Bed Bugs 101
Bed bugs are small parasitic insects that mostly feed on human blood. They cause a number of health concerns such as skin rashes, allergic reactions, and psychological effects. Female bed bugs can lay up to 12 eggs at a time and between 300-500 eggs in a life time. Adult bed bugs are no more than ¼ of an inch in length, and immature bugs are virtually colorless and microscopic! Bed bugs are hitchhikers and can be easily carried from one place to another. Bed bugs can be found in a variety of settings, not just in the home! Bed bugs can feed at anytime of day or night, although they prefer nighttime.
In order to eliminate bed bug infestations, an approved pesticide and/or heat therapy provider must be used. These extermination methods need to be performed by a reputable exterminator. The challenge of this process is identifying where the problem exists. Trained scent detection dogs are proven to be 98% effective in detecting live bed bugs as well as their eggs. This is compared to only a 17-30% accuracy rate by even the most trained exterminators. Bed bugs can hide in places like base boards, inside mattresses, electronics, and in walls; all of which are impossible for a human to detect without dismantling your home or place of business.