If you think you may have a bed bug infestation in your home, been bit by bed bugs or are concerned with the possibility of bringing home bed bugs while travelling, you may have a few questions. Here are some of the most commonly asked questions when it comes to bed bugs answered by the bed bug removal specialists at ASAP Pest Control.
What are bed bugs?
Bed bugs are small insects that live off the blood of people and animals. They have flat, oval-shaped bodies that are usually brown, although they take on a reddish colour after they’ve fed. They don’t fly, but they can move quickly and are difficult to detect. In many cases, people don’t know they have a bed bug infestation unless they can identify the series of bites the insects leave behind. This makes bed bug removal incredibly difficult. Although they are a nuisance, bed bugs aren’t known for transmitting diseases.
How do you get bed bugs?
Bed bugs can enter your home through contaminated clothing, luggage, or used furniture. They are commonly picked up while travelling, when staying in hotel beds and rooms that may be infested. Many people end up with infestations when they bring old furniture or bedding into their homes without properly cleaning and fumigating it. They can also spread into nearby rooms or other apartments after they’ve settled into a home.
What do bed bugs look like?
An adult bed bug is about the size of an apple seed. It has a flat, oval-shaped body that is usually brown in colour, but it takes on a reddish hue after it feeds.
Where do bed bugs bite?
Bed bug
s are mostly active at night and bite people while they are sleeping. They can bite anywhere where there is exposed skin, but recurring bites usually appear in the same general area. For example, you might notice a series of itchy bites on your arm if you’ve had an infestation for some time.
What causes bed bugs?
Bed bugs can spread to different rooms or apartments if there is an infestation, but they can also get into your home if you bring in unwashed used clothing or furniture.
They might also hitch a ride on your clothes if you spend time in an infested area. It is a common misconception that bed bugs are attracted to filthy locations. That is untrue as bed bugs can thrive in a wide range of environments –clean or not.
Are bed bug bites itchy?
Bed bug bites are not itchy, they are painless at first, but can later develop into itchy welts in time.
How do bed bug bites look?
Bed bug bites appear as small red bumps with clear centers. They often appear in clusters in a zig-zag pattern as the bugs bite the same area night after night.
How do bed bugs spread?
Bed bugs can spread through contaminated clothing, luggage, and furniture. They can also spread from one room or apartment to another. Bed bugs spread by crawling and are known to contaminate many rooms in a home. They can easily hide in books, in the back of pictures hanging on a wall, inside of fabric furniture, bedding and clothing.
How to find bed bugs?
You are more likely to see signs of a bed bug infestation than the bugs themselves, but it still pays to know where to look for them. Look in the seams, piping, and near the tags of your mattress or box spring as well as in cracks in the bed frame. You might also find bugs in between cushions, in the folds of curtains, or in drawer joints if your room is heavily infested.
How do you know you have a bed bug infestation?
Because bed bugs are so small and mostly only come out at night, they are incredibly difficult to find. However, you can see signs of an infestation if you know to look for them. These include:
- Itchy red bumps on your skin in a zig-zag pattern
- Blood, spot-like stains on your bedding
- Small rusty spots of excrement on your bedding or your bedroom walls
- Eggshells or shed bed-bug skins near areas where the bugs could be hidden
- A musty odour caused by the bugs’ scent glands
Seeing a bed bug is also proof that you have an infestation. Unfortunately, this is less likely to happen since the pests are incredibly small even as adults. If you see signs of an infestation, it’s best to contact a bed bug removal service to confirm that you have a bed bug problem.
How long do bed bug bites last?
The symptoms of bed bug bites typically last about one to two weeks. Those who may be sensitive to bug bites in general, may find it takes a little longer to heal, sometimes upwards of three weeks.
How to check for bed bugs?
If you suspect that you have a bed bug infestation, remove all your bedding and check for signs of the bugs such as shed skins or excrement. Peel back the fabric in your box spring and check the wood frame. You should also check nearby shelves, dressers, and any cracks in the walls. If you aren’t sure what to look for, contact a bed bug removal service.
How do you get rid of bed bugs?
If it turns out that you have a bed bug infestation, you should follow the following steps in order to properly get rid of them:
- Wash all your bedding and affected clothing in hot water and dry them on your dryer’s highest setting. Any stuffed animals or other objects that cannot be washed should be placed in your dryer at the highest setting for 30 minutes.
- Use a stiff brush to brush away any bugs or their eggs from the seams on your mattress. Vacuum your mattress and the surrounding area. Place your vacuum cleaner bag outside in your garbage can away from your house.
- If you have any cracks in your walls where the bugs might be hiding, repair them with plaster to remove these potential hiding places.
Since bed bugs can live for up to a year without feeding, place a tightly woven cover over your mattress to keep the bugs from getting in or out. Keep the cover on your mattress for the next year to make sure all the bugs are dead. - Keep the area around your bed free of clutter.
Contact a bed bug removal service to make sure that the bugs are dead.
What kills bed bugs?
Bed bugs can usually be killed with a chemical treatment provided by professional pest control professionals, preferably one that is safe to use in your bedroom and your bedding. A dryer on the highest heat setting will also kill any bugs in clothing or bedding.
How do you get rid of bugs in your mattress?
A stiff brush will get rid of any bugs that are in the seams of your mattress and get them in the open. They can then be vacuumed up. The right chemical treatment can kill the bugs and their eggs on your mattress, but you should only use products that are stated to be safe to use with bedding or used by professional pest management professionals. Your mattress should also be placed in a tightly woven cover for at least a year to keep any bugs from getting in or out.
How do you get rid of bed bug eggs?
Bed bug eggs can be removed from your mattress with a stiff brush and a vacuum, just like the bugs and nymphs themselves.
How do you get rid of bed bugs quickly?
The best and quickest way to deal with a bed bug infestation quickly is to contact an exterminator or pest control professional as soon as you think you have a problem. Professional pest management can safely and quickly locate and eradicate a bed bug infestation.
Where do bed bugs hide?
Bed bugs can fit into spaces that are as thin as a credit card, so they can hide in cracks and seams in walls and furniture. This includes the wooden frames of your box spring and your bed itself. The bugs can also be found in the seams of your mattress, in fabric and upholstered furniture, clothing and even inside books, end tables and shelving.
Can you get rid of a bed bug infestation?
You can get rid of a bed bug infestation if you act as soon as you suspect you have a problem. An extermination service of bed bug removal professional can kill the bugs with a chemical treatment, and you can wash any contaminated bedding and clothing in hot water and dry it on your dryer’s highest setting. The bugs can live for up to a year without feeding, so you should stay diligent for the next year even after you think the problem is gone.
Who is responsible for a bed bug infestation in a rental?
In most cases, your landlord is responsible for taking care of a bed bug infestation in a rental property. They are responsible for providing the tenant with habitable housing, and a home with an infestation isn’t considered habitable. If you’ve lived in a rental home for longer than a year, it is possible that your landlord may blame you for the infestation simply because there is no one else to blame. Be sure to check your regional landlord and tenant agreements for local standards and requirements of renters and landlords when it comes to bed bugs.
Can a bed bug infestation make you sick?
As irritating as bed bug bites can be, there are no known cases of diseases being spread by them. Allergic reactions are rare, but they can happen. Symptoms of an allergic reaction caused by a bed bug may include:
- Fever
- Difficulty breathing
- A swollen tongue
- Flu-like symptoms
- An irregular heartbeat
Anyone who is experiencing these symptoms should seek medical attention immediately.
Can bed bugs fly?
A bed bug has no wings and doesn’t fly. However, the bugs do move rather quickly and are known to relocate to another room or locater rather easily, which makes them difficult to detect.
When do bed bugs come out?
Bed bugs are mostly active at night and feed on sleeping people and animals – most commonly around the hours of 2am and 5am when hosts are sleeping. Although they are most commonly active at night, they can seize any opportunity to feed on a host – day or night.
Can you see bed bugs with your naked eye?
An adult bed bug is about the size of an apple seed, so you will be able to see it. Since the bugs mostly come out at night and move quickly, you are, however, more likely to see signs of a bed bug infestation instead of any live adult bugs.
For more information about bed bugs or professional bed bug removal services in and around London, Ontario, contact the pest control professionals at ASAP Pest Control today.