What do they look like and how would I know if I have bed bugs?
Bed bugs are generally 1/8 inch – 1/4 inch in length. They are reddish brown with an oval shaped body and small head. These insects feed on warm blooded animals – normally the blood of sleeping people. One of the first signs of having bed bugs is discovering that you or a family member has been bitten. Their bites leave small red marks which will turn to itchy welts on the skin. Another way at detecting the presence of bed bugs is from the bloodstain on your sheets or in or near the seams of your mattress.
Why is it important to cal Eastern just as soon as you detect the presence of bed bugs?
Bed bugs reproduce rapidly. A pregnant female can lay up to 10 eggs at a time that will hatch in seven to ten days. The baby bugs need to start feeding immediately on the blood of humans. It only takes these bed bugs 8 weeks to become adults and start reproducing. So time is of the essence before the population of bed bugs gets out of control.
How do bed bugs get into our space?
We can come in contact with bed bugs anywhere — at work, at stores, in a hotel, and when we travel. Bugs can hide in suitcases when we travel, or in briefcases or purses at work, they can also migrate from adjoining apartments, retail stores or other spaces. They can hide in packages that get delivered and infest your home in a host of other ways.
How difficult is it to detect the presence of bed bugs?
It all depends. There are two ways to detect bed bugs – by visual inspection and by smell. Even the most experienced exterminators can only find all at the bed bugs about 35% of the time. Highly-trained dogs can find the bugs 95% of the time. So an experienced exterminator knows where to look and is trained to work with a certified bed bug detection dog who can smell the bugs that are not easily visible. For example, dogs can detect bugs in places that are extremely difficult to visually inspect – in all of the books in bookshelves, behind moldings, in clothing, shoes, closets, furniture, electronics, etc. At the same time, our exterminators will check behind light plug covers, behind artwork, in light fixtures. etc. A dog can also quickly detect if the bugs have spread into other rooms.
Life Stages of Bed Bugs
Illustration by: Scott Charlesworth, Purdue University,
based in part on Usinger, R. L. 1966, Monograph of the Cimicidae