What are Bed bugs and How to find them
How To Spot Bed Bugs
Locating bed bugs can be difficult but, contrary to myth, it is by no means impossible. Adult bed bugs are the size and shape of an apple seed. It just takes knowing what you are looking for to locate these pesky creatures. Several insects look similar to bed bugs, and you want to make sure you are treating the right pest.
Bed bugs are identifiable by their:
- Small size, up to ¼ or 7mm at most
- Flat, oval shape
- Reddish-brown color
- Musty, sweet smell
Bed bugs are most active at night and feed on humans. Because they are attracted to people, anyone can find themselves dealing with bed bugs, and contrary to popular belief, they are not too small to be seen or an indication of a messy home.
The average adult bed bug is around 5mm and may appear slightly larger and more elongated after they have fed. However, if you are dealing with a bed bug infestation, you are likely to see bugs at varying stages of their life cycle, as well as their eggs. Bed bug eggs are hard to spot because they are tiny (about the size of a pinhead) and white. Similarly, young bed bugs are also very small, white or yellow in color, and very hard to see.
Check out this EPA article or our Blog Page for more great information.
Signs You Have Bed Bugs
If you are dealing with a large infestation, you may see bed bugs around your home. However, because they are adept at hiding, you may not see an actual bed bug if it is still early in the infestation. Knowing the signs of a bed bug infestation can help save you time and money.
Check for the Following Signs of Bed Bugs:
- Dark spots of bed bug feces about the size of a ball point pinhead (take a damp rag and run it over the spot, if it smears it is likely a bed bug dropping, if it goes away or doesn’t smear, it probably is not)
- Seeing a live bed bug
- Bed bug bites on your arms, legs, and other exposed areas of skin. Usually in rows of three or four
- Eggs, shed bed bug skins, or dead bed bugs
- Check out our Instagram page for more examples of eggs, droppings and casings
It can be difficult to tell if you’ve been bitten by a bed bug since the marks may not show up for a day or more and can look similar to flea or mosquito bites. In fact, some people don’t react at all. If you suspect that you’ve been bitten by bed bugs, perform a thorough inspection of the room for telltale signs. Bed bugs like to hide in small crevices, like around the seams of your mattress and box springs. If you find a bug, save it so it can be identified by a professional, and then call us to help eliminate the infestation for good.
We Are Here To Help
As fully certified local bed bug remediation experts, our team at Thermal Clean LLC has seen a lot. We know bed bugs, and, more importantly, we know how to get rid of them. Safe and effective thermal remediation provides a high level of control, allowing our team to get rid of bed bugs and keep them from coming back. We even offer a comprehensive warranty which means that if we don’t live up to your high expectations the first time, we’ll come back and do it again for free.
Bed bugs often get into your home on or in:
- Luggage
- Visitors bringing them in
- Shoes and Clothes
- Laundry from shared machines
- Second-hand furniture
- Second-hand electronics
- Adjacent apartments, condos, or buildings
Bed bugs are tenacious and difficult to eradicate. When they get into office buildings, apartment buildings, hotels, and other multi-unit facilities, they can be especially difficult to get rid of. It is always a good idea to keep an eye out in your home to ensure that any potential infestations are dealt with swiftly.
Bed bugs are often spread as a result of travel. If you are traveling, locally or internationally, you should remain vigilant and be on the lookout for bed bugs.
Before staying in a hotel or vacation rental, you should check:
- Around your mattress and box springs, paying careful attention to the seams
- Around headboards and picture frames as bed bugs like to hide behind them
- In nightstands, dressers, and closets
- In electrical sockets and around lighting fixtures
Upon returning home, you should check over your luggage and shoes before entering your house. You should also thoroughly wash all of your clothing. Though it is unlikely that a bed bug you encounter in Colorado will cause serious harm to your health, it is always best to play it safe and call in a professional bed bug exterminator like ours in Denver.
Call Us Today To Learn How We Can Help
Once you have bed bugs, it is time to call a professional. Many people want to try to do it themselves, and we get it. Professional treatment is costly, but we promise that in the long run it is worth it to let someone else take the reigns. You want to get ahead of this problem before it gets out of control.
We service Denver, Aurora, Broomfield, Fort Collins, Castle Rock, Lakewood, Arvada and the entire Colorado Front Range.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Are Bed Bugs?
The most common bed bug is Cimex lectularius. They’re bloodsuckers, tiny little vampires that wait until people are asleep to crawl out of hiding and bite anyone unfortunate enough to be in the vicinity. They’re also drawn to the carbon dioxide you exhale, although we don’t advise you to stop breathing!.
Do bed bugs spread disease?
No, bed bugs aren’t considered to be disease carriers. That doesn’t mean that they’re harmless, though, as some people can be allergic to the anesthetic the bed bug injects you with while it feeds on your blood. This can lead to rashes and excessive itching.
Do They Get on Pets?
Bed bugs will not usually feed on anijmals due to their inability to penitrate the fur/feathers. However, bed bugs may hitch a ride on animals from room to room. We suggest a thorough combing and bath of your pets around the time of treatment to make sure no reinstation occurs.
How does Thermal Clean LLC’s heat treat work?
By integrating our thermal remediation process with a light residual pesticide application, we can rid a space of bed bugs in a timely and responsible manner.
- Electric heaters are placed within the space, introducing and recirculating heated air with a target temperature between 135-140 degrees.
- Temperatures are monitored using thermal imagery in real time from a remote location using wireless sensors to ensure lethal temperatures are reached without damaging the space and its contents.
- High-temperature fans move heated air throughout the space to reach insects in cracks, crevices, and high infestation zones.
- High heat is used to kill bugs and eggs, which are hidden deep within the furniture and walls.
- A light residual pesticide is applied to the perimeter of every room. This leaves a protective barrier to ensure against any stragglers surviving.
Are bed bugs something to be embarrassed about?
Absolutely not! Bed bugs aren’t about the cleanliness of a dwelling and they can be found in the fanciest homes, hotels, and resorts in the world.
How Do I Prepare For Treatment
Space will be heated to temperatures approaching 140°F. It is important that anything that may be affected by the heat is removed from the space. The more clutter and personal belongings you can permanently remove, the quicker we will be able to eliminate the bed bugs and let you back in your home. As such, it is a great time to dispose of all those things you have been planning on permanently removing from your home.
Rest assured, we never ask our customers to do exhaustive hours of prep work or move furniture. We simply ask them to remove items that can be damaged by the heat, remove trash, sweep and vacuum the floor, and put all clothing into plastic bags, laundry baskets, or hangers.
To make it easy, we created a Preparation List you can find here.
Our Office
3050 W 71st Ave. Westminster, CO 80030
Contact Us
(720) 370-8300
ThermalCleanLLC@gmail.com
Office Hours
Mon-Sat: 7am – 7pm
Sun: Closed