Bed Bugs​

​People often spend hundreds of dollars on do-it-yourself bed bug removal and consumer bed bug products only to find that they still have bed bugs. Many also unknowingly reintroduce bed bugs into their home once they have had an exterminator eradicate them. Understanding a few basics about bed bugs will help you from bringing then back into your home.

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Bed Bug Symptoms

So, how do you know if you have bed bugs? Bed bugs feed on human blood, biting them at night when bed bugs are most active. Bed bugs typically bite uncovered areas of the body, such as arms, neck, legs and face. Usually, the first sign of a bed bug infestation is bed bug bites, but people often misidentify the bites as mosquito or spider bites, skins rashes or even hives.

Here are other bed bug signs to look for if you suspect you have an infestation:

Live bed bugs, particularly in mattress seams. Adult bed bugs are the size of an apple seed. So you can see them.

Dark spots about the size of a pin head that are bed bug excrement and may “bleed” on fabric much like a marker or felt pen.

Eggs and eggshells that are white and only about 1 mm in size.

Skins shed by bed bug nymphs as they grow.

Rust-colored or reddish stains on bed sheets, mattresses and box springs caused by bed bugs being crushed and by their excrement.

Cause The first question we usually hear is, “How did bed bugs get into my home?” Bed bugs are often called “hitchhikers.” They come into your house on old furniture, luggage, clothing, boxes and other items that are brought into the home. Because bed bugs are so small, reproduce so quickly (a female lays 5-7 eggs per day) and hide in a variety of areas, they often go undetected until they have already established a sizable population.

Treatment

Bed bug treatments can be tricky and difficult, and most consumer bed bug treatment products fail to work – or the bed bugs repopulate – because residents don’t know what to look for or where to treat for bed bugs.

Most infestations require treatments from a bed bug exterminator. Pest Busters Exterminating is effective at eliminating bed bugs because we have a thorough treatment process that uses the most advanced techniques and products. Pest Busters Exterminating also provides a detailed listing of steps to prepare for bed bugs treatment. Following these steps is a critical part of getting bed bugs out of the home.

Prevention Knowledge is the best way to prevent a bed bug infestation in your home. Here are a few recommendations that will help you to reduce the likelihood of a bed bug infestation:

Check used beds, couches and other furniture, including wood furniture, for bed bug symptoms before bringing them into your home.

Wash secondhand clothing or bedding before bringing them into the house.

Buy a high-quality protective cover that encases your mattress.

Reduce clutter in the home to reduce hiding places for bed bugs.

When traveling

Check the hotel mattress and headboard before bringing your luggage into the room or sleeping in the room.

Use luggage racks for suitcases rather than setting them on the floor or bed.

When you return home, unpack directly into a washing machine and immediately wash your clothes.

Inspect luggage carefully for signs of bed bugs.