These small biting insects are often found in beds but also infest other furniture. Keeping bed bugs controlled is difficult without a professional. These bugs are often encountered on trips, and when they are brought in by other people, or in infested items.

Bed Bug Identification

Often, an unexplained, unidentified bite on one’s body is the first hint that bed bugs may be present. However, this is not a foolproof method for diagnosing a bed bug infestation, as people react to bites in various degrees.

For your safety, It is necessary to have knowledge of what bed bugs look like as well as their habits and activities.

Adult bed bugs typically are:

  • Reddish-brown
  • About the size of an apple seed
  • Wingless
  • Easily seen with the naked eye

Note that the appearance of an adult bed bug will change from time to time. If not recently fed, the bug will be dark in color and have a flat shape. After a good blood meal, the bug blows up to a more rounded shape and becomes bright red in color.

A nymph, the first stage of growth, is the most difficult to spot. This is the stage in which they first hatch and emerge from the egg. These tiny bed bugs are difficult to see unless they have been fed and are full of blood, making them bright red in color.

Bed bugs are also much easier to spot when they are moving about.

Bed bug eggs, on the other hand, are very difficult to see as they are very tiny, only about the size of the head of a pin. Bed bug eggs are white, but eyespots will begin to show after 5 days.

A clear indicator of a bed bug infestation is finding molted skins. When the eggs hatch and nymphs begin their growth process, they will go through 5 instars—or stages of growth—shedding 5 times before becoming adults.

These molted skins have the general shape of the bug but are translucent and nothing more than an empty shell. Shed skins are often to be found along the seams of mattresses, behind headboards and along baseboards.

One additional sign of bed bug infestation is small black spots found on mattresses and bed sheets. These black spots are fecal spots of excreted, digested blood.

Bed bugs do not just show up—they are brought into your home. Bed bugs are hitchhikers that catch a ride to your house from various sources. This can include used furniture brought into the home, luggage from a recent trip, or your clothing.

Dangers Associated with Bed Bugs

While bed bugs are not considered to be dangerous per se, they are an irritation that varies with each individual. Bed bugs can be very disruptive to sleep and can exacerbate insomnia.

It is possible for some individuals to have an allergic reaction to several bites that, in extreme cases, may require medical attention.

In some cases, however, bed bug bites can become infected, leading to conditions such as:

  • Impetigo
  • Ecthyma
  • Lymphangitis

Bed Bug Prevention

The risk of an infestation increases any time one is exposed to other humans through public transportation or motels. It should also be noted that bed bugs can be found anywhere from budget motels to the best of 5 star rated establishments.

To reduce the chance of carrying bed bugs home with you, you should:

  • Inspect your room thoroughly for signs of bed bugs prior to moving into the room. Look closely at the mattress and bed clothing, behind the headboard and inside drawers.
  • Store your suitcases and bags off the floor. Use the suitcase stands.
  • Keep your clothes in your suitcase while traveling and don’t use the dressers
  • Place soiled clothing in plastic bags, and launder immediately upon arriving home.
  • Vacuum the inside and outside of your suitcase prior to storing it in the closet.
  • Inspect, then wash and sanitize any used furniture or used clothing prior to moving it into the house.

Bed Bug Treatment:

As with other household pests, swift treatment is paramount with bed bugs. Elimination is not easy and should not be done with DIY treatments or methods as they often are not effective methods of bed bug removal.

You may remove adults only to find that eggs continue hatching and nymphs show up within days. Complete eradication calls for a professionally trained pest control specialist with the experience necessary for successful bed bug treatment in New Jersey.

ChemTec Pest Control

ChemTec will effectively treat your home for bed bugs with three treatment sessions. This will effectively eliminate all adults, nymphs, and eggs. They will also guide you through other prevention methods to reduce future infestations. ChemTec also provides bed bug control for commercial environments.

Contact ChemTec Pest Control today so your home can be pest-free again!

Throwing out an infested mattress will not take care of a bed bug problem. To effectively get rid of bed bugs, professional treatment is recommended.

Bites or Stings

Blood Sucking

Difficult To See

Although bed bugs are active all year long, many pest control professionals report increases in infestations during the summer season when there is an increase in both domestic and foreign travel.

Latest News & Blogs

28 April

Kissing Bug: NJ Dangerous Pests

Despite their pleasant-sounding name, kissing bugs have more than earned…

Read Post

14 April

Mosquito Diseases in New Jersey

Mosquitoes are infamous for their annoying ability to ruin any…

Read Post

28 March

Eco-Friendly Pest Control in New Jersey

At ChemTec Pest Control, we’ve been leading our industry since…

Read Post

Satisfaction Promise For Bed Bug Extermination Process in New Jersey

At ChemTec Pest Control, we operate under a singular ideal: If our customers aren’t satisfied, we aren’t satisfied either.

If you still have a problem with a pest after we have conducted our pest control treatment, just call us and we will conduct another treatment for that pest for no charge as long as it’s within the warranty period. If after warranty retreatment you are still not satisfied, we will return your money.

We mean business when we say we guarantee your satisfaction, but of course from a QualityPro Certified pest control business, you would expect no less.

Be sure to ask about our unlimited service options! They guarantee results protecting you and controlling 60+ pests with guaranteed results.