Bed bug removal in Kitchener has long been an issue. However, with accurate detection of these pests and with proper handling, you will be able to get rid of them.

Bed bugs in Kitchener, Ontario have arrived in a big way, hence, bed bug control has become a primary issue. Bed bugs have long been a pest. They can be everywhere whether in residential or in public places. Wherever there are people, bed bugs are also there. CBC News once stated in its report that bed bug infestation is a potential concern in any public establishment in the Kitchener Waterloo area. 

Why Bed Bugs Are Pests

Like vampires, bed bugs are fed by blood. Although they can be fed by animal blood, they prefer human blood, causing irritation and itchiness to their human host. Bed bugs must feed at least once every two weeks for them to survive, mate, and produce eggs. A bed bug feeding time may take 3-12 minutes, leaving a red mark on its host’s skin. A bed bug bite may cause irritation, itchiness, and even distress to their human hosts. For highly sensitive people, the effect can be worse. Bed bug bites may result in an allergy or infection to them.

Bed bugs do not only cause irritation and distress. They may also cause damage to electrical, insulation, heating, and cooling systems. They can also cause odor problems which can trigger asthma and even serious respiratory diseases. 

Bed bugs are active during the night when their human host is asleep and helpless. They remain active even at a temperature of 7 degrees Celsius. During the day, they are nowhere to be seen. They are good at hiding, making them hard to detect. Seams of mattresses, headboards, and crevices on bed frames, headboards, walls or floors are their favorite hiding places.

Although bed bugs have no wings for flying, these pests are known to be great travelers. They can transport from one household to another by clinging on clothing, luggage, furniture, or other items. Hence, they can become widespread in no time and they can be everywhere. Not only that they can easily invade and infest from one place to another. Moreover, bed bugs multiply so quickly. One female bed bug lays an average of 3 eggs per day. Their life span lasts 6-12 months or it could be longer than that. This means that one lady bed bug produces more than 500 eggs per her lifetime. 

How To Detect Bed Bugs

Bed bugs are about 1 to 7 millimeters long. They have a flat oval-shaped body and brownish red in color. Generally, an adult bed bug is only about as big as an apple seed. Aside from being too tiny, bed bugs hide during the day, making them difficult to identify. 

Young bed bugs which are known as nymphs are translucent, making them even harder to find. When they are not fed, they can be invisible. 

Bed bugs are most likely found in seams of fabrics especially on mattresses or bed sheets, couch covers, pillowcases, or furniture, giving them easy access to you or your family members. To detect them, look for a rusty spot in their usual hiding places. These rusty spots are caused by the remains of their blood meals. 

As bed bugs are as thin as an ID or credit card, you can search them from cracks or junctions where the floor meets the walls. They can also be found on corners of electrical outlets. Bed bugs have a distinct musty smell. This smell may also help you detect them. 

How To Deal With Bed Bugs

Prevention is still better than treatment. To prevent bed bugs, you must do a regular clean-up of your home. A cluttered place would provide bed bugs with great hiding and reproducing places. Regular vacuuming of rugs, floors, and underbeds can help avoid bed bugs.  It is also recommended that you wash and heat-dry your mattresses, blankets, and clothing. If bed bugs are present, regular clean-up and washing will help reduce the number. 

If you suspect that there are bed bugs in your home, you must spot where they are. However, you should know first what you are looking for.  Other insects can mistakenly be identified as bed bugs. Accurate identification of bed bugs prevents you from spending too much treatment for the wrong insect. As soon as you suspect that bed bugs have infested your home, the first thing you must do is to detect them early. Bed bugs breed exponentially and they multiply quickly. When left unnoticed, they can most likely infect other parts of the house. 

Furthermore, they can be carried from one household to another, infesting your neighbors, families, and friends. Therefore, it is necessary to detect them as soon as possible. The sooner you identify them, the better you will be able to prevent them from spreading. While it can be an inconvenient thing to treat minor infestations, it can be less expensive than treating them after they have become rampant.

Since bed bugs can be killed through heat, setting the indoor temperature to high can help. However, this must be done with caution. Although they can be killed when their body temperature goes up to 45 degrees Celsius, the room temperature has to be set higher than that to ensure that the heat is sustained, killing bed bugs wherever in the room they are hiding.  

Moreover, a pest control professional will help you deal with bed bugs. In Kitchener, several businesses offer pest control services for bed bugs which include bed bug extermination. However, when hiring a pest control professional, look for one that has a proven and effective formula. Affordable professional pest control services may become expensive if not done strategically.  With proper detection and extermination, bed bug removal in Kitchener will never be a big issue ever again.