Licensed exterminators are trained in the management of all pests, including bed bugs. The small parasitic insects cannot survive without blood meals for more than 400 days in low-temperature environments. Bed bugs exhibit deceptive behavior like hiding away while their hosts are awake and feeding when their hosts are asleep. The deceptive behavior allows the bed but to survive longer in the human living space without being detected.
The bed bug goes through several phases to reach adulthood. The bed bug begins as a tiny translucent egg. The female produces every one to five days, depending on the environment and blood meals. The first phase of the bed bug life cycle is larvae. During the first larvae phase, the bed bug measures up to 1.5 millimeters in length. The bed bug larva will only grow about 0.5 millimeters by the second stage of the life cycle. By the fifth larva stage, the bed bug should be about 4.5 millimeters in length. The next stage is adult, at which time, the bed bug will measure around 5.5 millimeters. When the female reaches maturity, she will measure about 6.5 millimeters long.
Bed Bug Larva Detection
Detecting bed bugs is the most difficult during the first, second, and third larvae stages. The larva is translucent in color, measuring between 1.5 and 4.5 millimeters long. As the larva matures, its body will become darker and larger. By the time the insect reaches full maturity, it will measure around 6.5 millimeters and have a dark red apple seed-shaped body.
During the larva phase, detection is nearly impossible. Fortunately, our technicians are skilled and trained in bed bug detection in all phases of the life cycle. Bed bug larva is easier to detect after a blood meal because their stomach is engorged in blood. The abdomen will take on a bright red coloration, making them more visible to the naked eye.
Know The Signs Of Bed Bugs
Knowing the signs of a bed bug problem can help you avoid a bed bug infestation later on down the road. When you consider, the adult female can generate up to 50 eggs in as little as two weeks, an infestation is not farfetched. Imagine if there are 10 adult females, generating eggs simultaneously. Within 14 days, 10 adult females could generate up to 500 eggs. Is this considered a full-blown infestation? It may not be a full-blown infestation, but at this rate, it will be in a few more weeks.
The signs of a bed bug infestation include:
- Bloodstains
- Fecal material
- Exoskeletons
- Live bed bugs
- A musty odor
When you apply this information to a visual inspection, you are a step ahead in the process.
How To Perform A Bed Bug Inspection?
The first step is to gather your equipment – flashlight, magnifying glass, gloves, kneepads, and a mask. Starting with the bed, carefully inspect the comforter or bedspread. If no signs of bed bugs are present, carefully remove the bed linen to access the mattress. Bed bugs are more often found in mattresses and box springs than any other piece of furniture. The insects hide along the seams and between the fibers. Utilize your flashlight and magnifying glass to inspect every inch of the mattress, followed by the box springs.
Moving from the mattress and box springs to the carpet and furniture. Bed bugs burrow deep in carpet fibers and upholstery fabric in severe infestations. They can also be found in stuffed animals, drapery, and clothing.
When the first sign of a bed bug is detected, it is not time to stop. This is just enough to motivate you to continue your search throughout the home.