Bed Bug Control

When most people go to sleep at night the last thing they want is to wonder if there’s something in the bed that could possibly bite them, or even worse be feeding off of their blood. Waking up to feeling an uncontrollable need to scratch a rash that suddenly develops only when sleeping is a sure sign that you might have bed bugs, but before you do anything here’s some information on bed bugs that will help you determine if it’s time to call a bed bug control expert.

What Are Bed Bugs?

bed bugs on pillow Bed bugs are about 5 millimeters long and are oval-shaped, flat insects with a red or brown tone to them. After they eat, they tend to be more red and swollen than at other times. Bed bugs feed on blood and tend to be most active at night, which is when they can feast on their host who is usually asleep. In certain conditions, such as when the weather gets cold, they can go for up to a year without eating! They are so small that they can get themselves into mattresses, sheets, and baseboards. They are not just confined to beds. They slip into every crack or crevice in any piece of furniture and can be found in picture frames or electrical outlet plates. They reproduce quickly too. A female may lay up to 500 eggs in her lifetime. In normal room temperatures, these bugs have a normal lifespan of almost a year. As insidious as they are, they really do not pose serious risks to humans in terms of being able to transfer diseases. They do, however, enjoy biting people.

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How Bed Bug Infestations Start

bed bug life cycle Understand that getting an infestation has nothing to do with cleanliness! They can be picked up just about anywhere in your daily travels. Bed bugs can come from hotels, offices, and stores. They can come from a neighbor’s house or a gym. Keep this in mind as you go about your daily life. They can exist virtually in any part of the country so they do not concentrate in any one region even though sometimes their infestations are more common in certain areas. They love to travel, so if you do, too, always make sure you check your luggage and belongings before you leave for home. Then, once home, check things again. Try your best not to let any of these bugs into your home. Once there, they can reproduce so quickly that an infestation can happen easily. If you suspect you have introduced them into the home following a trip or a visit to a new gym, there are remedies and treatments available from EcoTek Termite and Pest Control. These critters are terrific at hiding so they can be awfully difficult to notice when they make their journeys. If notice any of the four signs described below that outline a typical bed bug infestation, then contact the exterminators at EcoTek so we can help you get rid of them as soon as possible.

4 Signs of an Infestation

Now that you know what they look like, how they behave and where they reside, you will want to know how to tell if your home has a bed bug infestation. Here are the things to look for:

Seeing the actual bugs themselves
Skins left behind on pillow cases or other furnishings
Black or brown stains which are the bugs’ defecation, and
Bites resembling welts on the skin.

What To Do If You Think You Have Bed Bugs

So you’ve determined that you might have bed bugs and now it’s time to call the bed bug exterminators at EcoTek. What can you inspect when you call us to help you with an existing infestation? First off, we’ll come to your home and perform a free bed bug inspection that will help you understand the extent of the infestation, and will also provide you with whatever costs are involved with the accompanying free estimate.

Free Bed Bug Inspection

The inspection will include a thorough look at everything in the home. This includes all furnishings, rugs, curtains, beds and more. All cracks and all crevices are looked at with a trained eye. The inspection pays close attention to spotting live bugs as well as dead ones. It will detect any skins that are cast off as the bugs molt as well as detect the fecal matter.

Other things that the inspection will reveal include the cream colored eggs which often reside in dark cracks. Once the inspection is done and you’ve seen how affordable it is to eliminate them, we will set about implementing the plan for exterminating them.

The EcoTek Bed Bug Treatment Plan

bed bug treatment Once it is fully determined that you have a bed bug infestation and you’re ready to exterminate them, we will apply an effective insecticide to treat the bed bugs. The treatments can take up to an hour for each bedroom that is being treated. If you have multiple rooms being treated you may need to allow more time for the treatment to be completed.

How to Prepare for an EcoTek Bed Bug Treatment

Our bed bug heat treatment will get rid of your infestation quickly and completely at a cost that you can live with. While you wait for us to help you, here are some things you can do to make the process easier.

First, get rid of any excess clutter in the home. This will help us find the bugs wherever they are. You should also take all bed linens and wash them at the highest temperature possible. Be sure to dry them on high heat thoroughly.
To help prevent any infestations in the future always inspect any second-hand furniture you wish to acquire thoroughly before bringing it into the home. Be sure to take a good look around after coming back from a trip. Inspect your luggage with a careful eye!

After the initial treatment, we will return to follow up to make sure all the bugs are gone. If there are any signs of bed bugs or their larvae, we will retreat the home as needed. These bugs can sometimes be very difficult to get rid of but we will do whatever it takes to get your home free of the bed bugs.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What are complications from bed bugs?

The biggest complication from bed bugs are the itchy bites and the restless sleep that you may get as a result of having bed bugs. They are also difficult to eliminate and you will need to wash your bedding and clean your bedroom of clutter for the treatments to work well.

Will I need to do anything in addition to your treatment to get rid of bed bugs?

Yes, you will need to wash all your bedding in hot water and dry it one high heat. This will eliminate any bed bugs that may be in your bedding. It is also helpful to eliminate the clutter that may be in your bedroom to make it easier for the technician to find and treat the nests.

How do I tell the difference between fleas and bed bugs?

Flea bites tend to be on your ankles, while bed bug bites may be anywhere. Additionally, bed bug bites will have several that are in a straight line, since bed bugs will bite you multiple times during a feeding. You will likely notice flea bites right away, while you should notice bed bug bites when you wake up.

Can bed bugs fly?

Bed bugs cannot fly. They do not jump like fleas do. Instead they find their victims by crawling to them. They may also move from victim to victim. Bed bugs are attracted to the heat of warm bodies and to the lactic acid and CO2 emissions that each person emits.

Are bed bugs only active at night?

Bed bugs are only active at night. In fact, most bed bugs are active about an hour before the sun comes up. However, they may feed during the day if they are given the opportunity. One of the things that makes finding and treating bed bugs is that they are only active at night.