Control of bed bugs

What are bed bugs?

Bed bugs are tiny parasitic insects. Their size reaches only about 7 millimeters, and when their population is low they usually avoid light, which makes them almost impossible to detect until it is already too late and they have occupied a large area. The fact that they are blood-sucking insects, however, allows us to quickly realize that they are present in our home. They are wingless parasites and are considered among the most difficult pests to eliminate today. Although there is no confirmed evidence that diseases are transmitted through bed bug bites, controlling them is absolutely necessary. Their nighttime attacks are extremely unpleasant and may even lead to psychological distress, while the itching causes irritating, strongly burning, and sometimes painful skin when touched.

Types of bed bugs

In nature, 92 species of bed bugs have been identified. In general, science classifies them into two main groups, which we have already mentioned above:

Bed bugs

The bed bug, also known as the common bed bug, is the species most often found in residential areas and the one that bites people at night. Over time, bed bugs have evolved to hide from the human eye in cracks in furniture, between the mattress and the bed frame, inside wooden cabinets, and sometimes even inside electrical appliances or suspended ceilings and floors. Bed bugs are also the most difficult to eradicate.

Forest bugs

Forest bugs mainly inhabit areas with tall grasses, shrubs, and trees. However, they can also enter your home, for example if they are brought in with soil for flower pots or if there are garden plants or small trees near your windows. A significant difference between forest bugs and bed bugs is that forest bugs are active throughout the entire day, whereas bed bugs are primarily nocturnal. In addition, forest bugs do not feed on blood, unlike bed bugs.Important: Eliminating bed bugs is more difficult and costly because they are a much more persistent enemy than forest bugs and hide in unusual and hard-to-reach places. Many commonly available products do not work against them and may even contribute to resistance or mutation, which complicates the extermination process and may require more treatments. Nevertheless, we have extensive long-term experience and know how to help you.

A short guide to help our clients when bed bugs are present

Reproduction and eggs of bed bugs

Bed bugs are extremely resilient and dangerous parasites, which is why we will focus more on them. To survive and reproduce, they essentially need a constant temperature above 15–20°C and food—in other words, human blood. This means that once they enter your home, they will remain there indefinitely unless the correct measures are taken, because you become their source of nourishment. There is a common myth that messy homes and old furniture create the ideal environment for their reproduction. This is not entirely true. Bed bugs will remain in your home even if it is perfectly tidy and cleaned regularly. Clutter only gives them more places to hide. Sometimes older mattresses—especially those used for more than five years—can create additional conditions for the growth of bed bug populations.An individual bed bug lives between 4 and 12 months. After each feeding, it has the ability to mate and lay eggs, which under favorable conditions (warmth and food) hatch in about 10–14 days and no more than one month. They can also enter a prolonged dormant period (especially during colder conditions or lack of food), and some sources claim they can survive without feeding for more than 1–2 years by entering a lethargic state. Bed bug eggs are extremely small and difficult to notice, which further complicates early detection and control.

How to recognize signs of bed bugs?

Since it is difficult to locate bed bug eggs at home, you will usually need to look for adult individuals. Unfortunately, these miniature parasites are very difficult to see with the naked eye because they are extremely agile and mainly active at night. Therefore, they are rarely noticed during the day on furniture surfaces or hidden in mattresses. The good news is that their presence can still be detected because they leave traces—very small red spots caused by blood after biting. These signs are easiest to notice on light-colored sheets. They also often leave small blood spots on bed frames and mattress supports. On the victim’s body, bed bug bites usually cause a strong rash and unpleasant itching. Complications may occur due to irritation of the affected skin areas, and sometimes lesions or eczema may appear.

How to prevent a bed bug infestation in your home? Prevention methods

• The most effective way to eliminate bed bugs is professional treatment through spraying, which leads to complete extermination.
• Prevention is the best solution. If you have had these pests before, perform preventive treatment at least every 6 months. Ideally, the first preventive treatment should be done about two months after the initial series of treatments.
• When it comes to bed bugs, increased attention while traveling and when returning home is an excellent preventive practice.
• Always inspect places where you stay overnight outside your home—check under the mattress and pillows.
• After unpacking your luggage at home, inspect it again, and if there is any suspicion of bed bugs, it is best to wash all clothes immediately in hot water at 60°C for at least 30 minutes.
• Very often our clients bring bed bugs into their homes when purchasing new or second-hand furniture such as sofas, beds, and armchairs. Therefore, inspect such items carefully for signs of these insects before bringing them inside.

Important: We hope this information has been helpful. Keep in mind that fast and effective bed bug extermination depends greatly on how long they have been present in your home or commercial property. The sooner you contact us, the easier it will be to eliminate the problem.