• Appearance: Adult bed bugs look like a

    flat apple seed. They are reddish-brown, oval-shaped, and wingless.

  • Adults: The size and shape of an apple seed (about 1/4 inch long). They are flat, oval, and reddish-brown. After feeding, they become swollen and redder.

    Nymphs (Young): Translucent or yellowish-white, ranging from the size of a pinhead to a sesame seed.

    Eggs: Tiny, pearly white, and sticky. Usually found in clusters in tight crevices.

  • Size: 4.5 – 6 mm (about 3/16 to 1/4 inch).

    Appearance: Flat, oval-shaped, and reddish-brown.

    After Feeding: If they have recently eaten, their bodies engorge with blood, becoming longer, more cylindrical (balloon-like), and brighter red.

Bed Bug Control Information

Identification, Biology, and Control Strategies

Bed bugs (Cimex lectularius) are arguably the most psychologically distressing pest a homeowner can face. They are excellent hitchhikers, hiding in luggage, furniture, and clothing to move from place to place. Contrary to popular belief, they are not a sign of a dirty home; they infest 5-star hotels and luxury apartments just as easily as they do messy ones.

1. Identification: What do they look like?

Bed bugs are visible to the naked eye, though they are excellent at hiding.

  • Adults: The size and shape of an apple seed (about 1/4 inch long). They are flat, oval, and reddish-brown. After feeding, they become swollen and redder.

  • Nymphs (Young): Translucent or yellowish-white, ranging from the size of a pinhead to a sesame seed.

  • Eggs: Tiny, pearly white, and sticky. Usually found in clusters in tight crevices.

2. Signs of an Infestation

You often see the signs of bed bugs before you see the bugs themselves.

  • Bites: Red, itchy welts, often in a line or zigzag pattern on exposed skin (arms, neck, legs). Note: Not everyone reacts to bites, so lack of itching does not guarantee you are safe.

  • Fecal Spots: Rusty or reddish-brown smears on bed sheets, mattresses, or walls. This is digested blood.

  • Cast Skins: As nymphs grow, they shed their skins. You may find these hollow, papery shells in mattress seams.

  • Sweet Odor: Severe infestations produce a sickly-sweet, almond-like smell.

3. Why are they so difficult to eliminate?

  • Pesticide Resistance: Modern bed bugs have developed thick skins and genetic resistance to many common store-bought insecticides.

  • Hiding Skills: They are thigmotactic (love tight spaces). They can fit into the screw holes of a bed frame or behind baseboards, making them hard to reach.

  • Longevity: Adults can survive for several months (sometimes over a year in cool conditions) without a blood meal.

4. Professional Treatment Methods

There is no "silver bullet." We use a combination of methods to ensure total eradication.

  • Chemical Treatment: We apply residual insecticides to harborages (cracks, crevices, bed frames, furniture). When the bugs come out to feed, they cross the barrier and die.

  • Heat Treatment: (If offered) This involves raising the temperature of the room to over 120°F (49°C). Heat kills all life stages, including eggs, instantly.

  • Dusting: We apply long-lasting desiccant dusts inside wall voids and electrical outlets to dry out the bugs.

Bed Bug Service: Pre-Treatment Checklist

WARNING: Preparation is 90% of the battle. If you do not prepare correctly, the treatment will fail.

1. Laundry ( The "High Heat" Protocol)

  • Strip the Beds: Remove all sheets, pillowcases, blankets, and bed skirts.

  • Wash & Dry: Wash everything on the hottest setting. The Dryer is Key: Dry on HIGH HEAT for at least 45 minutes. The heat kills the bugs and eggs.

  • Bag It: Once dry, place the clean linens in new, heavy-duty trash bags and seal them tight. Do not put them back on the bed or in the dresser until after treatment.

2. Declutter

  • Clear Floors: Pick up all clothes, shoes, toys, and boxes from the floor. We need access to the baseboards.

  • Closets: In infested rooms, remove clothing from the floor of the closet. Inspect items and run them through the dryer if possible.

3. Furniture Prep

  • Move Furniture: Pull the bed, dresser, and nightstands at least 6 inches away from the wall.

  • Empty Drawers: (Ask your technician about this). Some treatments require emptying nightstands; others do not. Generally, remove loose items so we can treat the inside tracks.

4. Vacating

  • Pets & People: Everyone must leave the home during treatment and stay out for the required time (usually 4 hours).

After Your Service: What to Expect

1. Sleep in Your Bed

This is the hardest rule to follow, but the most important. We have applied a residual product. For it to work, the bugs must crawl across it to get to you. If you are not in the bed, they will stay hidden and won't die. You act as the "bait."

2. Mattresses Encasements

If you bought encasements:

  • Leave them on: Do not unzip them for at least 1 year. Any bugs trapped inside will starve to death, but if you unzip it early, they can escape.

3. Activity Levels

  • First few days: You might see more activity. The chemical irritates them and flushes them out.

  • Bites: You may continue to get bitten for the first week or two as the population dies off. This is normal.

  • Dead Bugs: You will start finding dead bugs near the bed legs or baseboards. Vacuum them up.

4. Do Not Wash

  • Baseboards: Do not mop or scrub the baseboards for at least 3 weeks. You don't want to wash away the poison.

5. The Follow-Up

  • Second Visit: We almost always schedule a follow-up visit 2 weeks later. This is to kill the "nymphs" (babies) that hatched from eggs that were hidden during the first treatment.

  • Patience: Total elimination can take 3–5 weeks depending on the severity. Stick to the plan!

Rodent Control FAQ

  • Bed bugs are "hitchhikers." You likely brought them home on:

    • Luggage: From a recent hotel stay or vacation.

    • Used Furniture: Buying a second-hand mattress, couch, or nightstand is a common cause.

    • Guests: A visitor may have unknowingly brought them in on their bag or coat.

    • Neighbors: In apartments, they can travel through wall voids and electrical sockets from an infested unit next door.

  • Usually, no. In most cases, we can treat the mattress and box spring. We highly recommend purchasing a Bed Bug Proof Encasement (a zippered cover) to trap any remaining bugs inside and prevent new ones from getting in.

  • Bed bugs are not known to transmit diseases to humans. However, they cause:

    • Secondary Infection: Scratching the bites can lead to skin infections.

    • Psychological Stress: Insomnia, anxiety, and "phantom itching" are very common.

  • NO. Do not switch rooms. If you move to the couch or a guest room, the bed bugs will follow you. This spreads the infestation to other parts of the house, making it much harder and more expensive to treat. You must continue sleeping in your bed to attract the bugs to the treated areas.

    • If using chemical treatment, it is rarely a "one-and-done" job. It typically requires 2 to 3 visits spaced 10–14 days apart to catch eggs that hatch after the first spray.

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