Bed bugs are one of the most challenging pests to control and eliminate from your home. They reproduce extremely quickly. In fact, one lone insect can turn into hundreds if not promptly treated. Moreover, bed bug bites may cause itchy welts and, in some cases, severe allergic reactions.
Fortunately, the extermination experts at Poulin’s Pest Control are ready to jump into action and attack your bed bug infestation. Our bed bug treatments identify where the insects lurk and eliminate them where they hide to ensure the troublesome guests don’t return . If you think you have a bed bug problem in your home or business and require treatment, call Poulin’s at 1-877-533-2500 or contact us at our Calgary location.
Identifying Bed Bugs
Bed bugs are very small. However, you can see them with the naked eye. As adults, they are about four to five millimetres long, and have flat, oval-shaped bodies with horizontal bands. They are usually brown or reddish-brown.
Signs You Have Bed Bugs
Before noticing the insects themselves, you may notice some signs of a bed bug infestation. For example, if you wake up with small red welts on your body, you may have been bitten by bed bugs. Bed bug bites usually occur two or three in a row. These insects get nourishment from sucking blood from humans, pets, and livestock. Bed bug bites can get inflamed and itchy and trigger allergic reactions in severe cases, however not everyone reacts the same way to the bites – some people may not react at all.
Additionally, you may notice tiny rusty-brown stains on your sheets or furniture. Bed bug feces cause these stains. You may also find shed bed bug exoskeletons on your soft furnishings. If you notice any of these signs, it’s best to schedule a treatment or inspection from Poulin’s in Calgary.
Where Bed Bugs Live
Bed bugs love small, hidden places. They hide in cracks along mattresses, bed frames and box springs. They also shelter in the gaps between your couch cushions, the spaces of your baseboards, picture frames, carpets and the clothes in your closet. They can live up to nine months and survive for three months without a blood meal.
How Bed Bugs Enter Your Home
It doesn’t matter if your home is meticulously clean or not, bed bugs can enter your home through various means. In most cases, humans transport bed bugs from one location to another. For instance, they can hitch a ride on:
No matter how they arrive, you must act quickly and schedule a professional bed bug assessment and treatment once they’re inside your home.
How to Get Rid of Bed Bugs
Hiring a professional pest control service is the best way to eliminate bed bugs from your home. Bed bugs are notoriously difficult to treat, and most DIY methods will not work. Leaving just one female bed bug behind can result in an entirely new infestation in just a few days.
FAQs
Many myths and fears surround bed bugs. Here are answers to some frequently asked questions.
The cost of professional bed bug treatment in Calgary can vary based on several factors. Contact us and include the size of your home, whether or not your home is attached to any other unit, and the severity of the infestation. Larger homes or more severe infestations may require multiple treatments or more intensive methods.
After treatment, you will generally need to stay out of your property for at least six hours. The amount of time needed for the treatment process depends on the size of the home and the things that need to be treated.
Please read our instructions carefully. Proper preparation will significantly improve the effectiveness of the treatment.
Yes, when all people and pets vacate the home during treatment and stay out for the recommended period (usually six hours). This ensures the products have time to dry.
DIY methods can help reduce bed bug populations, but they may not reach places where bed bugs and their eggs are hiding, and bed bugs are resistant to many over-the-counter treatments.
Yes, a common way for bed bugs to enter homes is on infested second-hand furniture. Items that look clean can have bed bugs or their eggs hiding inside.
Before bringing any used furniture indoors:
Inspect thoroughly using a flashlight and magnifying glass.
Check seams, tufts, and crevices for signs of bed bugs and eggs.
If possible, isolate the item in a garage or shed for a few weeks
Consider treating the item
Contact Poulin’s Pest Control for advice.
When in doubt, it’s better to be cautious. A free couch isn’t worth the cost of treatment.
Bed bugs are not known to transmit diseases to humans, but people can react to bed bug bites, and some people can have severe allergic reactions.
If you move to a new home while having a bed bug infestation, you could bring some of the insects along with you. Bed bugs can hide in cardboard boxes, clothing, furniture, and luggage – things you’ll be moving with you. It’s best to exterminate bed bugs before moving.
Bed bugs cannot jump or fly. Bed bugs move by crawling and hitching rides to their next destination.
Bed bugs are resistant to cold temperatures and can lie dormant until warm again. Freezing bed bugs is not a reliable method of successfully eradicating them.
Bed bugs can live in many different areas of your home. Throwing out your mattress would not remove bed bugs hiding in picture frames, cardboard boxes, baseboards, headboards, nightstands, furniture, and other places.
When travelling, inspect your hotel room’s headboards, mattresses, and furniture for bed bugs before settling in. Keep your belongings inside a sealed bag and put them in a bathtub, if possible. If you spot bed bugs, immediately request another room. Before you go into your home, check your belongings for bed bugs before bringing them inside. Heat fabric items in a dryer at high heat.
Bed Bug Treatment in Calgary and Surrounding Areas
At Poulin’s Pest Control, our technicians are trained to diagnose and treat all types of bed bug problems. We’ll design a custom solution for your living space and won’t stop until every bed bug is gone. You can sleep well knowing you’re no longer sharing your bed with blood-sucking insects. Schedule a bed bug assessment and treatment by contacting us in Calgary today.