Bed Bug Control
Having a bed bug problem or infestation at your property is certainly a nuisance and an inconvenience. You can rest assured that when you follow the step-by-step guide your pests will be eliminated from your home or business, very soon.
Bed Bug Problems In Your Neighborhood
Highly acclaimed entertainment, educational, military and industry sectors play host to thousands of visitors every year. Unfortunately, anywhere people gather in large numbers, the potential for bed bug problems increases dramatically. Attaching themselves to luggage, furniture, overnight bags, these guys can cause mental distress, sleepless nights and anxiety. As the rise in bed bug problems has taken hold in recent years, bedbugs have made their way into our commercial properties and into our homes. It’s recommended that all homeowners, commercial property owners, property managers, and renters, educate themselves on bed bug behavior to help prevent bed bugs from being introduced to their living space and causing problems.
What Are Bed Bugs?
Bed bugs are small insects that feed exclusively on blood. They lack wings so thankfully they don’t fly, but they move swiftly on horizontal and vertical surfaces. Adult bed bugs are brown to reddish in color, relatively flat, oval-shaped, and less than 1/4” long and wide. Their eggs and newly hatched nymphs are translucent in color, turning browner as they mature. Typically, bed bugs bite their hosts when they are asleep, and prefer to be in and near sleeping areas or where extended time is spent (living rooms, recreational rooms etc).
How Do I Know If I Have Bed Bugs?
Bed bugs may be small in size and somewhat difficult to spot at the low level, but here is a list to break down the signs that will help to determine an infestation or problem within your living space:
Bed Bug Bites
Although they are not conclusive, waking up with itchy red dots on your skin, may be an indication that bed bugs are present.
Little Black Dots
A series of little black or near-brown dots on mattress seams, bed frames, bedding, or in the box spring can be a clear indication.
Eggs And Shells
Bed bug egg deposits are white and about the size of a miniature grain of rice. They also shed their skins as they grow and develop, these skins are brown in color. These two signs are a sure sign of a bed bug infestation.
Smell
If bed bugs have infested an area for a prolonged period, and the infestation is considered to be a “high-level infestation” or severe problem, a strong odor will be noticeable within the room or living space. Bedbugs release a pheromone and when found in large populations, have a distinct and pungent odor. This is a really good non-visual sign of a substantial problem that can be picked up just by smell.
Live/Dead Bed Bugs
Even though bed bugs can move relatively quickly, you may spot some hiding in a bed frame, bed rails, and possible other furniture that is around the bed. They may also be found throughout the house, showing up in other rooms or areas depending on the severity or extent of the problem, the number of occupants within the living space, etc.
Are Bed Bugs Harmful To Me Or My Family?
A number of adverse health effects may result from bed bug bites, including skin rashes, psychological effects, and allergic symptoms. Thankfully, bed bugs are not known to transmit any pathogens as disease vectors. Because bites affect everyone differently, some people may have no reaction and will not develop bite marks or any other visible signs of being bitten. Other people develop an allergic reaction with symptoms such as enlarged bite marks, itchiness, painful swelling at the bite site, and on rare occasions, anaphylaxis.
Signs Of A Bed Bug Problem
There are a number of other signs that will also help with determining if your Edmonton property is suffering from a bed bug problem or infestation. As bed bugs grow, they shed their skin and the shells are left behind. These shells are brown in color and are extremely fragile. Another obvious sign is the traces that are left after they have defecated. The areas where defecation has occurred will have small dots that will appear to be black or brown stains, most commonly found on boxsprings, mattresses, and bed frames. Another obvious way to tell if you have a bed bug problem or infestation is by sighting the bugs themselves. Although, because bed bugs prefer to remain undetected, if you are sighting active bed bugs crawling on you or the top of your bed, it would be safe to assume that the problem is not in its early stages of development.
Bed bug Infestations Can Happen To Anyone
Bed bug issues are not caused by poor hygiene or poor housekeeping practices. Bed bugs are experts at hiding. Their slim flat bodies allow them to fit into the smallest of spaces and stay there for long periods of time. Bed bugs are usually transported from place to place as people travel. They travel in the seams and folds of luggage, overnight bags, folded clothes, bedding, furniture, and anywhere else where they can hide. Most people do not even realize they could be transporting bed bugs as they travel from location to location.
Going Somewhere?
Here Are Some Tips And Practices To Help You When Traveling
Before You Book
One of the best ways to prevent bed bugs from affecting your Edmonton property is to avoid staying in places that have them. Unfortunately, there’s no way to absolutely guarantee that your hotel won’t have any, but it’s still a good idea to check out hotel reviews to see if a lot of people are complaining. If they are, you’re probably better off booking a different hotel. Websites like TripAdvisor and the Bed Bug Registry are pretty good for this.
When You Arrive
Check the mattress and surrounding areas for any signs of bed bug activity. Pull back the mattress cover and flip the pillows. Lift the mattress and boxspring to inspect them. Take notice of any red or black spotting. If you do find bed bug activity, contact the hotel management. Inform them of the problem, and request to be moved to another room. It’s likely that other rooms in the same hotel will also have bed bugs though. If feeling too uncomfortable to stay, ask for a reimbursement and stay at a different location.
When You Get Back
If you suspect that you may have accidentally brought bed bugs home with you, leave your luggage outside on the porch or in the garage. Launder the fabrics that were taken in hot water and dry on high heat. Inspect and vacuum out the cracks and folds of the luggage or bags that were holding your belongings. In the event that bed bugs get introduced, vacuuming of the folds of mattresses and box springs, as well as the vacuuming of cracks and crevices of bed frames, will help to slow down the infestation before professional help arrives. Washing and drying sheets, clothing, and other bedding material on high heat will kill all life stages of bed bugs that may be on them.
Other Preventative Measures
Furniture
Avoid used furniture if possible. If acquiring new furniture is simply not feasible or practical, be sure to thoroughly inspect any items you plan on introducing to your home. Acquiring a used bed frame, mattress, boxspring, dresser, nightstand, couch or recliner could be a costly mistake.
Clutter
Clear any clutter that is in or around sleeping areas. The more cluttered an area is, and the more stuff that is around beds and couches, the easier it is for bed bugs to hide. Clutter can add complexities to the control process and cause delays for your exterminator.
Multi-Unit Living
Residents living in an apartment, townhouse, or any other shared living arrangement are more at risk than those who live in single-family homes. Bedbugs can travel between units along wiring and piping, down hallways, and between walls. People living in this arrangement need to be more aware and more proactive when it comes to detecting and reporting bed bug activity.