Bed Bugs | Des Moines, IA
What Do Bed Bugs Look Like?
Bed bugs tend to be reddish-brown in color, oval in shape and are about 1/4 inch in length. An easy way to spot them is right after they have a blood meal. They will appear swollen and darker red due to the blood.
Why Do Bed Bugs Like to Live in Beds?
The only food source for bed bugs is blood. It is not uncommon for bed bugs to survive up to a year in cool conditions without a meal. Bed bugs are most active at night when their chosen host is sleeping.
The most common places to find bed bugs are in various cracks and crevices around a home. Favorite spots tend to be: in mattress seams and sheets, furniture, electrical outlets, picture frames, etc. One of the easiest ways for these pests to enter your home is for them to ride back to your home in luggage/personal belongings after you have stayed in a hotel room.
How Quickly Do Bed Bugs Reproduce?
Female bed bugs may deposit one to five eggs within a day and between 200 - 500 over a lifetime. Though they can live up to a year, a typical lifespan for a bed bug is approximately 300 days with the right food supply and normal room temperature.
What Are The Signs of a Bed Bug Infestation?
First and foremost, the easiest way to detect a bed bug infestation is by seeing the bugs. Another way is by spotting their cast skins. As bed bugs grow and age they will shed their skins, so discovering their cast skins will alert you to their presence. Defecation is also a common sign of a bed bug infestation. After they feed, bed bugs tend to return to their chosen shelter and defecate brown or black stains on a porous surface. Lastly, bed bug bites. Red welts on the skin, in addition to the other signs, will indicate you have an infestation.
What's The Best Way To Get Rid of Bed Bugs?
Bed bugs are known to be resilient pests and can be a challenge to remove. Therefore, Preferred Pest technicians use industry leading solutions to remove bed bugs safely and efficiently. First, our technicians detect the bed bugs through highly effective World Detector Dog Organization (WDDO) certified bed bug detection canines. Once the bed bugs have been detected, our technicians move onto bed bug elimination, which includes Thermal Remediation techniques to effectively kill the bed bugs.
Des Moines Pest Control
For safe and efficient bed bug removal, let Preferred Pest help! As the leading Des Moines exterminator, we take care of the problem effectively and efficiently. Schedule an appointment with us online or call us at (515) 415-5550 today!
To learn more about how our bed bug detection canines got their elite WDDO certification, check out our bed bug service page!