Effective Bed Bug Treatment And Control

Bed bug sightings and infestations, and evidence of bed bug bites are enough to drive a person to panic.  Although bed bugs do not carry or transmit disease, they can become a big problem if not eliminated from your home. 

If you suspect you have bed bugs in your home, Star Pest Control is the pest control company that you contact right away. Our technicians can determine if you have bed bugs and then begin an extermination plan as soon as possible. Visit our contact page to get started!

What Are Bed Bugs And What To Do About Them

Bed bugs are small, soft bodied insects that feed on human blood. They can feed on animal blood, such as cats or dogs, but they prefer blood from people. They feed at night when people are asleep. Bed bugs feed by piercing the skin of their victims with a piercing/sucking mouthpart and then siphoning the blood into their bodies. These bed bug “bites” are painless when they occur, but later begin to itch, redden, and swell. Although bed bugs do not carry or transmit diseases, their bites are uncomfortable, can lead to skin infections from the itching, and are a nuisance.

Bed bug bite image by James Heilman, MD

If untreated, the infestations can become large and spread easily, especially in close quarter living like apartment buildings. Because bed bugs can hide anywhere, they sometimes hide in clothing in drawers or closets and can be “carried” this way to other peoples homes, to motels, to schools and workplaces. If you wake up in the mornings with bug bites you did not go to sleep with, you may want to check for other signs of bed bugs.

How To Identify Bed Bugs

Bed bugs themselves are close to the size of an apple seed, and are brownish in color. Their bodies are slightly oval shaped and can be almost flat before feeding, so they can easily hide nearly anywhere, such as in bed frames, inside mattresses, in clothing, in carpet, even in electronics and outlets. They are drawn out of their hiding places at night by the carbon dioxide emitted by sleeping humans and animals. Other than the bed bug bites themselves, other signs to look out for are:

  • small spots of blood or bloodstains on pillowcases, sheets, other bedding
  • spots of bed bug fecal matter, egg casings, or skin sheds of insects in places where they hide
  • small spots that look like rust or blood, but that is actually bed bug fecal spots on bedding, on bed frames, sheets, other linens
  • an offensive or foul smell like musty, rotting berries
Bed Bug Identification
Image by KDS444

If you have spotted any of these signs and have experienced bug bites, you should call Star Pest Control right away at (208) 357-9129 for prompt control and elimination of bed bugs from your home!

Star Pest Control Bed Bug Treatment Extermination

There are some things you can do on your own to help control bed bugs, such as:

  • washing all bedding and clothing in hot water and drying on high heat
  • steam cleaning drapes, carpets, etc.
  • vacuuming all surfaces in bedrooms and often the entire home regularly for long intervals

However, these measures can take a very long time to control bed bugs.

Star Pest Control uses a chemical extermination method. The bed bug treatments can reach into places that vacuums cannot, and will take less time to control the bed bugs than by mechanical removal. Star Pest Control does not use heat to exterminate bed bugs.

Depending on the infestation level, 3 or more treatments may be needed to remove all bed bugs. Inhabitants and pets will need to be out of the home during treatment, and it may be necessary to dispose of mattresses, pillows and bedding that cannot be washed and dried in high heat.

You can get more detailed information and questions answered by calling us at (208) 357-9129. You can also fill out the contact form found on this page. If you think you may have bed bugs in your home, don’t panic, just contact Star Pest Control as soon as possible, and we will get you on your way to a bed bug free home!