Bed bug bites
We have all heard the familiar phrase, sleep tight, and don't let the bed bugs bite. You may have noticed tiny red spots on your body, blood stains on the sheets or black spots in various places. Could this be the work of those bed bugs our mothers warned us about?
The result of a bed bug feeding is usually a raised red bump or welt on the external surface of skin. While feeding the bed bug injects an anesthetic into its host which in turn creates an allergic reaction which creates the bumps or welts.
Many insects are capable of biting humans but bed bug bites are usually in groups of 2 or 3 closely related sites of puncture. Not all reactions to bed bug bites are the same, some people just experience the itchiness while many won't react at all.
When searching for bed bugs the first place to take a look is the mattress and bed base, pay particular attention to the head board side of the bed. Check all areas including furniture, picture frames and wall floor junctions within 2 meters of the bed.
A tell tale sign of bed bug activity are stains that resemble ink spots. The spots are processed blood that has passed through the insect.
Bed bugs survive by feasting on the blood on unsuspecting warm-blooded animals, usually humans. However they can survive for up to 18 months without a blood meal. So simply abandoning the room for a few months will not solve the problem.
Bed bug treatments
Before you decide which bed bug control company to select please consider a few points. Are they qualified? are they insured? and do they know how to kill bed bugs? You would think all pest control companies operating in the UK would have all the boxes ticked but you would be wrong. Many pest controllers not only lack the basic knowledge to successfully control bed bugs, many operate with no insurance and use amateur grade products.
Please beware of rogue trades who quote a low price over the phone, We have recently become aware of companies who's costs can be ten times what a reputable company will charge. Pestek are a specialists in controlling bed bugs our costs are lower than you may think call us today to discuss how we can help.
where do bed bugs come from
Bed bugs are generally introduced into a property via luggage or personal belongings that have become infested elsewhere usually whilst on holiday or while staying in B&B's, places that have been traditionally associated with an increased risk for housing bed bugs due to their higher rate of turnover and continual influx of temporary residents.
Bed bugs can also be picked up inadvertently through bringing infested furniture into a household. Though such furniture does not necessarily have to have been previously owned or discarded as even brand new furniture can be exposed to bedbugs during storage or in delivery vehicles.
Can I get rid of bed bugs myself?
Around 50% of our clients have attempted and failed to deal with the infestation by using DIY bed bug control kits before calling us, some have spent hundreds of pounds on products bought online. Many have by using commonly available products which are highly repellent to bed bugs turned a small problem into a large one.