Unfortunately, bed bugs are proving to be a more common pest problem for homes and businesses in Southwestern Ontario. These disruptive pests can easily make their way from one location to the next by hiding in clothing and furniture – leading to a growing problem of bed bug infestations throughout the region. At ASAP Pest Control, we are experts at controlling bed bug infestations; offering comprehensive bed bug removal treatments and pest control services for residential and commercial clients throughout London and surrounding areas.

What Are Bed Bugs?

Bed Bug Removal Services in London ON – ASAP Pest Control

Bed bug infestations are an epidemic throughout North America and the world and often require professional bed bug removal services. It is important to get the proper information in order to understand how to react when you encounter bed bugs. Bed bugs easily travel in suit cases, on clothes, through baseboards, electrical outlets and many other ways. By having a flattened body, they fit in small locations in box springs, mattresses, under wallpaper, behind picture frames, electrical outlets and even electronics. Bed bugs are able to survive for weeks without feeding. Bed bugs have the ability to go dormant for their entire life cycle if there is no food available.

Bed Bug Identification

The first step to reporting a bed bug infestation is identification, but what do bed bugs look like? Bed bugs are wingless, so they do not fly or jump. They have oval bodies and are flattened, allowing them to fit in cracks and crevices where they spend the majority of their life. Adults are brown but darken to a blood red after feeding. Young bed bugs are light brown to almost clear in colour, and after feeding, their bodies become red from the blood. A female bed bug will lay at least 200 eggs throughout her life, averaging 2-4 per day. The eggs are white and are 1mm long. Bed bug eggs are sticky, and their favourite laying areas include cracks and crevices.

Bed Bug Feeding and Bites

Bed bugs feed on humans and animals, and bites often appear as red, itchy spots. They are attracted to the heat and carbon dioxide that we produce. Typical feeding areas are where they feel most comfortable and can include the cracks and crevices located on the body (but will feed anywhere blood is available). Bites may be noticed right after feeding or may take up to 7 days to appear. It’s important to contact a pest control specialist for professional bed bug treatments to avoid a full infestation.

Where Are Bed Bugs Found in a Home?

Bed bugs can easily nestle into fabrics and furniture pieces and can commonly be found in the following areas of your home:

  • Headboard & Head of a Mattress
  • The Foot of the bed & the Bed frame
  • In the Drawers of End Tables
  • In the Seams of Couch​es and Chairs
  • Picture Frames
  • Tables
Common Places for Bed Bugs in Your Home

Finding Bed Bugs in your Furniture 

Finding this type of pest in your home is not always an easy task. Because they’re so good at hiding, it’s often hard to spot bed bugs hiding in your home. Quick identification of these pests is important, as the population can grow quickly in your home, leading to a full bed bug infestation. See how a bed bug infestation can easily extend beyond just furniture and into the walls of a home:

How to Avoid Bringing Home Bed Bugs

Below, we’ve identified a few steps that will help prevent transferring Bed Bugs home from your travels:

At a Hotel

  • Use light-coloured luggage – although black luggage is one of the most common colours for suitcases, it makes it more difficult to see if bed bugs have nestled on or in your suitcase.
  • Check the hotel bedding or areas of concern for signs [of bed bugs]
  • DO NOT put luggage on the bed, as bed bugs can easily transfer from a headboard or bedding onto your luggage
  • DO NOT bring your pillows or blankets to the hotel
  • Keep luggage on a luggage stand or a close by area and inspect the stand for signs of a bed bug infestation
  • DO NOT unpack luggage into the hotel dressers. Bed bugs can easily nest into the seams of furniture pieces
  • If you see any bed bug activity in your hotel room, notify your hotel as soon as possible and switch rooms or leave the hotel.

At Home

  • Bring luggage to a quarantine area (garage, kitchen, laundry room) to properly identify any signs of bed bugs that may have found their way into your luggage.
  • Wash all clothes before returning to the bedroom, preferably in warm or hot water.
  • Place all items into a dryer at half capacity for a full cycle to kill all stages of bed bugs
  • Inspect all items in your luggage
  • Vacuum luggage, changing bag after washing nozzles with hot water
  • Avoid purchasing second-hand furniture, it’s an easy target for bed bugs

ASAP Pest Control’s Bed Bug Removal Services

ASAP Pest Control ensures that bed bug infestations are properly identified, located and managed by following a series of treatments and best practices:

  • Our experienced pest control technicians will apply our most effective bed bug treatment, a residual pesticide, eliminating the number of possible bed bugs.
  • ASAP Pest Control technicians follow a well-planned out checklist to ensure that each crack and crevice is treated to prolong the process of eliminating bed bugs.
  • Extremely thorough inspection to locate new possible holes and areas of concern
  • Ongoing monitoring of traps and areas of concern where bed bugs may return
  • The ASAP Pest Control technician will work with the home or business owner to identify the location bed bugs may be entering

Offering the most effective bed bug treatment for homes in London, Ontario, ASAP Pest Control will ensure your space is pest-free. For more information about bed bugs and to find out how ASAP Pest Control can help to manage a bed bug infestation, contact our professional technicians today.

Frequently Asked Questions About Bed Bugs

Read our full list of frequently asked questions about bed bugs for more information.

Bed bugs, eggs and nymphs themselves are visible to the naked eye, but often are difficult to detect as they will hide in crevices or cracks. It’s also quite easy to detect signs of bed bugs. You will notice dark reddish or brown spots on sheets or mattresses, which are bed bug excrement or blood.

Bed bugs do prefer the darkness and are generally considered nocturnal creatures who will feed during the night. They are not sensitive to light and are known to come out during the day time or when lights are on to take part in a blood meal, particularly if they have not eaten in some time or if a host is nearby.

Bed bugs are generally considered nocturnal creatures, feeding once or twice per week mostly at night. Bed bugs typically come out and feed between 2am and 5am, however, if a host sleeps during the day, bed bugs are known to alter their feeding schedule and feed during the day.

Bed bugs are not capable of jumping. They are also incapable of flight and do not have wings. Bed bugs move and relocate by crawling from host to host and nesting into clothing, crevices, luggage, furniture and more.

Although bed bug bites are a concern for humans, bed bugs are known to feed on all mammals, including pets like dogs and cats. As they do with humans, a bed bug bite will result in a red, itchy welt on your pet. Bed bugs are considered a lower threat than other pests, but the itchy bite can lead to skin irritations for cats and dogs.

Bed bugs will typically feed on any blood source available to them to sustain themselves. Some bed bugs prefer the blood of specific mammals and may even require the blood of specific mammals in order to lay eggs.

Yes, you can starve a bed bug, however, bed bugs can survive quite some time without feeding, some lasting up to 5 months. It all depends on their age and resistance to certain factors.

Bed bugs are extremely resistant and are known to survive for months between feedings. Bed bugs will not simply ‘go away’ on their own and are known to withstand some chemicals and treatments. A diligent and professional pest control plan may be the only viable solution to a bed bug infestation.

Additional Information on Bed Bugs