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BED BUGS: Things you need to know about this pest!

Introduction
Until recently, bed bugs have not been a common problem like they were during the 1940's and 1950's. Bed bug populations were essentially eradicated with application techniques and pesticides that are not acceptable by today's environmentally-concious standards. Since the mid-to-late 1990's, bed bugs have made a significant resurgence throughout the United States. Most assuredly, there are many contributing factors to this - including changes in pesticides, application methods and an increase in travel by a more mobile society. Bed bug populations have been on the rise worldwide and opportunities for translocation of these insects via international travel has been abundant.

What do bed bugs look like?

  • Bed bug eggs are roughly 1mm in length and are pearly white in color.
  • The first stage immature bed bug is light in color, somewhat translucent, and only 1mm in length (a pencil lead dot).
  • Bed bugs go through five developmental stages, becoming larger and darker with each stage.
  • The adult bed bug is around 1/4 inches long and consists of a reddish-brown color and an oval shaped body.

A bed bug's life!
Bed bugs are primarily nocturnal insects which feed exclusively on blood. Adult females will lay up to five eggs per day, and after the eggs are deposited, they will take roughly 7-10 days to hatch. Depending on availability of a food source and environmental considerations, it takes approximately 6-8 weeks for a newly-hatched egg to develop into an adult bed bug. After feeding on a blood meal, the immature bed bugs may appear bright red in color. Individual bed bugs do not need a daily blood meal, and may go a week or longer between feedings. In some cases bed bugs can survive for months if no food source is available. Under normal conditions, the bed bug's life span is about one year.
Where do they live?
Bed bugs primarily live in cracks and crevices associated with bed frames, head boards, mattresses and box springs; close to their food source. Bed bugs lack wings and therefore they do not fly. However, they are capable of moving swiftly on both horizontal and vertical surfaces. Therefore, these insects will also disperse away from the bed and can live between or beneath floorboards, carpeting, under decorative moldings, in or under furniture, behind picture frames, inside wall voids, etc.

Unlike their name suggests, bed bugs are not relegated to just the bedroom. They will remain inactive between blood meals and remain in their hiding places until they are ready to feed again. This can even be in furniture in a family room or elsewhere.

Why should Bed Bugs be a concern to me?


Because you might be their next meal...
  • Not everyone reacts to bed bug bites, and some people experience delayed reactions to the bite. Therefore, you could have an infestation for a number of weeks before even noticing an issue
  • When bug bite symptoms appear, it typically displays as a red, itchy welt. However, symptoms can vary from one individual to the next
  • Bites often appear in rows or clusters, and can manifest themselves in reactive marks as shown in this picture.
  • A single bug can be responsible for numerous bite symptoms.


While over 28 disease pathogens have been found in bed bugs, the insect has not been demonstrated to be an effective transmitter of disease. However the signs of blood staining on your pillow, sheets or favorite piece of furniture can be quite disconcerting.

(Left: A nymph bed bug engorged with blood after a recent meal.)






Why use a pest professional?


  • Bed bugs are difficult to identify to the untrained eye.
  • The most effective inspections are conducted by a qualified pest management professional.
  • Bite symptoms are a good indicator, but cannot be diagnosed with 100% certainty.

Do not automatically assume that anything resembling a bite mark is a bed bug bite. Also, it is important to realize that medical professionals cannot give a positive diagnosis by simply examining bite symptoms - they can only offer suggestions for what may have caused the bites/symptoms to occur. Obviously, if you see bugs in your home near your bedding or other furniture, you should have them examined by a professional that is qualified to provide a positive identification. If you are experiencing bites but have not seen any bugs, you should consider the circumstances in which the bites are occurring. For example, there is a very good chance that you have bed bugs if you repeatedly wake up each morning with bite symptoms on your body that were not present when you went to sleep. A situation like this would be a good reason to have a pest management professional perform an inspection to identify if bed bugs are present. It is also important to realize that just because you have looked for bed bugs and could not find them, that they are not there. These insects lead a very cryptic and secretive lifestyle and will often go undetected. It is best to have a highly trained professional conduct the inspection for you.

Control measures


Bed bugs usually travel on suitcases, bags, backpacks, and other used bedding material or furniture that is brought into a home. Because we cannot control what is brought into a home, we are not able to guarantee that they will never be reintroduced. It is for this reason that we offer a program to inspect and monitor for them - and treat whenever it ever becomes necessary. Mattress and box spring encasements can be used proactively for the early detection of bed bugs.

Encasements also play a very important role in helping to eliminate bed bug infestations. The majority of bed bugs are typically associated with the mattresses and box springs. Eliminating them from these areas is very time-consuming and challenging - not to mention that, in most cases, the bed simply becomes re-infested as bugs migrate from other parts of the structure to the bed in search of a blood meal. Encasements are a very simple and highly effective method for dealing with bed bugs by trapping them inside, and preventing migrating bugs from re-infesting the mattresses and box springs. The use of encasements also increases the efficiency and effectiveness of the follow-up visits by taking the complexity of the bed out of the equation. Follow-up visits typically involve an inspection of the smooth surface of the encasements rather than having to carefully examine the wooden framework, coils, padding, or piping associated with the mattress and box spring.

When it is determined by your pest professional that a physical treatment is needed, please pay attention to complete the following...

STEPS BEFORE TREATMENT


  • Remove any sensitive or personal items from your drawers or closets prior to treatment. We will need to completely inspect your drawers and potentially treat them
  • Remove open food, dishes or toiletries so that they are not exposed to any pesticides during treatment.
  • Prior to the treatment you may wash your own clothing using hot water and a hot dryer for 20 minutes or more. Items should be transported in a sealed plastic bag and not re-introduced until follow-up visits have demonstrated there are no more active bed bugs. Never reuse the bags used with the clothing to prevent potentially reintroducing the bed bugs.
  • All people and pets need to be away for at least 4 hours in order to adhere to requirements on the product labeling and allow the product a chance to dry.

Please keep in mind that Bed Bugs can easily be transferred through items that are not properly treated or prepared. If you discard or relocate any items, please ensure they are properly sealed in heavy duty trash bags.

Discarded items should be either damaged or marked to discourage others from trying to recycle the items and then spread the Bed Bugs.






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United Pest Solutions, Inc is a full service pest control company offering environmental, Green Pest Control and Exterminating Services, Crawl Space and Attic Repair Services in the Greater Puget Sound Area: Seattle, Auburn, Bellevue, Bothell, Burien, Carnation, Clyde Hill, Duvall, Edmonds, Everett, Federal Way, Issaquah, Kent, Kirkland, Lake Forest Park, Lake Stevens, Lynnwood, Maple Valley, Marysville, Medina, Mercer Island, Mill Creek, Monroe, Mountlake Terrace, Mukilteo, Newcastle, North Bend, Redmond, Renton, Puyallup, Seatac, Shoreline, Snohomish, Tacoma, Tukwilla, Woodinville; North Pierce County, King County and South Snohomish County.


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