Bed Bug Control

The bugs that go ‘bite' in the night

What do you know about bed bugs? Probably, like most people, not very much. You may have heard about them frequently on the nightly news, with headlines about a centuries-old pest making its comeback into the beds of Americans. If you have a case of bed bugs, then someone is certainly enjoying your night's sleep - but it probably isn't you!

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Identifying Bed Bugs

Measuring in at 1/5th of an inch, these pests are flat, oval-shaped, and rusty brown in color. Some say they are comparable to apple seeds in size and appearance. Once engorged with blood, however, bed bugs can swell up to 3 times their usual size, and change in color to a dark red, making them appear to be a different bug all together.

The Cimicidae family is made up of a number of unappealing parasites, such as the bat bug, chimney swift bug, and the swallow bug. The bed bug, however, is the most common invader of human homes and beds. These blood-suckers are not very picky about the source of their food (many can be found on birds, bats, and mice), but they all prefer human hosts if given the option.

Bed bugs are usually carried into the home via clothing, luggage, furniture, and bedding. They often hide in cracks, electrical outlets, baseboards, behind wallpaper and picture frames, and - of course - in mattresses and bedding materials. Bed Bug bites result in small, red, itchy sores, which can become swollen or even infected from scratching.

Bed Bug Life Cycle

A mature, female bed bug can lay between 1 - 5 eggs daily, totaling over 200 eggs in her lifetime. The incubation period for the eggs is around 10 days, depending on the temperature (longer if cool). Once hatched, baby bed bugs will immediately seek a blood host, requiring 5 blood feedings in order to reach their full adult size.

Bed Bug Prevention and Control

Bed bug infestations are often associated with poor hygiene or sanitation, but even clean homes can becomes hosts for these parasites. Prevention is key - checking and cleaning any clothing, bedding, furniture, or other items thoroughly before bringing them into the home, maintaining a clean sleeping area by changing and washing bedding frequently, and inspecting the entire bedroom and around the bed for signs of bed bugs.

If bed bugs are suspected, contact Go-Forth to help you eradicate them from your home. We utilize the safest and highest quality pest controls, and often suggest an Integrated Pest Management approach that relies on both chemical and mechanical methods (such as vacuuming up the insects and heat treating or wrapping mattresses) to ensure complete and thorough removal of the infestation.