Bedbugs Extermination in Durham Region & Greater Toronto Area
Successful treatment of bed bugs depends on an integrated pest management approach which involves vacuuming and steaming, washing belongings, and sealing areas and gaps where bed bugs can hide. Always contact Zolo Pest Control licensed services to treat bed bugs.
Bed bugs identification
Bed bugs are small, flat, wingless insects. They feed on blood and can be a nuisance for
individuals. They are named for their tendency to live on mattresses or other parts of a bed. Bed bugs can be found in homes, condominium and cooperative buildings, apartments, hotels,
schools, dormitories, shelters, offices and many other places. Unlike some other types of insects,
dirty living conditions do not attract bed bugs.
What do bed bugs look like?
Adult bed bugs are roughly the size, shape and color of an apple seed: 1/4 of an inch in length
and light or reddish-brown in color. Immature forms of bed bugs are smaller and lighter in color.
Eggs are tiny and white. You should be able to see the adult form with your naked eye, but may
need a magnifying glass to see the immature forms or eggs. Bed bugs can be easily confused
with other small insects. The website listed at the end of this fact sheet has a number of pictures
of bed bugs that can be useful for identification purposes.
What are the sources of bed bug infestations?
Bed bugs can be found anywhere people sleep, sit or lay down. They can be found on mattresses
and box springs, especially near the piping, seams and tags, and in cracks and crevices of head
boards and bed frames. They can also be found in other furniture, especially in the seams and
zippers of chairs and couches, in the folds of curtains, in drawer joints, in electrical outlets, in
baseboards, behind picture frames and in other tight spaces.
What causes bed bugs?
Bed bugs can get into your home or a unit by hitching a ride on mattresses or other bedding, furniture, clothing, and baggage. Once in your house or unit, they can crawl from one room to another, or get into an adjacent room
by crawling through small cracks or holes in walls or ceilings or under doors. Because bed bugs
do not have wings, they cannot fly into or around your unit.
What are the signs and symptoms of a bed bug infestation?
Usually the first sign of a bed bug infestation is the appearance of small rusty spots on your mattresses and bed linens. These are bed bug droppings and blood spots. Bed bugs feed on any bare skin exposed while sleeping. Red itchy welts are an indication of an infestation. Bed bug bites occur when the bed bug is actually drawing blood. It may take as long as 14 days for a welt to appear from a bed bug bite. The infected person should resist the urge to scratch the bites, as this may intensify the itching and cause an infection.
How to identifying bed bug bites?
Symptoms of bed bug bites include:
- Itchiness.
- Raised skin that resembles a pimple or a rash (inflammation).
- Burning sensation.
- Mild pain and discomfort.
Just as you probably don’t feel a spider bite while you’re sleeping, you won’t feel a bed bug bite either. Bed bugs have another defense system that prevents you from feeling you’ve been bitten. They inject an anesthetic (numbing) and an anticoagulant (stops bleeding) into your skin when they bite. You may not notice you’ve been bitten until the bite marks appear, which can take from one to a couple of days after the bites.
What do bed bugs feed on?
Bed bugs also known as Cimex lectularius are parasitic insects that feed solely on the blood of people and animals while they sleep.
What do bed bugs damage?
Bites from bed bugs can cause lasting skin damage in the form of permanent scarring or post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH), a condition which is particularly pronounced in bite victims with darker skin tones.
Do bed bugs spread disease?
Most medical doctors will tell you that bed bugs do not spread any diseases to humans. According to the National Library of Medicine, bed bugs are responsible for carrying a disease called Q fever, which affects people and animals. Infected insects have the bacteria that causes Q fever in their feces. People and animals are infected when the feces get into a bug bite. It is not as scary as the Chagas disease, but some people do die from it.
What health risks do bed bugs pose?
Some people have a reaction to the bites. They can be very itchy and there may be painful swelling. A severe allergic reaction (anaphylaxis) is also possible but rare.
What months are bed bugs active?
Generally speaking, bed bugs are most active across Canada in August and least active in February. New infestations of the bugs are less common in winter as well; with much slower speed, they rely on hitching a ride on clothes or other belongings to travel to new places.
Why do I have bedbugs?
Bed bugs most commonly enter hotels or residences by “hitch-hiking” on a suitcase or backpack, used furniture and clothing or other objects moved from one building to another. A visitor can introduce it to your home or that item you picked up at a yard sale.
How to stop bedbug infestation at my home?
Bed bug infestations are commonly treated by insecticide spraying. If you suspect that you have an infestation, contact a professional pest control company like Zolo Pest Control that is experienced with treating bed bugs. The best way to prevent bed bugs is regular inspection for the signs of an infestation.
Is there any potential harm of having bed bugs?
Bed bugs are not known to spread disease. Bed bugs can be an annoyance because their presence may cause itching and loss of sleep. Sometimes the itching can lead to excessive scratching that can sometimes increase the chance of a secondary skin infection.
Why are bedbugs so hard to treat?
One of the main reasons bed bugs are so hard to get rid of is that they can multiply quickly. While one female bed bug only produces one egg per day, the number of bed bugs can grow exponentially. This makes it difficult to keep the numbers down, especially if the removal methods don't kill all the bugs.
Where can you find bed bugs?
A more accurate way to identify a possible infestation is to look for physical signs of bed bugs. When cleaning, changing bedding, or staying away from home, look for:
- Rusty or reddish stains on bed sheets or mattresses caused by bed bugs being crushed.
- Dark spots (about this size: •), which are bed bug excrement and may bleed on the fabric like a marker would.
- Eggs and eggshells, which are tiny (about 1mm) and pale yellow skins that nymphs shed as they grow larger.
- Live bed bugs.
When not feeding, bed bugs hide in a variety of places. Around the bed, they can be found near the piping, seams and tags of the mattress and box spring, and in cracks on the bed frame and headboard. If the room is heavily infested, you may find bed bugs:
- In the seams of chairs and couches, between cushions, in the folds of curtains.
- In drawer joints.
- In electrical receptacles and appliances.
- Under loose wall paper and wall hangings.
- At the junction where the wall and the ceiling meet.
- Even in the head of a screw.
How does one control bedbugs?
Reduce clutter, especially in bedrooms. Seal cracks and crevices with caulk. Store unused items
in sealed containers or plastic bags. Wash and dry bedding often. Check beds and furniture for
signs of bed bugs. Purchase mattress and box spring covers. These are some of the things you can do.
But complete elimination of a bed bug infestation may be difficult without using a licensed, knowledgeable pest management company. It may take several treatments and methods over several weeks to gain control of an infestation. Do-it-yourself measures sometimes cause problems because of misuse of pesticides or scattering of bugs. If you try to do it yourself, make sure product is for bed bugs and read the label completely. Follow these steps:
- Reduce clutter to eliminate hiding places and help with treatment.
- Vacuum areas where bed bugs have been seen, including mattresses and box springs. Dispose of vacuumed contents in a sealed bag.
- Cover mattress and box spring with zippered encasements, and seal any openings with tape so bed bugs can't get through.
- Wash bedding and clothing in hot water (49° C) and put in dryer for at least 5 minutes. Store in sealed bags.
- Inspect any furniture being brought into your home for bed bugs.
Can I get sick from bedbugs?
Bed bugs usually bite people at night while they are sleeping, and feed on any skin that is exposed. Bed bugs are not known to transmit diseases to humans. However, their bites can lead to allergic reactions and possible infections from scratching. Their bites are characterized by rows of welts and are initially painless. Bed bug bites may cause itchy red welts or localized swelling within a day or so of the bite. Severe itching could last for several hours to days.
Your doctor may prescribe medications to reduce allergic reactions to bed bug bites. They may also recommend antiseptic or antibiotic ointments to prevent infection. Bed bugs are not known to transmit diseases to humans.
What is the most common place for bed bugs?
Unless an infestation is severe, you may not see bugs. You’ll have to examine common hiding places for tell-tale signs, such as dark spots and stains. Here are the most likely places to find them:
- In pillowcases, sheets, box springs and the seams and tufts of mattresses;
- Behind your bed’s headboard, the baseboards, anything stored under the bed and furniture near the bed, such as your nightstands;
- Inside window and door casings, pictures, moldings, loose wallpaper, cracks in the plaster and clutter;
- In couches and chairs in which you spend a lot of time;
- Inside electrical outlets and light switches, phones, clocks, smoke detectors and toys; and
- Around pets and their usual resting spots.
How do I get rid of bed bugs?
It is best to contact a licensed bed bug exterminator like Zolo Pest Control Inc. That5's because thorough cleaning may not be enough to get rid of bed bugs. Pest control specialists like Zolo can battle tough infestations with a variety of techniques. The specialist should inspect your property and give you a written treatment plan. He or she will tell you what infested items can be effectively cleaned and what should be discarded. He or she also will work with you until the bugs are gone and teach you how to prevent re-infestation. Ask the professional to:
A thorough cleaning may not be enough to get rid of bed bugs. Pest control specialists can battle tough infestations with a variety of techniques. Ask your friends and family members for referrals. Zolo Pest Control specialist will inspect your property and give you a written treatment plan. The specialist will tell you what infested items can be effectively cleaned and what should be discarded. The specialist will work with you until the bugs are gone and teach you how to prevent re-infestation.
Why Hire ZOLO Pest Control in Durham Region
Hiring a professional pest control company from the beginning will save you so much time and stress, rather than going through trial and error by doing it yourself. Leave the hard work to the professionals with the know-how to quickly eliminate your pest problem once and for all. Save yourself time, energy, and frustration by hiring our reputable pest control company. Our trained and licensed pest technicians will be able to solve your problem quickly and effectively because they are knowledgeable about pests and effective treatments. After all, it is what they do every day. Stop throwing away your time and hard-earned money only to have to call a professional anyway. Get professional help and get it done right the first time.
