Detroit Bed Bug Control
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Bed Bug Identification
Bed bugs are small but visible insects that are red, brown, or reddish brown. They are similar in shape and size to a watermelon seed. After a blood meal, they may become more round and robust depending on how much they consumed. They have a flattened appearance, 3 pairs of legs, and a pair of antennae. Although they do have wing pads, they are flightless. They leave behind small fecal chunks that are similar in size and appearance to black pepper flakes.
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At Rove Pest Control, we take pride in serving customers and creating long-term relationships with both residential and commercial clients. Listening to our customers’ suggestions and concerns has created services that truly meet their needs.
Bed Bug Bites and Reactions
Bed bugs pierce the skin to obtain a blood meal. As part of this, they inject the feeding site with a small amount of anticoagulant saliva that may cause a reaction in some people. It is important to be aware that not all individuals react to bed bugs and those that do react, do not all react the same. Identify bed bugs only by the physical presence of adults, nymphs or eggs, and not by bites.
Growth Stages of Bed Bugs
Bed bugs begin as an egg (2.5mm). When a bed bug hatches, it seeks a blood meal so that it can grow and progress through the nymphal stages known as instars. The bed bug will progress through 5 instars before reaching adulthood (4.5mm).
Food Source
Bed bugs can only feed on blood. Although they can switch host type, this is pretty rare and bed bugs tend to stick to their primary host. Cimex lectularius (common bed bug) and Cimex hemipterus (tropical bed bug) prefer human hosts. Cimex Adjunctus & pilosellus, (bat bugs) feed on bats. Cimexopsis nyctalis (Chimney swift bug) feeds on birds. Although the species may vary, the basic food source does not. They only feed on blood from the time they hatch to the time they die.
Habitat
Common bed bugs are going to inhabit areas where they have close proximity to a blood meal and can hide between blood meals. This does not mean that they will only live in a mattress or boxspring, but may also live in electronics, behind baseboards, picture frames, etc. Additionally, they may inhabit non-sleeping areas. Bed bugs may be in couches, workplaces, or entertainment places.
Bat Bugs most commonly live in caves or attics where bats are or have been living in plenty. Bat bugs tend to find their way into human living quarters when the host bats abandon their normal roosting area. This is more common in the spring when bats vacate overwintering locations.
As indicated by the name, Chimney swift bugs are common around fireplaces and other areas where birds are likely to nest.
Bed Bug Treatment
In order to avoid cases of resistant strains of bed bugs, it is important to combine multiple modes of action when combatting a bed bug population. Each situation may require slightly different approaches, but generally speaking, combing heat with a product designed to kill bed bugs is a relatively quick and effective approach. Since bed bugs are mortally susceptible in all stages to temperatures above 120 degrees, the bulk of a population can be eliminated with a thorough heat treatment. Those that remain are typically more susceptible to bed bug products after the heat reduces their waxy protective coating. In certain cases, particular items need to be discarded in the treatment process.
Preventing Bed Bugs
Vigilance is the best form of bed bug prevention. Being aware of the signs can lead to early detection before the population gets established. After traveling or visiting places that potentially have bed bugs, it is paramount that everything gets inspected or thoroughly heated. Bed bugs are master hitchhikers and may find their way into a home in the tread of a shoe, in a zipper, or any other place they can hide themself and go for a ride. Other items that can help are bed bug proof mattress or furniture covers properly installed and pit fall traps that can help isolate certain areas such as a bed from the rest of the room.
Don’t Hesitate – Rove Knows
If you are concerned about bed bugs, reach out to our bed bug experts for a consultation and/or inspection.
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About Rove Pest Control
At Rove Pest Control, we take pride in serving our customers and creating long-term relationships with both residential and commercial clients. Listening to our customers’ suggestions and concerns has created services that truly meet their needs.