Bed Bugs

Bed Bug Facts

• Reddish Brown, 1/8-1/4 inches long
• oval shaped and flat
• requires blood meal to survive (typically every five days)
• bites humans at night when they are asleep
• some people have reactions to the bites and become inflamed and itchy
• It takes between 3 to 10 minutes for a Bed Bug to feed

Life Cycle

Bed bugs do not fly, and they don’t jump like fleas do ― but they can crawl rapidly over floors, walls, ceilings and other surfaces. Adult females lay their eggs in secluded places, depositing 1, 2 or more eggs per day, potentially hundreds during their lifetime. The eggs are tiny (about the size of a dust spec), whitish and hard to see without magnification, especially on light-colored surfaces. When first laid, the eggs are sticky, causing them to adhere to surfaces. At room temperatures, bed bug eggs hatch in about a week. Newly emerged nymphs are straw-colored and no bigger than a pinhead.

As bed bugs grow they molt, shedding their skin five times before reaching maturity. A blood meal is needed between each successive molt. Adult females also must feed in order to lay eggs. Under favorable conditions (70-80°F), the bugs can mature fully in as little as a month, producing multiple generations per year. Cooler temperatures or limited access to blood prolong the development time.

Bed bugs are very resilient. Nymphs and adults can persist months without feeding which is unusual for most insects. The ability to survive without a blood meal is longer at cooler temperatures ― potentially up to a year or longer at 55°F or less. In temperature-controlled buildings, a more typical duration is about 2 to 6 months. Consequently, it is usually impractical to leave buildings unoccupied in hopes of ‘starving out’ an infestation. When infested dwellings such as apartments are vacated, bed bugs often disperse to nearby units, or reduce their activity until the unit is reoccupied.

Bed bugs are active mainly at night. During the daytime, they prefer to hide close to where people sleep. Their flattened bodies enable them to fit into tiny crevices--especially those associated with mattresses, box springs, bed frames and headboards. Bed bugs do not have nests like ants or bees, but do tend to congregate in habitual hiding places. Characteristically, these areas are marked by dark spotting and staining, which is the dried excrement of the bugs. Also present will be hatched and un-hatched eggs, the tannish shed skins of maturing nymphs, and the bugs themselves. Another possible sign are rusty or reddish smears on bed sheets or mattresses from crushed engorged bed bugs. Although it’s often stated that bed bugs have a telltale “buggy” odor, the smell is seldom evident except in extreme infestations and should not be relied upon for detection.

Bed Bug Signs and Prevention

Bed Bugs are hitch hikers. You can pick them up almost anywhere. These are just a few places that we have seen them. The movie theater, clothing store, bedding stores, hotels, a friends house. When you seat down or place and item on an area that has bed bugs they crawl in and make themselves comfortable. They crawl out when they are hungry and look for a host. They can ride on your pets , but for not long as their body temperatures are higher then ours. They are called bed bugs because this is where they are most frequently found. They bite you while you sleep. Signs of bed bugs are blood spots on your sheets or mattress.

Prevention

Take off your clothing as soon as your return home. Leave your shoes at the door, don't bring in your purse to friends homes or the movies. When staying at a hotel, do not place your suitcase on the bed. When returning home leave your suitcase in the garage. Wash and dry all clothing before taking them into the house.

Stop infection by being proactive

Be wary of acquiring secondhand beds, mattresses, bedding, and furniture.

Only purchase furniture and bedding from reputable dealers.

When traveling, examine the bed and headboard areas for signs of bugs (Little Blood spots.) Keep your luggage off the floor and bed. Use the Luggage stand. Most good hotels are aware of these issues. Check to be sure that the mattress has an encasement on it,

Use common sense. If you suspect that you or some you are with could have possibly been exposed to a potential Bed Bug infestation, check your clothes thoroughly for hitchhikers.

If you suspect that you might have an bed bug problem please call a professional like KC Pest Control for a free inspection. We would rather help you get rid of your problem when you have just a few then in a couple of months when you have thousands.

Why Encasement?

Bed Bugs can hide just about anywhere,. However, they tend to nest close to their food source, YOU! Therefore, your mattress and box spring are ideal places for the bed bugs to nest. After we treat the bedroom, we strongly suggest the mattresses and box springs be encased with Bed Bug proof encasement. These encasement's are allergy free and a surefire measure to prevent Bed Bugs from affecting your like by putting an impenetrable barrier between you and the parasite. Don't just get any plastic covers there is a difference. The allergy free encasement's have a three sided zipper system to insure a secure seal.