Bed bugs can be found in homes of all shapes and sizes, including ones that are meticulously clean and tidy. The truth of the matter is that once bedbugs are introduced into any space where they can feed on the blood from sleeping humans or animals, they will grow and spread into a thriving colony if left untreated.
The team here at Extermination Leblanc have extensive training and experience in helping homeowners, renters and landlords eliminate bed bug infestations from houses, apartments, condominiums and cottages. We’ll answer some commonly asked questions in this post including:
- What do bedbugs look like?
- What are the signs of a bedbug infestation?
- How do I get rid of bedbugs?
- What are the different types of treatment for getting rid of bed bugs?
How to identify bed bugs
Bedbugs are small insects ranging in size from 1 to 7 millimeters long. Other distinguishing features of bedbugs include:
flat profile
oval-shaped
reddish-brown
no wings
6 legs
2 antennae
3 body segments (but they often appear to have 2)
Bed bugs typically live close to where they have access to humans or animals for nighttime feeding. You can find bedbugs in your bed, furniture, carpet, clothing, and other belongings.
Signs of a bedbug infestation
Bedbug infestations are often noticed first by bite marks on the people and pets living in the home. You won’t know right away that you’ve been bitten because the bedbug secretes a small amount of anesthetic before biting, and it can sometimes take a few days for symptoms of bed bug bites to develop.
Bites are most often on any areas of skin that are not covered while sleeping:
- face
- neck
- arms
- hands
While they are certainly itchy, and can sometimes develop into fluid-filled blisters, bites from bedbugs are rarely dangerous. A sign that you indeed have bedbugs in your home are bites that present as:
- red and swollen
- dark spot at the center of each bite
- arranged in lines or clusters
- multiple bites grouped together
- iItchy
It can take several weeks for people to realize that they have bed bugs because they sometimes go days between feedings (i.e. biting people and pets) and the bites can often be mistaken as mosquito bites.
Other signs that you have bed bugs can be noticed when you are changing your bedsheets:
small black dots at the ends and corners of your bed
Small blood stains on your sheets
slight odor, similar to that of almond
It is also often to spot the actual insects with the naked eye. To search for bedbugs, use a flashlight and look carefully in their favourite hiding places:
- mattresses
- box springs
- bed frames
- headboards
- pillows and bedding
- cracks or seams of furniture
- carpeting around baseboards
- spaces behind light switches and electrical outlet plates
- curtains
- Clothes
The team at Extermination Leblanc have an extra method for finding bed bugs, and they’re the superstars of the team! Our canine detection services use dogs to sniff out and find bed bug infestations!
How to get rid of bedbugs
If you suspect that you have bed bugs living in your home, it is vital that you get rid of them; the problem will not go away on it’s own. At the first sign of bedbugs in your home, contact a trusted exterminator or pest control company right away, or if you are renting your home, contact your landlord to inform them of the situation.
There are, however, a few DIY solutions that you can try to prevent bedbug infestations from growing in the first place. By focusing cleaning efforts on these common bed bug nesting spots, you can help minimize the risk of a bedbug infestation in your home:
vacuuming and/or steam cleaning floors floors, mattresses, furniture, and appliances
laundering linens, drapes, and clothing using washing machine and dryer hottest settings
caulk gaps around your baseboards and cracks in furniture
Types of bed bug elimination treatments
As the pest control specialists serving Montreal, Estrie, and Monteregie, we have a number of different types of treatments to eliminate bedbugs from homes, apartments, condominiums and cottages. We are highly trained and have extensive experience to best identify which treatment will be the most effective in different situations, and work with landlords and homeowners to address their questions and concerns about each treatment type.
Learn more about the different processes used by the Extermination Leblanc team to eradicate bed bugs from your home:
- Traditional treatments for bed bugs
Bed bug extermination by heat
Bacterial bedbug treatment
Canine detection of bedbugs
Bed bug extermination by freezing
Wherever you are in Montérégie, Montreal or Estrie, trust the certified and experienced team of exterminators at Extermination Leblanc to get rid of any unwanted pests including bedbugs. We only use products which have been approved by Health Canada and have set the benchmark high with our integrated pest management approach to eliminate and prevent future infestations from recurring. Contact us with your questions today!
