Why Do I Have Bed Bugs?

A common misconception about bed bugs is that they are caused by unhygienic living conditions. This is simply not true. Bed bugs are prolific breeders and they can travel easily between hotel room walls, luggage hold areas, cab trunks and furniture. They can also hitch a ride on clothing and have been known to infest movie theaters. Bed bug infestations can happen to anyone and it doesn’t matter how clean you keep your home or office.

What Are Bed Bugs?

Bed bugs are small, reddish orange bloodsucking parasites that feed on humans and animals. They are nocturnal creatures and they're attracted to their prey by warmth and carbon dioxide release. This is why they often strike humans sleeping during the night and why they have earned their name Bed Bugs. They often lodge in dark crevices like bed or furniture creases, which makes them hard to spot.

Over the years, bed bug control has become a real problem in San Diego. Bed bugs were once looked at as a third-world only pest, but as these nations develop, world travelers and shipped goods are beginning to cause their resurgence in San Diego. Bed bugs are a reddish brown pest, roughly 4 to 5 mm in length. Bed bugs like to nestle into tight spaces for protection and are able to fit into cracks the thickness of a credit card. Bed bugs typically congregate in groups, but can be found on their own. Bed bugs generally bite just before dawn, though they have been known to feed at other times. Attracted by warmth and the presence of carbon dioxide, the bed bug pierces the skin of it’s host with two hollow tubes. With one tube it injects anticoagulants and anesthetics, while the other withdraws blood. The bites cannot usually be felt until some time later, as a reaction to the injected agents. Small infestations are difficult to detect, and most victims don’t realize they have bed bugs until the infestation is out of control.

Bed Bug Pest Control Treatments

Bed bugs are one of the greatest nuisances to humans in the pest industry. They can leave a family feeling violated in that they are being fed on. We offer different forms of treatment for Bed Bugs. Preparation for each treatment is different and the costs will vary based upon the type of treatment. If you have seen evidence of Bed Bugs call us right away and we will get an inspector out there to confirm that it is bed bugs and what type of treatment is recommended and the cost.

Bed Bug Fumigation

In rare instances, bed bug infestations can be so severe that a thermal or localized treatment may not be enough. This can be with an entire house showing evidence in multiple rooms or a multi unit apartment complex where they are present in multiple units. Fumigation can be used, like it is with termites, to rid bed bugs of a structure. The gas dose of a bed bug fumigation is higher than that of termites so the cost is greater, however if you are fuming for bed bugs you will also rid the structure of any dry wood termite infestation that may be present. Again, in order for a bed bug fumigation to be successful it is important that the bed bugs are not reintroduced after fumigation. We will provide you with the information necessary to make sure that this does not happen.

Bed Bug Heat Treatments

The service will begin with a technician inspecting your home or office for the problem areas. Once identified, the technician will recommend using a chemical free heat treatment. Heat treatments are the most effective way to treat bed bugs because the heat penetrates areas that are hard to reach with traditional pesticide. Heat also destroys bed bug eggs which are also hard to eradicate with pesticides.

Heat treatments are scheduled with the home owner and do not require being out of the home for more than a couple of hours. This service can easily be done while you are at work. Our technicians bring specialized heat treatment equipment that raises the temperature of your home or office to about 140 degrees. This temperature is hot enough to destroy bed bugs, without damaging your electronics or other belongings.

Localized Treatment

These targeted treatments involve the use of chemicals in the infested area which is typically found close to where you sleep, hiding in your baseboards, bed frame, box spring, cabinets, furniture, head board, matress night stands, picture frames and even behind elicitral plate covers in wall voids.

Items Commonly Used During Localized Treatment

• Encasements - Bed bugs need a blood meal to reproduce. Encasements stop the bed bug feeding cycle. Encasements are used to seal off furniture and bedding to prevent bed bugs from entering or escaping.
• Chemical treatments - Available in the form of liquids dusts and aerosols, these chemicals offer quick knockdown and residual protection against bed bugs.
• Steam applications – Used to eliminate bed gugs where traditional treatments for bed bugs cannot like fabrics and bedding materials.
• Monitoring devices – Help to determine the level and and if bed bug activity is present. Can be used before a treatment is necessary or after a treatment has been completed.