Mar 6, 20204 min read

Need Bed Bug Control in Hereford?

Updated: Dec 9, 2022

Got Bed Bugs? We’ve Got It Covered!

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The history of bed bugs dates back thousands of years! The Cimex lectularius is the most common type of bed bug found in the UK.

After WWII, there was a reported increase in bed bugs. The increase in their population was attributed to the heating systems used in homes which created warm living conditions for them to thrive in.

Bed Bugs are small, oval, brownish insects that feed on the blood of human hosts. Adult bed bugs have flat bodies about the size of an apple seed. After feeding, however, their bodies swell and are a reddish colour. Bed bugs do not fly, but they can move quickly over floors, walls, and ceilings.

Bed Bugs | National Geographic Video

‘’Smelling a musty odour in your bedroom could mean you have a bed bug infestation’’

Signs that you may have bed bugs include:

Blood stains on your sheets or pillowcases.
Dark or rusty spots of bed bug excrement on sheets and mattresses, bed clothes, and walls.
Bed bug faecal spots, egg shells, or shed skins in areas where bedbugs hide.
An offensive, musty odour from the bugs' scent glands.
Bites on your body - When bed bugs bite, you often see clusters of bites. Each cluster usually contains 3 to 5 bites that appear in a zigzag pattern.

Places in your home where bed bugs live are:

Your mattress
The box spring of your bed
Walls near your bed or other furniture
Bedside tables
Headboards and bed frames
Wardrobes
Sheets
Curtains and carpets
Luggage and clothing
Sofas, armchairs or other furniture where you spend time

How did I get bed bugs in the first place?

Bed bugs come in as stowaways in luggage, furniture, clothing, pillows, boxes, and more when these are moved between properties. Moving won’t solve the problem, since bed bugs can travel and they lie dormant in properties to wait for a human host.

So, although it sounds strange, when treating bed bugs, it’s best not to sleep away from home. Used furniture, particularly bed frames and mattresses, are prone to harbour bed bugs. Watch out for items sold on second-hand sites or at car boot sales! Because they survive for many months without food, bed bugs could already be present in clean, vacated properties meaning that there could be a problem when you move into a new home.

What should everyone know about bed bugs?

YOU CAN STOP THEIR SPREAD

Adults are ¼”, reddish-brown and flat. You can see them without magnification but early stages of bed bugs (nymphs) are tiny and very hard to detect with the human eye.
They like to hide in cracks and crevices.
Inspect sleeping areas—if you find a bed bug, STOP looking and contact a professional.
Do-it-yourself pest control is often not successful. However, you can take steps to minimize your risk of having bed bugs such as washing and tumble-drying items on a hot setting, dry cleaning and deep freezing items.
Live bugs or eggs may drop off while moving things from one place to another—items with bed bugs should be sealed in a bag before moving them.
Check second-hand purchases carefully for bed bugs.
Tell your friends! Not warning others robs them of the chance to avoid bringing bed bugs into their homes and businesses. Having bed bugs don’t mean you have a dirty property or unhygienic practices – it’s just bad luck!

How to get rid of bedbugs?

Bed bugs can be very difficult to treat. Bed bugs can die at very high or very low temperatures, or they can be treated by an insecticide with industrial strength. DIY bed bug treatments often don’t have the desired effects. If you suspect an active infestation book a professional bed bug treatment to confirm you have a problem and to carry out effective treatment for you.

Interesting Bed bug Facts!

According to the National Pest Management Association, almost all (97 percent) pest professionals have treated bed bugs in the past year. A majority of them say that overall bed bug service work and the prevalence of these pests are increasing.

Bed bugs may be easily confused with other pests; many pest control professionals were initially contacted about a different type of pest before identifying them as bed bugs. For example, pest controllers were often contacted about fleas and cockroaches only to discover the issue was bed bugs.

More than half of pest control professionals noted that they receive the most bed bug complaints during the summer, as increased travel during this time of the year may help spread bed bugs from holiday destinations to homes and also to residential properties as students return from universities and colleges. However, with global travel now more wide-spread, bed bugs are often encountered year-round.

Bites are the most commonly reported sign of an infestation and more than half of people reach out for treatment after discovering bites and welts on their bodies. Although some people immediately develop a skin reaction to bites, others may take two to three days before showing obvious symptoms or any symptoms at all, meaning that people could be unaware of a bed bug problem until a full-blown infestation has taken root.

Typically found in sofas and bed frames, bed bugs can also be found in some of the most unexpected places, including stuffed toys, wheelchairs, aeroplanes, school buses, handbags and even inside bedside lamps.

Many pest professionals agree that this bloodsucking pest is the most difficult pest to control. If an infestation is suspected, the British Pest Control Association and National Pest Technicians’ Association A recommend contacting a fully qualified, professional pest professional preferably a member of either trade body (NPTA or BPCA).

When working with a qualified professional, follow their advice to ensure that your bedbug treatment is more effective. For more information on bed bugs, visit www.pgmpestcontrol.co.uk/bed-bug-control