The Truth About Bed Bugs (1)

1
The Truth About Bed Bugs

• The Bug, the Infestation, the Treatment

2
What Are They?

• The phrase sleep tight, dont let the bed bugs
  bite, might be cutesy to a lot of people, but
  for anyone who has had a bed bug infestation
  there is nothing cute about it. The thought of
  these tiny bugs, emerging from their hiding spots
  once you are asleep to feast on your blood is
  enough to make a lot of people leave the comfort
  of their beds until the problem has been
  addressed. But as you are about to learn, a bed
  bug isnt the easiest pest to get rid of.
• The common bed bug is a member of the Cimicidae
  family, and is known as Cimex Lectularius. Bed
  bugs are parasitic insects whose favorite food is
  blood. The fact that they have a penchant for
  hanging out in beds and other areas where humans
  sleep is what inspired the name.
• Bed bugs are primarily nocturnal, but they have
  been known to pop out of hiding at other times to
  feed. They are attracted by warmth, and will
  pierce the skin of their host when they are ready
  to suck blood. Since they are so small, it is
  possible for a bed bug to feed on your blood
  while youre awake, without you even knowing.
• If you have been bitten by a bed bug, you may
  notice small, reddish bumps that resemble
  mosquito bites or a mild rash.

3
Is That Really a Bed Bug?

• If you see what you suspect is a bed bug but
  arent sure, there are a few telltale signs to
  watch for. Adult bed bugs are about 4 to 5 mm
  long and up to 3 mm wide, and their bodies are
  flat and oval-shaped. They generally range from
  a light brown to reddish-brown colour, but may be
  a bit darker as they age. A newly hatched bed
  bug is almost translucent, and will darken as it
  ages. Occasionally, you might mistake a bed bug
  for a carpet beetle, or the other way around.

4
How They Get In

• Even though it may seem like it, bed bugs dont
  just appear out of nowhere. In fact, they can
  get into your home in a variety of different
  ways. Bed bugs and their eggs can hitch a ride
  on pets or clothing, in backpacks and luggage, or
  on virtually anything else that has been in
  contact with them. If you have visitors from an
  infested home, or if members of your household
  visit an infested home, you may get bed bugs as a
  result.
• If you live in an apartment building, bed bugs
  can easily make their way through ductwork and
  other routes to get to you. Sometimes, people
  who live in apartments may not warn their
  neighbours about bed bugs because of the
  perception they bring, which just makes the
  situation worse.

5
How to Find Bed Bugs

• If you suspect that you may have a bed bug
  problem, or if you or your kids are waking with
  bites, you can do a quick run-through to be
  certain
• Bed remove all of the sheets and blankets from
  the mattress, and look closely for little blood
  spots. Stand the mattress up and then lift the
  box spring and turn it over. Inspect along and
  under the seams of the mattress and inside the
  box spring for bugs. Shine a flashlight in any
  dark areas and look under tags, on head or foot
  boards, and anywhere else a bed bug could hide.
• Photo From http//www.bedbug.com/

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• Bedroom Once the bed is done, look inside
  drawers, behind pictures, in folded clothes,
  under computers and in other narrow spaces. Look
  behind curtains, under carpeting and behind
  baseboards, if possible.
• Furniture Bed bugs wont just stay in your
  bedroom, so you have to check the rest of the
  house, too. Remove all the cushions from chairs
  and sofas and inspect the seams the same way you
  did with the bed. Look underneath the couches
  and chairs by tipping them back slightly. Be
  sure to check behind any skirts or other crevices
  or hiding places your furniture has to offer.
• Living Room Just like the bedroom, look behind
  baseboards, pictures, curtains, under carpets or
  anywhere else that a bed bug could hide. Be
  especially diligent if you have found evidence of
  infestation in other areas of the house.

7
Common Treatment Methods

• Since the first thought of most people who have
  bed bugs is how to get rid of them, you can find
  quite a few different treatment methods. Some of
  the primary bed bug treatments include chemicals
  and pesticides. Some of these chemical
  treatments may be effective, but there is also
  the fear of creating a toxic environment right
  where you sleep.
• Many chemicals have been approved for use by
  government agencies, but it isnt completely
  uncommon for a chemical to be okay one week and
  banned the next, as more information is learned
  about the dangers of using them.
• Steaming and fogging are common treatments, but
  they might not always be able to reach into the
  deeper hiding spots.
• Aerosol treatments will usually kill bed bugs,
  but only if they are sprayed directly onto the
  bugs. This means that the ones that are deep in
  hiding will still be around to bite another day.

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 Bring On the Heat!

• One treatment that some companies use that isnt
  toxic and will actually draw the bugs out from
  their hiding spots is heat. Pest control
  companies that use this method control the heat
  around the common hiding spots of the bed bugs.
  The beds come out toward the heat source, then
  the heat is cranked up so quickly that they dont
  have time to get back, and they are killed.
  Timing is very important with this method, and it
  requires a skilled technician to pull it off.
  But once its over, the bed bugs are gone and
  your living space is free from any added toxins
  or chemical residue. If you have bed bugs and
  are concerned about being eco-friendly, consider
  the heat!
• Photo From http//www.ecopestcontrol.com

9
How to Prevent Bed Bugs

• Finding an effective treatment for bed bugs is
  great, but preventing them from showing up in the
  first place is even better. Always check
  secondhand furniture and similar items before you
  bring them in the house. You can also purchase
  protective covers for your mattresses that will
  eliminate hiding spots and keep your beds and box
  springs clear.
• Its always wise to inspect kids clothes and
  backpacks as they come in the house after a
  sleepover. This will reduce the likelihood of
  bugs hitching a ride right into your house from
  someone elses.
• Since bed bugs love to hide, reducing the clutter
  in your house will also reduce hiding spots.
  When you travel, use the luggage racks in a hotel
  room instead of setting your luggage on the floor
  or bed. Its also wise to go through your
  luggage thoroughly right when you get back home.

10
Common Bed Bug Myths

• Perception is a big thing no matter what youre
  talking about, and bed bugs are no different.
  There are several common myths and misconceptions
  about bed bugs that just wont seem to go away
• Bed bugs live in dirty places The reality is,
  bed bugs will live anywhere that has warmth,
  blood and carbon dioxide. A cluttered area does
  offer more hiding spots, but they dont nee78d
  dirt and grime to flourish.
• Bed bugs spread disease According to many lab
  tests, it doesnt seem as if the bed bug is
  capable of transmitting disease from one person
  to another.
• Bed bugs wont come out in the light They do
  prefer darkened spaces, but if you try to sleep
  with the lights on to keep them away, youre
  still going to get bit.

11
 Considerations

• Bed bugs typically like to feed on blood every
  five or ten days, but they can last a lot longer
  than that, if necessary. Some experts say they
  can survive for several months without even a
  drop.
• Bed bugs that are able to get regular feedings
  have a life span of around 10 months. A female
  bed bug is capable of laying about 300 eggs over
  the course of its life.you do the math!
• Bed bugs cant survive extreme heat or cold,
  which is why some people place mattresses outside
  in winter or throw clothing in a hot clothes
  dryer. Most home treatments are no match for the
  resiliency of a bed bug. Even though you arent
  likely to have any lasting effects from bed bug
  bites, if you really want them gone, call a
  professional and get it done right!

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• Heat-N-Go Pest Control provides eco-friendly bed
  bug extermination services in Toronto, Ottawa and
  Vancouver. For more details, click here.