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Bed Bug FAQs

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What is a bed bug?

  • A bed bug is a parasitic insect that is becoming an increasing problem.
  • Bed bugs feed on blood and prefer humans as their hosts.
  • Bed bugs will typically feed at night but can feed at any time.

What does a bed bug look like?

  • Bed bugs are oval-shaped, flattened, brown-colored, and wingless.
  • An adult bed bug’s size is about 1/4” – 3/8”. A hatchling is about the size of a poppy seed.
  • When a bed bug feeds its color will become redder/purple. Their size also increases and they become more cigar-shaped.
  • A bed bug hatchling is colorless until it feeds.
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How to spot bed bugs:

Adults are approximately the size of an apple seed and mahogany brown in color. Babies can be quite small, about the size of a grain of sand, and are tan in color until they feed for the first time. They are quite elusive, hiding very well inside cracks and crevices between feedings making them very difficult to locate.

  • Carefully inspect yourself and your belongings when you leave an unfamiliar place.
  • Bed bugs infest only a small portion of residences but are avid hitchhikers and you or anyone can get them any place they’ve been left behind.
  • Pay special attention to cracks, seams, crevices, and folds of materials looking for place’s bugs may be hiding.
  • Often the only signs of infestations are small drops of blood on the sheets that are excreted as they feed. Shed skins, fecal stains (which look like pepper glued to a surface), and eggs may also be observed tucked away in hidden locations.
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What are bed bugs’ effects on me?

  • While bed bugs do not cause damage to your home they will bite as blood is their only source of food. Although no disease transmission has been attributed to bed bugs, their bites may cause swelling and intense itching in some people.
  • Secondary infections due to scratching may occur in some persons. While over the counter medications may help, many persons bitten exhibit intense itching that can last for days.

How did I get bed bugs?

This pest is a hitchhiker and may have been picked up virtually anywhere. Gym lockers, Public transportation, infested hotel rooms, movie theaters, schools, and just about any place.

While one may have an idea where they were contracted from, there is no certain way of knowing for sure.

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How to Protect Yourself from Bed Bugs — Learn how to identify Bed Bugs and the signs they leave

  • Be careful of antique or used furniture
  • Wash and dry or at least dry borrowed or consignment clothing
  • Before moving, ask the previous owner or landlord if there have been any pest issues
  • Be aware of your surroundings – Certain areas with high traffic, such as public transportation are more prone to bed bugs, but you can find them anywhere
  • If you suspect bed bugs on your clothing or personal items, isolate them in a bag for cleaning

Bed Bugs Removal | Viking Pest Control

What can I do to help get rid of bed bugs?

  • Eliminating clutter helps to reduce potential pest harborages and aids greatly in the treatment process.
  • Laundering potentially infested clothing and washable items in hot water and running them through the dryer on high heat will also help to exterminate this pest.
  • Over the counter, pesticide applications may actually make long term control of this pest more difficult as repellency may drive them even deeper into their hidden locations. Hiring an experienced professional is always the best when dealing with this pest.
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Can Bed Bugs Travel into Adjacent Rooms?

  • They can. Once bed bugs enter a structure, they can easily travel into adjacent rooms creating multiple feeding areas. This is why it is often recommended, and necessary, to treat adjacent rooms when eliminating a bed bug population. If a population is not handled immediately, conditions can quickly grow to be a nightmare for a homeowner or property.

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How Viking protects you and your home from bed bugs!

Viking has developed a highly successful control program that relies on the latest integrated approaches to bed bug treatment. The products used for control are carefully selected with equal emphasis on both safety and effectiveness. The products are applied by trained and highly experienced staff who understands the intricacies of bed bug control. With two on-staff entomologists training our pest management professional you can be assured that Viking staff will be knowledgeable and able to control your bed bug concerns. Please contact us for an inspection and treatment options customized for your unique situation if these Bed Bug FAQs didn’t cover it.