Bed Bugs: 12 Tips to Help You Sleep Easy

A Free eBook Provided By: Larue Pest Management

Bed Bugs Are Back, Baby! The Resurgent Bed Bug Infestation

When we say “Bed bug infestation,” you say, “Really? Aren’t bed bugs like so 20th century?” It’s true. Bed bugs were largely eradicated as pests in the United States in the early 1940s. But (and that’s a fairly big ‘but’) although we thought we left them behind in our past, bed bugs have resurged in the past decade, kind of like leggings and Scott Baio. And to epidemic proportions like, well, leggings and Scott Baio.

With a resurgent bed bug infestation, it’s important to understand that bed bugs have a long history bugging (pun intended!) human kind. It’s believed that bed bugs originated in the Middle East, specifically in caves inhabited by bats and humans.

Greek philosopher, Aristotle, gives them a shout out in his writings probably in his Classification of Living Things. We bet he said something along the lines of, “These creatures not only want to share my bed with me, but also take my blood! The nerve. The bloody nerve! If only there were an effective treatment offered by a reliable southwest Florida company who also just happened to be very good looking, oh! But one could only wish!”

Later, a 77 CE Roman book, Pliny’s Natural History claimed that bed bugs had medicinal value in treating ailments such as snake bites and ear infections. This belief lasted until the 18th century.

Bed bug infestations were considered rare in England until 1670, when it was believed they had been brought over to London with supplies of wood to rebuild the city after the 1666 Great Fire of London.

So, when the Europeans decided to colonize America, bed bugs came with the territory, or came onto the territory. With the widespread use of DDT, the number of bed bug infestations was practically eradicated; however, bed bug populations in the United States have increased by 500 percent in the past few years.

This could have something do with the advent of cockroach bait in the early 1990s. The use of residual insecticides was drastically reduced, giving bed bugs the opportunity to thrive.

With the recent bed bug infestations, be sure you are protected. Contact us to help you sleep better at night!

1. It’s Not Just Beds. Rid Bed Bugs from their Secret Locations.

The bed bug’s namesake is a little misleading. A more appropriate name could very well be, “How did they get there? I want them out!” bug.

The point is, if you want to rid bed bugs from your home, you might have to think outside the box—or bed.

Bed bugs are super annoying because they happen to be good at everything— like your high school’s homecoming queen. Bed bugs travel easily and quickly along pipes and boards, and their bodies are very flat, which allows them to hide in tiny crevices. They are sneaky little things and know how to stay out of the light, preferring to remain in such places as your mattress seams, mattress interiors, bed frames, nearby furniture, carpeting, between the pages of books— watch out Harry Potter!— baseboards, inner walls, tiny wood holes, and/or, (not that we’re assuming you have any) room clutter.

So why are they called bed bugs, then? If you sleep in your bed, whether or not you splurged for the 2000 thread count Egyptian cotton sheets, bed bugs will more likely than not be sharing it with you because YOU are their meal ticket. No food stamps needed here. Just you. Gross, huh?

Bed bugs tend not to travel further than 100 feet from their personal All-You-Can-Eat buffet (aka YOU), and will usually remain close to their blood supply in the same bedroom or living quarters where people sleep.

But think. If you want to rid bed bugs from your home, you must think like a bed bug. Your bed might not be the only place you habitually open a package of Oreo’s and fall asleep while watching Real Housewives of Orange County. If you want to rid bed bugs, think about yours and your family’s patterns, where you nap, where you rest, etc.

This includes upholstered chairs, love seats, sofas, plush furniture, futons, etc., as well as other non-traditional beds such as camping cots, floor pads, hide-a-beds, bean bags, strollers, cradles, etc. Bed bugs are opportunists that will attempt to nest in any of these sleeping structures if given the right circumstances. If children are in the house, bed bugs may also hide in toys and other recreational objects or in areas where younger ones play and/or nap. Creepy!

Other unassuming places bed begs have been found in include but are not limited to:

Door hinges Electrical fittings Fire alarms Lighting fixtures Inside electronic devices Purses Suitcases Speakers Shoes Underneath linoleum Scattered paper Velcro

Seriously? What could possibly dwell in Velcro unless it was truly evil?

It’s time to make sure you are prepared to rid bed bugs from the secret locations in your home. Contact us now!

2. Mini Vampires. Don’t let the Bed Bugs Bite.

Just like bed bugs in the United States, vampires are re-surging to epic proportions in pop culture. It’s cool to be a vampire. It’s cool to even be seen with a vampire. Just ask any thirteen year old reading Twilight or watching True Blood.

And while, from what we understand in vampire culture, vampires can be quite dangerous, they’re at least always, always, incredibly attractive.

That, unfortunately, cannot be said for bed bugs. But wouldn’t it be a completely different story if the pests sharing your bed with you were irresistibly magically good-looking? That’s not the case here.

What do vampires and bed bugs have in common? One thing. Bed bugs bite and so do vampires.

But bed bugs do not look like this: Nope. They look like this:

Robert Pattinson Cimex Lectularius (Bed Bugs)

Now that expression “Don’t let the bed bugs bite” might really mean something to you. That’s what’s biting! Ick.

So let’s chat bed bug bites.

The most observed bites are generally raised red bumps or flat welts accompanied by very intense itching as opposed to a vampire bite, which usually involves a love affair and some dramatic action.

Most observed bites consist of a raised red bump or flat welt, and are often accompanied by very intense itching. The red mark is the result of an allergic reaction to the anesthetic contained in the bed bug’s saliva, which is inserted into the blood of its victim. Reactions to bed bug bites may appear indistinguishable from mosquito bites although they tend to last for longer periods.

People react differently to bed bugs, and individual responses vary with factors including skin type, environment, and the species of bug. This also means the presence of itchy welts cannot be used as the only indicator of a presence.

So while bites are the most obvious clue that you have bed bugs, it’s possible for an initial infestation within a household to be asymptomatic and go undetected. In some rare cases, allergic reactions to the bites may cause nausea and illness.

In a large number of cases, estimated to be fifty percent of all people, there is no visible sign of bites whatsoever, greatly increasing the difficulty of identifying and eradicating infestations.

And while bed bugs are not known for spreading disease like their BFF’s, the flea, bed bug bites in certain small percentage of individuals may cause anaphylactic shock. In some cases, consistent bed bug bites can lead to anemia.

Since bed bugs lack the charm of, let’s just say, Robert Pattinson, take action! Contact us now to keep your home protected from those creatures of the bite.

3. Bed Bug Treatment: This is NOT a do-it-yourself project.

Like we mentioned in our chapter “It’s Not Just Beds. Rid Bed Bugs from their Secret Locations,” bed bugs are nifty six-legged creatures who are great at finding places to stay alive and drink your blood. For this reason, bed bug treatment is not the easiest thing to do.

The reappearance of bed bugs has presented new challenges for pest control due to their developed resistance to various pesticides including DDT, and organophosphates. In fact, using DDT on today’s bed bug makes it more active!

One of the most natural bed bug treatment procedures is to introduce natural enemies of the bed bug.

At the top of this list are cockroaches.

If you’re not into the cockroach idea, try ants, spiders, mites, centipedes, or the masked hunter also known as the "masked bed bug hunter.” And yes, there is an insect called the masked bed bug hunter, which looks like this:

It belongs to a family of inspects called the assassins. We’re not making this up.

If you’re not into the masked bed bug hunter, you could always try The Pharaoh ant whose venom is lethal to bed bugs. And yes, there’s an insect call the Pharaoh ant, which looks like this:

We’re not sure how we feel about bringing in the Pharaoh's ants after what that dude did to Moses and stuff.

Or if none of these options work for you, rodents eat bed bugs, but bats do not so you’re out of luck if you wanted to introduce bats to your home to stop your bed bug problem.

We kid, we kid.

Traditional bed bug treatment often includes steam or spraying rubbing alcohol on any visible insects and eggs. But these are not permanent treatments.

For us, one of the most important factors in bed bug treatment is that that your home, health and environment are not harmed by our pest control techniques.

We promise we won’t introduce any assassin insects into your home. Let us help you with your bed bug treatment. For permanent results, you will definitely need it. Contact us now.

4. Prevention is Key. Bed Bug Control 101.

With the epidemic resurgence of bed bugs, it’s imperative to prevent a bed bug infestation before it happens. We call this Bed Bug Control 101!

If you know you’re mattress is safe from bed bugs, encasing your mattress and box spring in impermeable bed-bug-bite-proof encasements is a great way to keep bed bugs from a personal resurgence in your mattress.

A more zen approach to bed bug control is placing certain plants with bed bug repellents around vulnerable areas. Some of these include the black cohosh and laggera alata.

Unfortunately, information on their actual effectiveness is lacking, but look on the bright side, some say taking care of a plant is one more step toward full maturity! Advocates of the plant remedy also insist that one can will away bed bugs with meditation. It’s always worth a try!

If you really want bed bug control, though, you have to know where bed bugs can come from. One common way is for them to be picked up while traveling or when staying at temporary lodging such as hotels, bed-and-breakfasts, hostels, or motels—which are places that have been traditionally associated with an increased risk for housing bedbugs due to their higher rate of turnover and continual influx of temporary residents. Bed bugs essentially hitchhike into your bed.

Bed bugs can also be picked up inadvertently through bringing infested furniture or contaminated, used clothing into a household. Shopping vintage may sound less glamorous now. Here’s the kicker: furniture does not necessarily have to have been previously owned or discarded because even brand new furniture can be exposed to bedbugs during storage or in delivery vehicles. UGH.

So you get the picture. Bed Bug Control 101 can only go so far. These are sneaky little things that can find new residence just by traveling between condominiums, dormitories and apartment buildings or by animals, like Buddy your golden retriever.

Oh, and here’s some more bad news: even if you kill the live bed bugs, their eggs can often go unaffected, hatch, and bother you more.

Another aspect of bed bug control is early detection. If you think you have them, call us. We will help take Bed Bug Control into full speed and protection!

5. The Heart of the Matter: Your Bed Bug Mattress

We mentioned before that Bed Bugs don’t just stick to beds. But, the fact of the matter is that beds are the most reliable place for bed bugs to hang out because that’s where their food sleeps for 8 hours a night, well more like 6.5 these days…that’s another issue.

So, while you’re getting that REM sleep, those bed bugs are making your mattress a bed bug mattress. A single intricate bed frame or mattress can hold a wealth of choice areas for bed bugs to hide so careful, meticulous inspection is a must.

A standard mattress, however, is most likely to house bedbugs along the sewn piping material running along the outer edges on both the top and bottom sides of the mattress. The common bed bug is also most likely to hide in certain sections or parts of various types of beds if the segments are, in fact, present (i.e., hiding in the wooden head or footboard, for example, if the bed has one). Bed bugs may also quietly nest themselves under the cover of various materials and lie completely still for long periods making detection even more difficult.

Do you want your custom-made-for-your-bad-back-mattress becoming a bed bug mattress? Obviously not.

If you’re worried that your mattress has become a bed bug mattress, you can look for clues like, we hate to say it, but eh…defecation. This is an indirect sign that bed bugs may possibly have taken bed rest in your mattress. More specifically, bed bug poo is solidly black or nearly and often appears as dots or specks similar in appearance to a dried drop of ink. So unless you’ve been writing your memoir in your bed all these years and never washing your sheets, you might be able to pinpoint this tell-tale sign of bed bugs.

If you think you’re mattress has been compromised, call us immediately. We will make your mattress yours again!

6. To Defeat Your Enemy, You Must Understand Him. How to Kill Bed Bugs.

The great philosopher Aristotle once said, “We make war that we may live in peace.”

It is obvious he was referring to bed bugs.

Now, if you want to defeat your bed bug infestation, you need to understand the bed bug. Then, and only then will you know how to kill bed bugs.

The enemy is a small, elusive and parasitic insect which belongs to the family Cimicidae. This is not the kind of family that will invite you for a hearty Thanksgiving meal when you have no place to go. Oh, they will invite you, but only so you’ll be their meal.

Bed bugs live strictly by feeding on the blood of humans and other warm-blooded animals.

These bloodsuckers are normally out at night just before dawn (like vampires!), with a peak feeding period of about an hour before sunrise. They reach their meal ticket by walking, or sometimes, for super dramatic effect, by climbing the walls to the ceiling and dropping down on their host.

Bedbugs are attracted to their hosts by warmth and the presence of carbon dioxide. So unless you figure out how to change your body’s physiology and turn cold blooded, you’ll need to figure out how to kill bed bugs.

Want a graphic description of how the enemy attacks?

Oh, good! Because here’s one right now!

The bed bug pierces your skin with two hollow feeding tubes. With one tube it injects its saliva, which contains anticoagulants and anesthetics, while with the other it withdraws your blood. After feeding for about five minutes, the bug returns to its hiding place.

Five minutes! That’s more time than it takes to make a delicious dish of 3-minute rice! That’s how long a bed bug is feeding on you. Ew.

So, how do you kill bed bugs?

To truly kill bed bugs permanently and rid them from your home, you should call in professionals.

We say this because the size of a bed bug infestation can range from a few staked out offenders up to hundreds, thousands, or even tens of thousands of bedbugs within a single infestation, and often times, it is hard for non-professionals to gauge how serious the problem is.

If you want to kill bed bugs, you have to understand them, and we certainly do. Contact us now to help with your bed bug problems!

7. Someone’s Been Sleeping in My Bed...... And There They Are! – Finding Bed Bugs

Bed bugs can be quite the little Houdini’s, making it hard for the amateur bug detectives to find them. However, there are a few things that you can look for, even with the average, untrained eye.

Bed bugs are very tiny, flat creatures with oval bodies. They are brown… until they consume blood, then turn to a reddish brown.

Grown adults are about 3/16 inch long…about the size of an apple seed, so they are actually visible. However, the younger bugs, or “nymphs”, are truly evasive. They are only about the size of a pinhead, and are a whitish-gold color until they feed. (Ironically, about the same color as most mattresses…sooo sneaky!) Unfortunately, nymphs can survive months without feeding…which means they can live practically invisible for this long as well. Adults can go more than a year without food. Resilient little buggers!!

Finding them before they come into existence…

The Female bed bug can lay up to 500 eggs during her life. (Ugh…such the little breeders they are!) They lay the eggs in secluded areas and deposit 1, 2, or more a day. Eggs are tiny, whitish colored, and about the size of a dust speck. Needless to say, these guys are hard, if not impossible, to spot! When they are first laid, they are also sticky, so can adhere to most surfaces. With magnification, they may be detected, but this search is probably something best left to the professionals.

Bed Bugs do not fly, but can move very fast over floors, walls, and ceilings. They are the most active at night, and in the daytime, prefer to hide close to where people sleep. (Insert scary, ominous music here.)

Call us at (800) 314-8813, if you’re having trouble seeing them. We’ll find them.

8. Playing Sherlock Holmes Where to Find Bed Bugs

These sly little critters may be hard to spot…but they are known to leave tracks! Often the bugs will leave tiny reddish or black streaks on sheets. So, if you see these marks on your sheets, this may be a clue that they’ve found their way into your home. If you are staying at a hotel and notice these marks, make no qualms about requesting a new room! Be sure to avoid even putting your belongings on the bed before you’ve scanned the sheets. Bed bugs will be quick to jump on your luggage and hitchhike back to your home.

Hunt them down! The best way to inspect for bed bugs is to hire a professional. But, if you want to take a look for yourself, grab your flashlight and go on a little hunt. Search for crawling insects, excrement, cast skins, and blood spots or streaks. Remove mounted artwork from your walls and inspect the backside. Make sure to check in all cracks and crevices, as well as the unfortunately obvious place…your bed! Here are a few of the popular places bed bugs like to hide:

Seams of the mattress Sofa seams Cracks in the bad frame and or head board Under chairs, couched, beds and dust covers Under rugs, edges of carpets, drawers, baseboards and window casings Curtains, moldings, door frames Behind light switches, electrical outlet plates, cracks in plaster Televisions, radio clocks, computers, stereo components and phones Backpacks, sleeping bags, clothes Seams of luggage Behind wallpaper, picture frames and other dark areas Plush toys/stuffed animals Potted plants/artificial floral arrangements Pet bedding

Can you sniff ‘em out?

There is actually data that shows there is an odor associated with a bed bug infestation. However, it is so subtle that you probably shouldn’t rely on this as an accurate means of detection. If you pride yourself on your keen sense of smell, you may notice an ever so slight aroma that’s been described as sweet, rotten raspberries. It’s also been described as an almond-like smell. Or, perhaps a mix of the two. In order to have an infestation big enough to produce a scent, however, you will have so many other symptoms…and bites…that the aroma will probably be the last thing on your mind.

Call Larue, we know just what to do!

9. What Did I Do To Deserve This? Causes of Bed Bug Infestation

Bed bugs were once considered a thing of the past. Most of us thought it was just a cute saying when we were tucked into bed and told, “Don’t let the bed bugs bite!” But, apparently…they’re baa-aack. Bed bugs have been making worldwide headlines, as they are infesting hotels, hostels, homes, and dorm rooms. Now people are beginning to wonder what caused this?

It’s not your fault! There is a popular belief that there is a direct correlation between cleanliness and bed bug infestation. However, this is not true. The causes of bed bugs have nothing to do with your socio-economic status or the organization of your home. (Although, a cluttered home does give them more places to hide, so it may be harder to get rid of them.) The cause of a bed bug infestation has everything to do with the fact that you are human, and therefore, a food source. Bed bugs are not picky about their hosts. As long as there is a source of blood available to them, these bugs will move into even the most pristine, elegant home.

They hitchhiked.

In order for bed bugs to infest a home, they have to find a ride on someone or something. Only one bug had to get into the luggage, clothing, or bedding of it’s host to cause a potential infestation.

Any place where a lot of people are coming and going are at a higher risk. Some of these places include:

Hotels & Motels Apartment Buildings Hostels Dormitories Military Barracks Homeless Shelters

Although homeowners and single family homes are at a lower risk, they are far from immune. Homes where people share quarters or travel frequently are also at an increased risk. Regardless of where you live, if you have found bed bugs co-existing with you, we can help you get rid of them! Call us at (800) 314-8813.

10. Out For Blood! – How to Kill Bed Bugs

Once you discover that bed bugs are out for your blood… you better be out for theirs! However, trying to rid your home of a bed bug infestation on your own is not something we recommend. To effectively carry out “the kill”, it’s really something that you’ll need to hire a professional for. (Psst… hey, I’ve got a guy that’ll handle this for you. He’ll make your problem disappear.)

If you want to do something in preparation for the extermination, here are some tips:

Wash EVERYTHING in extremely hot water. This includes clothes, sheets, curtains, throw rugs, and anything else that can go in the washer.

Vacuum relentlessly! If you are traveling, vacuum out your luggage and all bags inside and out. Pay close attention to the seams.

At home, vacuum all furniture, carpets, and floors. Make sure you change the bag outside, as hatchlings can wiggle through stitch holes.

Prior to the arrival of an exterminator, there may be some additional instructions for preparations, such as:

Pile up furniture Reduce clutter for easier inspection Remove artwork or any wall hangings Remove light-switch plates Caulk wall and wood cracks

Talk to the exterminator to find out what your best course of action is to begin your “battle of the bed bugs”. Once you’ve claimed victory, be sure to use caution when you travel, and keep an eye out for these pests so they don’t come back for another visit.

11. Getting Rid of Bed Bugs: What About The Mattress?

Since the favorite hiding spot for bed bugs is, well, the bed…many people ask if they will need to throw out their mattress in order to completely be rid of bed bugs. This usually depends on the condition of the mattress, as well as the size of the infestation. If there are any holes or tears in the mattress, there may be bed bugs or eggs hiding inside. In this case, it’s usually a safer bet to toss your mattress.

Since the resurgence of bed bugs, many mattress manufacturers provide “Bed Bug Certified” mattresses and box spring encasements which are said to be impermeable to bed bugs, as well as dust mites, mold and bacteria.

If you have a bed bug infestation, first consult a professional and ask their advice. Then, you may want to consider getting a certified mattress encasement. This is different from a mattress cover, as the cover just goes over your mattress, while the encasement zips entirely around it. In theory, it seals up the inside – meaning no bugs are getting in or out. Eventually, the bugs that still live inside will die off because they have no food source. However, this can take at least six months, and up to eighteen in extreme cases (remember, they’re tenacious little guys!)

Mattress encasements can be found in fabric or vinyl. Fabric is typically much more comfortable and sturdier than vinyl. Vinyl is easier to wash, won’t stain, and is generally cheaper. However, it also tears fairly easily and is not as comfortable.

The bottom line about bed bug mattress covers are that, if you’re just buying it as a precaution to protect your mattress, it is probably a good idea. If you already have a bed bug infestation, you are only trapping them but not really getting rid of them. So, you still don’t completely have the peace of mind that the bed bugs are eliminated, even if they’re trapped. I guess it depends on how attached you are to your mattress!

*Photo courtesy of Kenji Ross

12. Happy Trails! Tips for Travelers to Avoid Bed Bugs

One of the favorite pastime of bed bugs (aside from making your life miserable!) is traveling. In fact, one of the theories explaining the recent resurgence of these unwelcome hitchhikers is the ease of travel in our current society. With discount airlines, high speed trains, and the abundance of public transportation, there are so many more opportunities for bed bugs to jump from one set of luggage to the next, and travel between states, countries, and continents in merely hours!

To help stop the spread of these pesky passengers, we’ve developed some tips to keep in mind when you’re traveling.

Travel Light – Try to pack only what can be easily be kept in your bag when you’re not using or wearing it. Also, remember that extreme heat can be the bed bug’s enemy (though not always!) so try to pack things that can be laundered in hot water.

Inspect and Survey – Inspect any hotel room or hostel for signs of bed bugs, such as spots or streaks on sheets. (Refer to some of the above tips for other signs to look for.) Bring a flashlight and leave your luggage at the door or on a luggage rack while you do the inspection. Be sure to look under the corners of the mattress and box spring, as well as in the sofa and furniture. A basic inspection should only take 5-10 minutes.

Guard Your Bags – Always elevate your luggage on a rack (be sure to inspect the rack for bed bugs as well). You may also want to consider keeping electronics or anything that can’t be laundered in Ziploc bags when you’re not using them.

Keep it Sealed – If you are traveling in a car, or riding back from the airport, consider putting your luggage in a large lawn bag, tied tightly in a knot. This way, you don’t risk infecting your car with any little vagabonds you may have missed in your parting inspections.

Examine and Wash – When you arrive back home, do your unpacking in a utility room or garage before bringing the bags back into your home. Do a thorough examination of your luggage and clothes for any traces of bed bugs. Wash everything in hot water and vacuum out the luggage before bringing it inside.

Get Professional Help – Even if you take all the right precautions, remember bed bugs are sneaky travelers! They can survive extreme temperatures (sometimes up to 113 degrees Fahrenheit!), so they are very difficult to kill. If you think you may have brought something more home from your travels than just your souvenirs, your best bet is to call Larue Pest Management and let the professionals make sure the bed bugs don’t bite!

Please cut these business cards out, laminate, and use them when you are traveling or you may contact us for one of these cards.

Happy Traveling! Larue Pest Management 5611 8th St. W Lehigh Acres, FL 33971 (800) 314-8813 – Toll Free (239) 334-0880 – Local (239) 369-2064 – Fax