Bed Bug Pest Control

Bed bugs are hitch hikers and spread by attaching themselves to items of fabric like clothing, luggage or second-hand furniture. In the past, bed bug infestations were deemed to be caused by unhygienic conditions but with the rise of shared accommodation like hostels and hotels; travel, and the increase in people purchasing second-hand furniture, anyone can, through simple bad luck get an infestation. Adult bed bugs are a small, round and mahogany brown, they are shaped like a disc and measure around 6mm long. Although they can’t fly, they can crawl over and up almost any surface. The adults are active at night and hide in the crevices in beds, surrounding furniture and also behind skirting boards. This makes spotting them quite difficult. They will lay their eggs near to the host, i.e. us. The baby bed bugs, called Nymphs are so small that they can barely be seen. There are lots of myths about bed bugs feeding on dead skin and other human detritus, they actually feed on human blood and to get that they bite.

Bed Bug Infestations

With bed bugs and their eggs being so small, it can be hard to spot when you have an infestation but here are some clues to look out for:

• Red bites on your skin typically in rows
• Blood spots on sheets from squashing the bugs
• Tiny black spots on sheets or bedframes from the bugs’ excrement
• Mottled shells which have been shed by the bugs

Thankfully bed bug bites are not dangerous and bed bug bites don’t spread disease but they can be very irritating and itchy.

Preventing Bed Bugs

Bed bugs are very difficult to prevent but there are a few things you can do to keep them away:

• Check second-hand furniture thoroughly before taking it home
• If you have been travelling and think you have stayed in an infested place, wash all your clothes on a hot wash at 60°C or put them in a tumble drier on a hot setting for at least 30 minutes. If you can’t do that, take your clothes to the dry cleaner as soon as possible.
• As a last resort, you might have to throw out anything that is infested.

Bed Bug Pest Control

Bed bugs are very difficult to eradicate without specialist knowledge and equipment. It is thought that bed bugs have developed an immunity to some household insecticides, but professional pest control companies like iX5 Pest Control have access to the most efficient equipment and insecticides. If you do have concerns regarding bed bugs get in touch with iX5 Pest Control. We will conduct a thorough survey and detail our recommended solutions, including advising on preventative measures. We use a range of control strategies depending on various factors such as the location, the extent of activity, and any sensitive receptors or non-target species. We offer bed bug pest control for domestic premises and businesses in Northampton, Daventry, Rugby, Market Harborough, Towcester, Brackley, Wellingborough, Kettering, Corby, Olney and all of the surrounding areas. Our team of specialists are available both evenings and weekends at no extra cost. Should you require assistance call us on 01604 328545, email [email protected] or use our simple contact form.