What is a bed bug?
Australia is home to two species of bed bug: the common bed bug (Climex lectularius) and the tropical bed bug (Climex hemipterus). Bed bugs are tiny, oval-shaped wingless insects, and can move relatively quickly across the ground and up walls when threatened.
A fully grown bed bug ranges in length from about 4 mm to 7 mm and is typically a rusty brown colour. Bed bugs are also quite flat and low to the ground, meaning that they can easily squeeze into tiny cracks and crevices.
How do I know if I have a bed bug problem?
Often the first sign of a bed bug infestation is the evidence of their feeding behaviour. Bed bugs feed on blood, from both humans and animals, and usually do so while you are asleep unless they have not fed in a long time. Some common symptoms of bed bug bites include:
- Bite marks on arms or shoulders.
- Clusters of little red bite marks.
- Itchy marks on your body.
- Raised lumps of irritated skin.
Bite marks can take up to nine days to appear; however, there are also a number of skin irritations that can occur due to an allergic reaction to bed bug saliva.
Where will I find bed bugs in my home or business?
If you suspect that you may have bed bugs in your home or business, there are a number of places in which you can look to find signs of a bed bug infestation. Typically bed bugs like small and dark locations where they won’t be disturbed; however, they also like to be close to where people sleep. The best places to check for bed bugs, especially in bedrooms, include:
- Under mattresses or in the mattress seams.
- Under or between floorboards.
- Behind paintings.
- In cracks between the carpet and the wall.
- Behind skirting boards.
- In wall cracks and crevices.
- Within bed frames and other furniture.
- Behind loose wallpaper.
Bed bugs are most commonly found in the stuffing and folds of beds or even in any frequently used furniture. Bed bugs spread very easily as they can infest anything from suitcases to T-shirts, so if you or anyone in your family (or any guests if you operate an accommodation business) are experiencing symptoms of bed bug bites, ensure you contact a pest control professional immediately.
Accommodation industry – issue of bed bug damage
Bed bugs are not fussy – they can just as easily come into a home or a hotel. And they are a real problem for the accommodation industry, because travellers are obviously rotating through rooms and travellers are the most likely source of bed bug transfer. As we noted in our Commercial Pest Control pages, pests of any kind are a real problem for the hospitality and accommodation industries.
Reputation is everything for accommodation providers, so controlling a bed bug outbreak is crucial to maintaining a strong business. Precision Pest Control is not only expert at controlling bed bugs in homes or hotels but also expert in discretion. We fully understand the delicacy of dealing with any pests in an accommodation business, so we offer a solution to prevent any damage to your reputation. We operate in the most discrete and effective way to rid your premises as quickly as possible of bed bugs. And this also goes for homeowners, of course. You may not want your neighbours to know you have bed bugs in your home.
Case study: commercial bed bug treatment in Sydney hostel
Why do I need bed bug control?
While bed bugs are not scientifically proven to transmit any diseases, having a bed bug infestation in your home or business can be a disturbing experience – waking up with hundreds of bite marks all over your body, which in some cases can cause allergic skin reactions or in more serious instances cause anaphylaxis. It is certainly not a pleasant thought to find out that you are sharing your bed with hundreds of blood sucking insects but it can be even worse if your children or guests discover this for you after enduring a sleepless night only to find themselves covered with hundreds of insect bites.
In the accommodation industry, any hint of a bed bug infestation is poison to a business’s reputation. So having a bed bug infestation in your establishment is more than a disturbing experience – it can destroy your business.
What can I do to prevent a bed bug infestation?
Unfortunately once bed bugs are established in your home or business they are difficult to get rid of. However, there are some steps that you can take to reduce the severity of the infestation before calling a pest control professional:
- Thoroughly vacuum the carpet, furniture and mattress.
- Take all the sheets off beds and wash them and place them in sealed plastic bags.
- Take all your clothes out of the cupboard and drawers, wash them and place them in sealed plastic bags.
- Continue to regularly vacuum carpets, furniture and bedding.
While this may help in reducing the infestation and preparing your home or business for a pest control treatment, it’s imperative that you contact a pest professional as soon as possible. Only a professional treatment will eradicate bed bugs.
What can Precision Pest Control do to solve my bed bug problem?
The experienced professionals at Precision Pest Control in your region have developed an in-depth knowledge of bed bug habits as well as the methods of treatment used in bed bug control, and only use the safest and most environmentally friendly forms of treatment:
- A Precision Pest Control professional will inspect your home to assess the extent of the problem and identify the pest, immediately reporting back to you about the severity of the infestation.
- We will then recommend a treatment plan tailored specifically to your home or business, taking into account the nature and severity of your bed bug control issue.
- The recommended treatment will be carried out by our highly experienced pest professionals, with our 100% satisfaction guarantee.
- The Precision Pest Control professional who carried out the treatment will then compile a fully comprehensive report adhering to the Australian Standards, which will be explained to you under our pest control warranty.
Call Precision Pest Control on 1300 655 524 for more information about how we can provide fast and effective bed bug control.