Bed Bugs

Bed bugs are becoming a significant problem in this country and around the world.

Bed bugs are easily spread and can be difficult to treat, resulting in a rapid growth in the number of outbreaks.

Protecting Your Home and Family from Bed Bugs

The key to eradicating bed bugs is being familiar with the signs and knowing how to get rid of bed bugs. While there are steps you can take to reduce the risk of infestation, Ehrlich recommends a professional pest control bed bug service if you discover them in your home.

Our Year Round Protection Plan PLUS Bed Bugs

At Ehrlich, we recognize the importance of protecting your home and family from Bed Bugs. Our Year Round Protection Plan now covers Bed Bugs at NO ADDITIONAL FEE for the first 12 months of service.

The cost of eliminating these insects in a home is quite high. Extensive preparation, proper materials and skilled manpower all go into solving a bed bug infestation.

If you encounter a concern with bed bugs in your home and are a Year Round Protection Plan customer, contact us. All of our personnel, from our office staff to our service Technicians, have been thoroughly trained to both identify and treat any bed bug problem. 

We will answer any questions you may have, inspect the areas of your home where an infestation may be present and treat your home at no charge if bed bugs are found.

The Impact of Bed Bugs

Bed bugs feed on the blood of humans and other mammals.

Despite their blood-feeding nature, bed bugs have not been shown to transmit any diseases. However, the fear of bed bug infestations and bed bug bites can lead to emotional distress.

Bed bug bites do not hurt, although bites may result in an itchy welt, which causes discomfort and can lead to secondary infection of the bite wound due to scratching.

Treating the bites soothes the irritation, but it can still be very distressing when there are multiple bites, which sometimes occur with bed bugs.

Identifying Bed Bugs

Adult bed bugs are 5mm long. Before feeding they are a flattened oval shape and light brown, but become rounder and darker.

Bed bugs do not have wings, but can crawl relatively fast.

A bed bug can complete its development from an egg to and adult in as little as 1 month. A single female can potentially produce 200-500 eggs in her lifetime.

Adult bed bugs can survive approximately 1 year without feeding; immature bed bugs (nymphs) can go 3-4 months without feeding.

Bed bugs are nocturnal, lured from their hiding spots at night by the warmth of our bodies and carbon dioxide in our breath as we sleep.

Common places for bed bugs:

• Bedrooms - hiding in cracks and crevices during the day
• Bed frame – hiding in crevices or seams of bed mattress
• Behind furniture – surrounding the bed
• Wall – where the wall meets the floor

A more established infestation is associated with dark or black staining of the mattress from bed bug excrement.

Some reports suggest that an established bed bug infestation will also be associated with an unpleasant odor.

Symptoms of bed bug bites vary between individuals. Early in a bed bug infestation, the victim may not yet be sensitized to the bites and therefore may not develop itchy welts.

However, small droplets of blood on the sheets may indicate the presence of bed bugs.

Sources of Bed Bugs

Bed bugs usually enter a property carried on clothing, luggage or furniture.

The most common source of bed bugs is to stay at a hotel with an infestation. Bed bugs or their eggs get into clothing or suitcases and are then transported home.

It is important to check for signs of bed bugs prior to staying in your hotel room. If there are any signs of bed bugs when staying at a hotel, particularly being bitten when sleeping or seeing blood spots on sheets, take great care in bringing your personal belongings home. If you suspect bed bugs, hotel staff should be immediately notified.

Consult with hotel management to assess the risk - it may be necessary to launder, fumigate or treat clothes to ensure they are safe. We advise either placing belongings in the freezer or laundering in hot, soapy water and drying in high heat. When moving belongings that may be infested, you should place them in a large garbage bag to lessen the chance of spreading bed bugs throughout your home.

You should also inspect all furniture and mattresses that are brought into your home.

Do Not Spread Bed Bugs

If your home has a bed bug infestation, please do not risk spreading it by taking clothes, suitcases or furniture to hotels or the homes of your friends and families.

Bed bugs can also migrate to adjoining rooms through wall or floor cavities. If your home has bed bugs and you live in an apartment or condominium, please be considerate to your neighbors and act promptly. 

Call Ehrlich Pest Control free on 1-800-837-5520 for further advice on bed bug bites and how to get rid of bed bugs or to arrange a visit by an Ehrlich technician.