Category Archives: Bed Bugs Alabama

Bed bugs have small, flat, oval-shaped bodies. They are wingless.Adults do have the vestiges of wings called wing pads, but they do not fully develop into functional wings.

Adults are brown in color, although their bodies redden after feeding. Full-grown bed bugs move relatively slowly and measure between 4 to 5 mm. Homeowners sometimes have the misconception that bed bugs are too small to see with the naked eye. The nymphs may be small and difficult to see, but the adults are detectable with the naked eye and may be found in the cracks and crevices they use to hide.

Newly hatched nymphs are approximately the size of the head of a pin and are white or tan until they feed. They often are described as being about the size and shape of an apple seed.

Cimex lectularius L.

How to identify bed bugs?

Learn what bed bugs look like, and how to detect if you have a bed bug Infestation.

Find out how bed bugs infiltrate your home and where they are attracted to.

Learn about bed bug bites. their feces and how they can impact your health.

Learn how Orkin handles bed bugs, homeopathic cures and the cost of bed bug extermination services.

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What do Bed Bugs Look Like? - Orkin.com

The sight of bed bugs is enough to put a damper on your vacation but the bites can cause a variety of symptoms from secondary skin infections like impetigo and ecthyma to allergic reactions and in rare cases anaphylaxis which can impair breathing and require a trip to the ER.

With spring break coming up the experts at Consumer Reports share some tips to keep the bed bugs away during your next hotel stay. Some simple steps when you check in can help avoid hassles and expenses when you check out.

It might sound extreme, but to be safe, put your luggage in the bathroom as soon as you enter the hotel room. Bed bugs prefer anything dark and creviced that they can hide in like bedding, seams of fabric, furniture, even inside walls so the bathroom is usually a the safe zone while you search the room for signs of critters.

Check the sheets, mattress and box spring for any signs of bed bugs. Look for dark, rust colored spots and exoskeletons - the casings the bugs leave behind. Dont forget to look at the head of the bed and in, around and behind the headboard, too.

Be sure to lift and check under the mattress, too. While this room was clear its important to take action if you do find anything suspicious. If you find any signs of bed bugs alert the manager immediately and ask for a new room in a different part of the hotel. Infestations can spread from wall to wall.

Even if your room is clear Consumer Reports says its a good idea to keep your luggage and clothes on off the floor on a hard surface or luggage rack, clear of any potential bed bug zones. Consumer Reports says when you get home throw all of your clothes into a hot dryer for 30 minutes. And store your empty luggage in your basement, garage or a hot attic.

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Don't bring bed bugs home from vacation - Alabama's News Leader

Question: So I had the Orkin Man to my apartment on Saturday and they determined we have bed bugs. I am currently scheduling an appointment to have this problem taken care of. I have followed the preparation sheet but there is no information concerning the clothes in the bedroom. I was told to move everything away from walls and vacuum and to box up any clutter. What do I do with the clothes?? Do they remain in the room? And if so should they be boxed/bagged?? Or do I remove them from the room?

Answer: To reduce the potential for bed bug infested clothes re-infesting the room, it is best if you remove the clothes and wash them all or have them dry cleaned. If washing, be sure to use hot water and high heat in the dryer.

Question: I have bed bugs! I dont believe I have an infestation, and my furniture and apartment have been sprayed multiple times, but I am throwing much of my furniture out anyway, and moving out.

My question is thisI need to wash all of my clothing so that I can take them with me without the risk of bringing the bed bugs. How can I do that? I know they need very hot water. Will a normal wash and dry at a laundromat do? Is there any way to treat (spray, fumigate) the clothes before washing them?

ANSWER: Regular washing and drying of the clothes at high temperatures will be fine, no treatment of clothing is needed.

Our Pest Library is full of up-to-date information on termites, ants, and cockroaches as well as more than 25 common household pests. Find out more information about their behavior, habits, and other cool facts.

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Bed Bugs in Clothing - Orkin.com

The caretaker of a 96-year-old Pennsylvania woman was charged after she died from sepsis caused by bed bug bites, The Evening Sun newspaper reported on Sunday.

Debra Butler used to run a care home where 96-year-old Mary Stoner once lived. After Butler closed the home, Stoner and another resident stayed on and paid Butler for their care.

Stoner's family said they began to notice a drastic decline in her health last February. They moved her out of Butler's home only to rush her to the emergency room two days later. It was discovered she had sores all over he body, a rash that covered half her body, and a skin infection doctors determined was the result of bed big bites.

She was treated, discharged, and then returned a week later with pneumonia. She died a few days later.

Police went to Butler's home and discovered a massive infestation of bed begs, including on the walls, in sheets, and on pillows.

The other elderly person who lived in Butler's home said she could "feel them crawling" and biting her. Authorities also said Butler's own mentally challenged sister lived in the home and had also been bitten by bed bugs.

Butler initially blamed Stoner for causing the infestation, and said she'd tried to get rid of them with store-bought items. She also claimed she'd taken Stoner to the hospital in the past for various issues and nothing was noticed by doctors.

Despite her claims, police said it was "clearly visible and obvious" that Stoner was in need of medical attention and Butler failed to help.

She's since been charged with felony neglect and involuntary manslaughter.

Original post:
Caretaker charged after 96-year-old dies from bed bug bites - WAAY

The recent explosion in bed bug populations throughout the nation has many apartment dwellers in Alabama and Mississippi concerned. These critters breed rapidly and can be found in even the very cleanest of dwellings. Renters of apartment homes should be on the lookout for signs of an infestation and use the services of a professional exterminator should bed bugs be detected on the premises.

Bed bugs are small creatures that feed on the blood of humans or other warm-blooded animals. They are oval in shape, about 3/8-inch in diameter, and are rather thin. They can therefore hide easily in confined spaces. Bed bugs tend to remain close to one another, emerging at night to feed.

These pests are unknowingly transported by humans. Bed bugs find their way into cardboard boxes, luggage, clothing, and books. Once the apartment dweller has moved into a unit and carried the bugs along for the ride, finding them can be extremely difficult.

Bed bugs crawl along the skin of a sleeping host and make small incisions about every inch or so. They draw a small amount of blood and move onto a new bite location once clotting begins. After they are full, bed bugs become drowsy and fall off the skin to the bed sheet.

Apartment renters in Alabama and Mississippi can detect the presence of bed bugs by examining the mattress and bed frame. Small discolorations and tiny pellets found in the frame, box spring or mattress are a sure sign that the home is infested. It is especially important to keep clutter to a minimum because this makes the job of finding the creatures much easier.

It is a good idea to inspect the home after bringing in any second-hand furniture or appliance, after buying anything from a yard or garage sale, and after the home has been serviced by a repair worker. Moving company personnel often bring bed bugs into a residence because the creatures hide in the large moving crates.

Bed bugs will generally find a place to hide during the day that is close to the food source. Apartment dwellers should look at the interiors of drawers and chests that are kept within six feet of the bed. Anything stored beneath the bed frame such as a box of clothes or other belongings should be inspected for discoloration. Bed bug feces is usually reddish brown in color.

Professional exterminators have developed some new, effective removal techniques. These include the use of non-toxic compounds that are sprayed throughout the interior of the home. Unless all these pests are destroyed, bed bug populations can rebound quickly. It is therefore in the best interest of apartment dwellers to have an expert determine the extent of the problem and choose the appropriate removal method.

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Bed Bug Control for Alabama, Mississippi & Louisiana ...