The bedbug control specialists
07989 668343
Bed bugs
A few facts about bed bugs...
It is thought that bed bugs (Cimex lectularius) get their name from their habit of feeding on humans while they sleep in their beds. They are found in virtually every place people tend to gather, including homes and hotels (and have been spotted in schools, offices, retail stores and even on public transportation).
Bed bugs like to travel and frequently hitchhike. They will hide in suitcases, boxes and shoes to be near a food supply. They are elusive, nocturnal creatures. They can hide behind baseboards and in cracks, crevices, and folded areas of beds, bedding and nearby furniture.
Bed bugs usually come out at night for a blood meal. However, they are opportunistic insects and can take a blood meal during the day, especially in heavily-infested areas. Bed bugs usually require 5-10 minutes to engorge with blood. After feeding, they move to secluded places and hide for 5-10 days. During this time in the bed bug life cycle, they do not feed but instead digest their meal, mate, and lay eggs.
Bed bugs do not transmit diseases, but their bites can become red, itchy welts.
Have I got bed bugs?
It's not always easy to tell if you've got a bed bug problem mainly because they are nocturnal creatures and generally spend the day hidden away from plain sight. In fact, the first sign for most people is the appearance of itchy, red bites that seem to appear out of nowhere. These bites are sometimes easily identifiable as they often appear in rows or three or more and mainly on the parts of the body that would be outside of bed linen or nightwear. The trouble is that not all people show a reaction to bed bug bites and so sometimes if just one member of the family reacts they may not suspect bed bugs at all.
Luckily there are other tell tale signs to look out for. The most obvious is the appearance of tiny star-shaped marks on bed linen or fabric headboards. In longer term cases there may be clusters of marks on bed frame or mattress edges. It's worth checking regularly for these during a linen wash. There may also be a few discarded bug 'shells' . You may actually see the odd bug however the very young bed bugs can be very difficult to see and before feeding are even clear. Adult bugs are far easier to spot. About the size of a ladybird they are brown/black in appearance and can move very quickly (see the homepage for a close up look).
So I suspect bed bugs... What should I do next?
First of all - don't panic! This is the part where we differ from other pest control companies.
We just need you to give us a call. Whatever you do, don't start moving furniture and clothing around the house - this could exacerbate the problem. The great thing about heat treatment is that we can treat whatever needs it - in situ.
There is no need to dispose of any of your furniture or belongings. We will deal with your affected rooms and within a few hours of arrival the rooms are all yours again. Problem solved. Oh, and if you're concerned that people will know that we're there to treat bugs be assured that we are discreet and don't have large vans and technicians in decontamination suits!