Bed bugs are a persistent pest that cause problems for hoteliers, apartment building managers, and homeowners. These pesky bugs multiply quickly and can easily move from one location to another. They are so invasive that the Environmental Protection Agency, the United States Department of Agricultural, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have all proclaimed these bugs to be a public health pest. Bed bug removal is extremely important.

What Are Bed Bugs?

Bed bugs are tiny insects that bite and feed off of human blood. Each bed bug can potentially bite the same human multiple times during the night. While the bites of bed bugs are not toxic or dangerous alone, the bites can become infected and cause serious health problems or itchy irritation.

These insects are difficult to get rid of partly because they are so small. Each bug is approximately the size of a small apple seed. Adult bed bugs are either long, flat, and brown or more rounded and elongated. Younger bed bugs are smaller than adults and they are either translucent, white, or yellow. Bed bug eggs are very, very small and white.

Another reason why bed bug removal can be difficult is because they reproduce quickly. These persistent insects can multiply in a short period of time because they can lay between 1 and 20 eggs per day if they have fed. Each female bed bug can lay approximately 113 eggs in her lifetime. That multiplies to a potentially huge problem.

Where Do Bed Bugs Come From?

Bed bugs can come into the home from a number of sources. They are often brought inside after travel. Since many hotels around the world have bed bug infestations, they easily hitchhike home with unsuspecting travellers.

For those who live in multi-unit dwellings like apartment buildings or condominiums, bed bugs can easily crawl from one unit to another. Once bed bugs have started to multiply in the building, it becomes difficult to control their exploding population. Quick and effective measures must be taken as soon as any bed bugs are detected in order to minimize their spread.

Effective Bed Bug Removal

In order to effectively remove bed bugs, it is recommended to hire a professional bed bug removal company. Before any professional work begins though, a number of steps must be taken by those living in the infected space.

1) Reduce clutter

People living in a space that is potentially infested with bed bugs should first tidy up the space. Bed bugs love to hide in piles of fabric or behind stacks of objects. While tidying, objects in an infested area should never be moved into an area without an infestation.

2) Focus on the bed

The bed in an area that is experiencing a bed bug infestation should be carefully cleaned and vacuumed. All traces of bed bugs should be removed. Residents should carefully clean between the mattress and box spring, around the edges of the mattress, and in all cracks of the head/foot boards.

3) Be very cautious of accidentally transporting bugs to other locations

Bed bugs can easily be transported from one location to another. In order to slow the spread of this pest, fast and effective steps must be taken to eliminate infestations.

Hiring a Professional Bed Bug Remediation Company

While there are many do-it-yourself remedies available for bed bug removal, the fastest and most effective solution is to call a professional bed bug remediation company. Bed bug removal companies have the equipment and knowledge to eliminate the problem in a short period of time.

The best bed bug removal companies use a heat treatment that targets bed bugs, mold, and other pests that may be living in the space. The area is sealed off and hot air is used to kill all bed bugs and bed bug eggs. This non-toxic and environmentally friendly treatment is extremely effective and works very quickly. Heat treatments are odorless and chemical free, which means that residents can return to their living spaces much faster than they can with traditional fumigation techniques.

Overall, bed bugs are a very persistent pest that can be hard to control without the help of a professional bed bug removal company. When appropriate steps are taken and professionals are called in, bed bugs can be eliminated with relatively little hassle.