How do I know I have Bed Bugs?
Bed Bug Evidence
Bed bug bites often make itchy red marks that last a few days. However, some people don’t react at all to bed bug bites, so you may have the problem without knowing it. Otherwise the most easily identified signs are clusters of dark little dots that look like points made with a felt-tipped pen. These are actually bed bug faeces and are often found around their hiding places. You may also find blood spots on your bed sheets. As the infestation increases you might also find cast ‘skins’, which are empty shells of bugs as they grow from one stage to the next. They look like translucent red-brown rice crispies. Eventually you’ll see the bugs themselves. Adults are about the size and shape of apple pips and are usually dark red-brown in colour.
If I have Bed Bugs, what should I do?
Please DON’T try to deal with the problem yourself. The over-the-counter pesticides or ‘bug bombs’ that are supposed to kill bed bugs do not work. In fact you’ll probably make the problem worse by irritating them and dispersing them further around your home.
Commonly, we find that people who come to us have already tried various sprays without any success. Quite a few have already had unsuccessful treatments from other more general pest controllers, too. Bed bugs are probably the most difficult indoor pest to get rid of and dealing with them requires a lot of expertise.
What Happens if my bed bugs come back after Treatment?
If Trust K9 have treated your bed bug problem then you are covered with our 6 month guarantee*. Firstly, we get very few call-backs. We have an extraordinary success rate with our bed bug treatment and nearly always sort the problem out with one visit. However, if the problem does persist we will come back as many times as needed to get rid of your bed bugs. *Conditions apply
Should I throw away my Mattress or Bed if I have Bed Bugs?
We often come across people who have previously thrown away beds and mattresses and it didn’t help the problem. Sometimes the very action of taking a mattress out of a house can cause the bed bugs to spread into other areas on its way out! The chances are high that bedbugs will also be living elsewhere in your home, only to re-colonise your new bed when it arrives. Only very rarely do Trust K9 treatments require any furniture to be thrown away.
- Bed Bug
Will the bed bugs go away if i sleep somewhere else?
If you sleep in another room or on the sofa, the chances are they will follow you there and the problem will spread. If you move out of your room for a longer period of time, the bed bugs will sense there’s no food around and enter a state of dormancy called diapause. If you decide to move out altogether, then you are at high risk of taking the bed bugs with you to your new home. We can help to reduce this risk.
What can I do about Bed Bugs on my Clothing and Bedding?
Bed bugs die after prolonged exposure to temperatures of 46C or more, but washing them at home on a 60C wash is not guaranteed to work because that’s the temperature of the water going in, not the actual wash. If you are concerned about bed bugs in your clothing or bedding, you can pack it into plastic bags in the room that they are in ( so you don’t trail them through other rooms). Take them to a launderette and tumble dry on maximum heat for at least 20 minutes. Thicker items such as duvets and pillows may take longer. After drying, place the items in sealed bags, and do not remove them until use.
How did I get Bed Bugs?
Should I put my things into Plastic Bags?
Can i catch anything from bed bugs?
While 28 different pathogens have been found in bed bugs, none have yet been recorded as being passed on to humans. The main health issues associated with bed bugs are infections caused by scratching bites, anxiety and sleep-related disorders.
Where do the Bed Bugs Live?
One of the problems with bed bugs is that they live in a wide variety of places. Most of the time they will be within 2m of the bed, particularly in the bed frame, headboard and bedside tables. They can also be found behind skirting boards, in electrical sockets, under floorboards, in the sofa…even inside radios, alarm clocks and books. Bed bugs can squeeze into pretty much any space into which you can put a credit card.
What is Bed Bug Diapause?
Bed bugs can enter a state called diapause – this is where the bed bugs can lie dormant for a year or even more. Bed bugs may go into diapause if their food source is removed. Therefore, you must ensure that you sleep in your bed after a chemical treatment. Basically, by being in the bed, you will attract the surviving bed bugs to come out and into contact with pesticides. If a human is absent, the bed bugs will either try to find a new source of food by leaving the room or will enter diapause.
Doesn’t everyone have Bed Bugs?
People often say to us ‘I thought everyone has Bed Bugs?’ There is a common misconception that Bed Bugs are the same as Dust Mites, but they are very different. Dust mites live on your mattress and feed off dead skin. They are not visible to the naked eye and don’t generally cause people any harm. Bed Bugs are parasites and live off human blood. They are about the size of an apple pip and leave itchy bites. They will not go away by themselves, if you have Bed Bugs, then you will need to get rid of them professionally.