspect cracks and crevices of furniture, windows and door frames.
• In cracks and crevices to force bed bugs out with hot blowdryer on a low setting will also work.
• Remove drawers from furniture and check the inside, top and bottom,joints and even screw holes.Check cracks and crevices in bedroom furniture, floor boards and baseboards, windows and door frames
The Health Effects of Bed Bugs
Although bed bugs and their bites are a nuisance, they are not known to spread disease.
• Bed bug bites can be very itchy and irritating. Most welts heal in a few days but in unusual cases, the welt may persist for several weeks. Usually an anti-itching ointment will help, but if bites become infected, people should see their doctor.
• The anxiety about being bitten can lead to sleeplessness, which can affect one’s wellbeing. Properly and effectively responding to bed bugs helps to keep anxiety in check. Some people become so desperate that that they use illegal or excessive amounts of pesticides that can lead to poisonings.
Clean areas where bed bugs hide
Thoroughly clean all bedding, linens, curtains, rugs, carpets, and clothes.Washing items in hot water and drying them on the highest dryer settingwill kill bed bugs. For those items that may be harmed by washing and drying at high temperatures, soak in warm water with lots of laundry soap for several hours before rinsing.
• Wipe away or vacuum all dust from the bed frame, nearby furniture, floors and carpets. Vacuum mattresses carefully. After vacuuming, immediately place the vacuum cleaner bag in a plastic bag, seal it tightly, and throw the bag away in an outdoor container.
• If you find bed bugs on the mattress, buy a waterproof zippered mattress cover. These covers often say “allergen rated,” or “for dust mites.” Scrub the mattress seams with a stiff brush to dislodge bed bugs and any eggs.Then enclose the mattress in the cover for at least one year. This will trap any remaining bed bugs inside the cover, killing them.
• Throw away and replace an infested box spring if necessary.
• Remove all clutter from bedrooms and any other furniture that people may sleep or nap upon. Place this clutter into a plastic garbage bag, seal it tightly, and throw it away. If you need to save it, make sure it stays sealed up for a year.
• Repair any cracks in plaster and all loosened wallpaper, especially in bedrooms.