Category: Bed Bugs

What To Do If Your House Has Bed Bugs?

What are Bed Bugs?

Bed bugs are small, wingless insects that feed on the blood of humans and other warm-blooded animals. They are commonly found in mattresses, box springs, bed frames, and other furniture near sleeping areas. These pests are known for their ability to cause skin irritation and discomfort, and they can quickly become a major nuisance for homeowners. 

How Do You Treat a Bed Bug Infestation?

If you suspect that you have a bed bug infestation in your home, it is important to take action as soon as possible to eliminate these pests and prevent them from spreading.

Pest Control

One of the most effective ways to eliminate bed bugs from your home is to hire a professional pest control service. Pest control professionals are trained and equipped to handle bed bug infestations of any size, and they have access to specialized treatments and techniques that are not available to the average homeowner. 

Treatments

Pest control professionals use a variety of methods to eliminate bed bugs from homes, including heat treatments, insecticides, and fumigation. Heat treatments involve raising the temperature of the infested area to a level that is lethal to bed bugs, while insecticides and fumigation treatments target the pests directly with chemicals. Your pest control professional will work with you to determine the best treatment method based on the severity of the infestation and your specific needs.

Prevention

In addition to eliminating bed bugs from your home, a pest control service can also provide tips and recommendations for preventing future infestations. This may include advice on how to properly clean. store & transport bedding and other linens as well as provide information on how to identify early signs of a bed bug infestation. A preventative treatment service can also be applied to a property to be proactive against bed bugs. This product has a 90-day residual with no odor and is safe to use around sleeping areas in multi-family housing, senior living facilities, shelters, hotels, etc.

Did you know?

The Bug Man offers bed bug training classes to housing facilities! This hour-long class will teach staff how to identify the insect and strategies for preventing the spread of bed bugs, including proper transport of bedding material throughout the facility. We also develop bed bug protocols for staff to follow in the event of an active issue. The course culminates in a short test showing completion of the training, which is a great tool for management to keep on file for any health inspections!

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What keeps biting me?!

If you are being bitten but can’t find any insects, The Bug Man can test furniture in the sleeping and common areas for current and previous bed bug infestations. These test kits will show a positive result if bed bugs have been present or any treatment for bed bugs was performed in the last 90 days. We recommend calling The Bug Man and packing a few in your suitcase for your next hotel stay!  

If you are dealing with a bed bug infestation in your home, call The Bug Man. We can provide the expertise and tools needed to eliminate these pests and restore your home to a comfortable, pest-free environment.

 

 

All Your Bed Bugs Questions Answered

Bed bugs pest control Louisiana

Bed Bugs… little creatures that infest your bed and feed on your blood while you are sleeping. If you watch the news, I’m sure you’ve seen all the attention bed bugs have been receiving recently. They are everywhere! The thought of bed bugs crawling on you while you sleep can cause many sleepless nights. But what are bed bugs and where do they come from? Here are some of your most common bed bug questions, answered. 

 

Are bed bugs just located in your bed? 

Nope! Bed bugs can commonly be found hiding in your bags, clothes and used furniture, not JUST your bedding. And don’t be self-conscious about your old mattress or furniture – even the nicest 5-star resorts and hotels can become infested with bed bugs. Although they tend to live in mattresses, they also live in chairs, couches, backboards and portable computers. 

 

Where do bed bugs come from? 

If you have a bed bug infestation, there is a good chance that you or somebody else brought them in.  Bed bugs come from other infested areas or from used furniture. They often take a joy ride in purses, bookbags, or luggage. Fun fact: if one of your kids is home visiting from college, you have a higher chance of getting bed bugs. Or if you’ve recently returned from a vacation, you also have a higher risk of bed bugs. There is a website you can visit called the Bed Bug Registry where travelers and renters report where they have encountered bed bugs in the United States. You can easily search a hotel name to see if your hotel appears on the website. 

 

Why are bed bugs called bed bugs? 

You got it right folks – bed bugs get their name from their habit of feeding on humans while they sleep in their beds. They are found in nearly every place people gather, such as homes, schools, offices, hotels, public transportation and even grocery stores. 

 

What do they look like? 

Looking like tiny brown seeds, bed bugs are 6-legged creatures with antennae. The adults are about  ¼ inch and the nymphs (baby bed bugs) range from 1.3 mm to 4-5 mm. The unfed bed bugs are mahogany to rusty brown in color and are flat and oval-shaped. Fed bed bugs are red-brown in color and are swollen and more elongated. 

 

What do bed bugs eat?

Bed bugs feed on blood. They are unable to breed or even live without it. This is why these pests will find a home in rooms that have a bed. If you happen to find bites that are in a clump or row on your body that look similar to mosquito bites, this is a good sign of bed bugs. 

 

Can bed bugs harm me?

Some people have a bad reaction to bed bug bites and some have no reaction at all. They usually feed at night on bare skin that is exposed. Bed bugs are human parasites, so our existence is critical to theirs. Many experts think that this may be one of the reasons bed bugs have not been known to transmit diseases to humans. Although bed bugs have not been proven to transmit diseases through feeding, there can still be some health risks associated with them. The most common health issue our customers complain about is itching that leads to red bumps or welts on their skin. Sometimes these bites can itch incessantly. Too much scratching is where the danger sets in – it can cause damage to the skin that leads to infection, which can be very dangerous. Please take care of those bites so they don’t lead to a nasty infection!  

 

How long do they live? 

The average lifespan of a bed bug is usually around 4-6 months. Just one female bed bug can lay 200-250 eggs in her lifetime!

 

How do you get rid of bed bugs?

To be honest, getting rid of bed bugs is difficult if done alone. First things first: household items such as clothes, bedding, shoes and stuffed animals should all be washed and dried on HIGH heat. Hiring a pest professional is the best option to get rid of bed bugs. By using a professional exterminator, you can be sure that all the bugs will be exterminated without spreading them all over your house or even to your neighbors. This will save time, effort and money. The amount of time it takes to get rid of bed bugs varies on a case-by-case basis. Some infestations can be persistent. The time to control these creatures depends on the severity of the problem, where they are hiding and the type of treatments performed. 

 


 

After reading this article, we’re sure you’re slightly worried your home is infested with bed bugs. If you identify these creepy crawlers, contact a pest professional today before they start multiplying. Keep in mind that an overnight stay almost anywhere outside of your home can lead to bed bugs to relocate to your home. Remember to check your luggage or any other belongings to make sure you aren’t taking these creepy crawlers for a joy ride home. Click here to learn how you can keep bed bugs at bay. 

Do you have a bed bug infestation in your home or just have questions about these unwanted guests? At The Bug Man, we will inspect your home, identify the species, and give you a recommendation of the type of bed bug treatment you should consider. Request an in-home estimate today and we will help you solve all of your pest problems! Please contact The Bug Man for all your pest control needs at (225)923-2847 or visit our Contact page

Keeping Bed Bugs at Bay

Bed bugs pest services

bed bug blog 1

Bed Bugs seem to be everywhere these days. I can’t log into social media or watch the news without seeing some story about a traveler finding bed bugs in their hotel room. NO BUENO! Since Summer travel is upon us, here are some tips from the Bug Lady, that you can look for in your travels to ensure that you don’t encounter these nasty little creatures.

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First and foremost, Research!! Start out by researching the hotels on your list of potentials. I can’t stress this enough. If there has been an issue, it is easy to know by looking at reviews by previous guests. Often-times, guests who’ve had bug problems report them online. Please bear in mind that a report about one particular hotel does not mean the issue wasn’t isolated to one room, or that the hotel hasn’t fixed the problem and since exterminated.  If you are still worried by this, before unpacking and setting up shop, check the bed for telltale signs of the critters.

Before jumping into bed, here are a few spot check tips:

  • Pull back the cover, sheets and check the mattress, running your fingers along the upper and lower seams. Be sure to check the mattress tag, bed bugs often hide here.  I also suggest that you remove and examine the headboard. You are looking for tiny black spots that are smaller than poppy seeds. You may also see translucent light brown skins or, in the case of an infestation— live bugs.
  • Examine the bedside table. If there is a problem, you may see signs of bed bugs in the drawers and along the wall on the side of the bed that is less likely to be disturbed by cleaning staff and guests. Also consider elevating your bags and suitcases and keep them off the floor. Consider putting them on a luggage stand if available.
  • If you happen to check the drawers and see powder, it is likely that the room has already been treated for bed bugs by an exterminator. If bed bugs are found, you should request another room.


It is important here to inform hotel management. Moving to a different room may not be the total answer. You will need to repeat the thorough inspection of any new or different room you are offered.

Don’t Let Them Travel Home

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To ensure that these guys don’t travel home with you, when you are packing to leave, inspect your bags carefully first, and inspect every item as you pack to help detect any bugs or their signs.

Laundering most cloth items with typical hot water and detergent followed by drying on low heat for at least 20 minutes (or standard dry cleaning) should kill all bed bugs in or on such items. Sealing freshly- laundered items inside a plastic bag should help keep any more bed bugs from getting in those items later to  hide (and be carried back with you).

If you think that you may have a Bed Bug issue or if you would like inspection, I know a guy. The Bug Man offers some of the most comprehensive termite treatment options in the region. Give us a call to make an appointment for a trained technician to visit your home. For more information, please call  225.923.BUGS or or visit our website and request an estimate.

We offer worry free pest control solutions so you can rest easy knowing that your family, pets, home, and property are in good hands. We hope you enjoyed reading our blog. Until Next time! Remember, if you suspect you are having an issue, call The Bug Man and keep your peace of mind intact.

You’ve got our Bug Man Guarantee! Thanks for checking out our blog. See you soon and Happy Travels!!!

* The Bug Lady, Layne Salvant