Learn about
Bed Bugs
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Pest Control for Bed Bugs
Bed Bugs are a transient species, found on every continent, including the Arctic. Where humans travel and live, there may be bed bugs in homes, public transport and workspaces. They reproduce at an exponential pace, infesting their primary harbourage before creating new nests in wall cracks, floor boards, electric outlets and nearby upholstery. At any point during the infestation, new harbourages can be created by bed bugs clinging onto an unsuspecting victim, potentially spreading infestation thousands of miles from the initial point of contact.
Part of the challenge with bed bugs in pest control situations is their ability to rapidly spread and infest different parts of a home, a side effect of the violent, non-consensual nature of the species' reproductive cycle. After insemination, a fertilized female will immediately seek shelter from nearby males, spreading bed bug eggs to a different part of an infested piece of furniture, or a different part of the room entirely. Consequently, this means a bed bug infestation which has escalated to the point of spotting on the bed indicates the extreme likelihood that there are reproductive females and eggs nestled safely away from the primary zone of infestation.
Once bed bugs are introduced, they can easily spread through a building. This can be done through a variety of means, including physical travel through electric sockets, cracked baseboards and human traffic. Consequently, this means ground zero apartments can spread their infestation to adjacent apartments and common areas, particularly laundry rooms. Unlike most pests, bed bugs are just at home in sterile environments as they are in places of squalor, thriving off the presence of warm-blooded hosts and hiding spaces over anything else.
About Bed Bugs
Bed bugs are red-brown insects that prefer the undersides of furniture. They are oval in shape, around the size of an apple seed and are fast but incapable of flight. If you find larvae and eggs, this likely indicates the presence of generations of bed bugs in the area. Advantage Pest Control offers pest control services in Toronto, North York, Whitby, Scarborough, and surrounding areas. Bed Bugs can cause discomfort through their bites, which are largely harmless but are itchy and may cause localized swelling on the skin, blisters and more minor red marks. Consequently, these bite marks are easily noticed by the naked eye. Although there are no known health problems caused by bed bug bites for people without anaphylactic reactions, they are still an unwelcome pest by their unwilling human hosts. While bites typically fade after a few days, medical attention may be required if they fail to subside after weeks. A smaller minority of people experience certain allergic reactions such as anaphylactic shock. Consulting your doctor with any concerns can be helpful to avoiding health complications in the future. Bed bugs are most active at night between 3 - 5 AM. During the daytime, they prefer to hide close to where people sleep. Their flattened bodies enable them to fit into tiny crevices, most commonly mattresses, box springs, bed frames and headboards. Bed bugs do not build nests like ants or bees, but do congregate in hiding places similar to cockroaches. These areas are marked by dark spotting and staining, which is the dried excrement of the bugs. Other signs include eggs, eggshells, the brownish moulted skins of maturing nymphs, and live bugs. Another less common telltale sign is rusty or reddish blood smears on bed sheets or mattresses from crushing an engorged bed bug. Bed bugs prefer to hide close to where they feed, usually about 10 - 15 feet from their next meal. Initial infestations tend to be around beds, but the bugs may scatter throughout the bedroom, occupying any crevices or protective locations. They also may spread to adjacent rooms or apartments. Bed bugs usually bite people at night while they are sleeping, piercing the skin to withdraw blood. Engorgement takes about three to 10 minutes, but is rarely noticed by the victim. Conventional insect repellents, like those used to deter ticks and mosquitoes, do not appear to be effective against bed bugs. Attempting to avoid being bitten by applying insect repellent at bedtime is not recommended. Sleeping with the lights on is not likely to prevent hungry bed bugs either.
Bed Bug Myths
Myth #1: “You can’t see bed bugs!”
Adult bed bugs are easily spotted. Adult bed bugs are about the size and shape of a reddish-brown apple seed. Other common visual signs of bed bug activity include shed exoskeletons, blood spots, and fecal matter - otherwise known as spotting.
Myth #2: “Throw out your bed, and you’ll be rid of bed bugs.”
Bed bugs live in beds, bed frames and can occupy almost any dark crack or crevice in a room. Almost everything, including clothing, bedding, furniture and electronics, can be infested, and thankfully, can also be treated to remove bed bugs. By disposing of infested furniture prior to inspection and treatment, you may spread bed bugs. If you need to dispose of infested furniture or mattresses, seal it with plastic and mark it to indicate that it carries bed bugs. If possible, destroy items prior to disposal to make them unusable.
Myth #3: “You only get bed bugs if you live in a low-income neighbourhood.”
Bed bugs are an exposure pest and are not necessarily associated with living conditions. Bed bugs can happen to anyone, anywhere. You get bed bugs through physical contact, infested delivery packages, bed bugs crawling from nearby apartments or entering your clothes and belongings while travelling.
Treatment for Bed Bugs
Bed Bug IPM
Our regular bed bug IPM (integrated pest management) process includes 2 services. The first service uses a dust, steam and chemical spray to kill bed bugs on contact and leave a residual treatment that spreads to their hiding spots as they move.
A second service is conducted 14 days after the first, killing any surviving bed bugs that have hatched after the first treatment. With few exceptions, a second treatment is necessary, given the resiliency of bed bugs.
Biopesticide Treatment
In this treatment option, we use Aprehend® biological pesticide. The service involves no chemicals, relying on a spray made of a completely natural fungus that only affects bed bugs. This requires much less preparation than traditional treatment programs and is a much safer method for people with respiratory issues, mobility issues, and pets. Aprehend® is sprayed in narrow bands around areas where bed bugs are known to walk. Once bed bugs come into contact with the fungal spores, they will die in 3 - 10 days, after bringing the fungus into contact with other bed bugs in the harbourage.
Bed Bug Products
View some of our products that can help you manage a bed bug infestation.
