BED BUGS
PEST CONTROL

Adult bed bugs are about the size of an apple seed, 1/5 to 1/4 inch long and about 1/8 of an inch wide.  They are typically reddish brown in color or even more reddish after a blood meal. Bed bugs have a gradual life cycle which consists of five nymphal stages. The initial nymphal stages of the bed bugs are very small, and difficult to see/find. For the bed bug to progress to the next stage in life they need a blood meal.

Where do bed bugs hide?

Bed bugs aren’t just in beds.  They like to stay in any spot that is close to their next meal (you and me). That includes chairs, sofas, cushions, as well as beds.  Bed bugs can be very thin (like a piece of paper) and can slip into cracks. Their bodies are flat enough to fit through tiny spaces, like the width of a credit card.  Bed bugs are found hiding in head boards of beds, around the piping of mattresses and seat cushions, in box springs or bed frames and sofa frames. They may even be hiding in places you do not think anything can get into. Though bed bugs prefer to feed late at night (around 3-5 am seems to be ideal), they may bite you without your knowledge, during the day or night, in bed or while you sit in a chair or on a sofa. 

Reproduction

In the right environment bed bugs will reproduce rapidly. In field conditions female bed bugs can lay up to 2 eggs a day, she will lay up to 200 eggs in her life time. The eggs will hatch within about 10 days, the life cycle time from egg to egg may be between 45 and 60 days!    

Things to look for:

Occasionally you may see evidence of a bed bug infestation without seeing any bed bugs. Bed bugs leave fecal stains in the areas they inhabit. These stains are partially digested blood. As the blood is digested it turns black and therefore the bed bug droppings usually consist of several black spots in one area. The fecal spots will not flake off if rubbed and will smear if wiped with a wet rag.

When the bed bug moves from one stage of its life cycle to the next stage of its life the bed bug leaves “cast skins” which are similar to snakes skins but much smaller. These skins will be found where ethe bed bugs are hiding.

If you can find and save an insect for us that is the best way to ID your problem. So if you find an unknown insect in your bed room place it in a zip lock bag for us and take a picture of it, I will ask you to send that along.

If you think you have a problem with this pest feel free to call us.