Category Archives: Bed Bugs Kentucky

Bed Bugs are very common in Middle Tennessee and Southern Kentucky. They are classified under the family Cimicidae. Other names include chinches, red coats, and mahogany flats. The body of a Bed bug is oval shaped and flat. Nymphs are extremely small and translucent. Adults are still only about inch long and rusty red in color. The appearance can be compared to an apple seed. Contrary to the popular believe that bed bugs are a sanitation issue, they can be found it even the cleanest household. They are not transmitting any diseases but they are feeding off blood and are capable of ingesting 7 times their body weight.

Bed Bugs are attracted by the carbon dioxide that humans breathe out. Bed Bugs do not have wings and they do not jump, they crawl slowly, predominately they are active at night when people are sleeping. Because of that they feed at night and tend to stay close to the bed. Bed Bugs tend to gather together and hide in cracks and crevices where they can feel pressure on their bodies such as mattress seams, bed frames, furniture close to the bed, behind baseboards, picture frames on the wall or behind electrical outlet covers. Other hiding places include behind wall paper and under carpet. Bed bugs spread by hitchhiking, which means that they hold on to cloths such as bed sheets, pant legs, shoes, luggage, and purses.

Because of increase traveling, Bed Bugs are more rampant than ever, especially in hotels, offices, stores, and gyms. Bed Bugs can also be found in mattress covers. Typical signs are dried fecal smears on mattresses, sheets, and comforters. During their life cycle, Bed Bugs shed their skin which is another indication of a bed bug infestation. In a cool environment, they can survive without feeding for about one year.

It is a good advice to de-clutter the home and wash and dry all cloths materials such as bedding, blankets, and clothes on hottest possible temperature. Under optimal conditions the lifespan is about 300 days. Another measure to take is inspecting second hand furniture and clothing and being aware of guests possibly bringing a bed bug into the home. Females lay up to 5 eggs daily, which amounts to 200-500 eggs throughout their lives. Infestations can sometimes be detected by their distinctive smell that can be described as sweet but unpleasant.

Bed Bug bites can cause itching and allergic reactions. There are multiple species, some of which prefer to feed on birds and bats instead of humans. Therefore, it is important to make sure that the rooftops are clear of birds nests. Bed Bug infestations can only be controlled through the help of a pest control professional and a general rule is that the earlier an infestation is treated the less costly it will be.

Because increased travel lead to the spread of Bed Bugs, here are a few tips on how to avoid picking up bed bugs from a hotel room. After entering the hotel room the first time, place the luggage into the bath tub. Inspect all surfaces, cracks and crevices of the bed and mattress, look at sheet, bed skirt and headboard of the bed. Lift the sheet and mattress and check under the bed frame and furniture. Usually Bed Bugs can also be found in the surrounding areas of the bed. Bed Bugs can hide behind headboards, electrical outlet covers and wall decorations. Store the suitcase off the ground and away from the bed. Inspect all belongings frequently and put clothes into dryer for 15 minutes using high heat right away after returning home.

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BED BUGS | Ace Kentucky

Bed bugs are a major pest control concern and their populations have dramatically risen over the last decade. A bed bug infestation must be dealt with quickly and efficiently. If you're looking for expert advice from bed bug exterminators, you've come to the right place.

Bed bugs are more common than you think. The 2015 Bugs Without Borders survey, conducted by the National Pest Management Association and the University of Kentucky, found that bed bug infestations in the United States continue at high rates, with 99.6 percent of respondents having treated for bed bugs in the past year. That number which has been consistent for the past few years is significantly higher than 15 years ago, when only 25 percent of pest control professionals reported treating for bed bugs.

Understandably, the continued rise in bed bug populations has many people concerned.Learn all about bed bugs - from bed bug basics to prevention tips. All Things Bed Bugs is your resource for bed bug information, best practices for handling an infestation,frequently asked questions, bed bug extermination, and more.

Click on the callouts on the right for more information on bed bugs.

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Bed Bugs - Pest Control Tips from Exterminators

Detecting bed bugs can be difficult, as they are small in size and able to hide in tiny cracks and crevices. However, evidence of a bed bug infestation may be found in bedding and on mattresses. Live bed bugs leave clusters of dark brown or black spots of dried excrement on infested surfaces. Bed bugs also exude a subtle, sweet, musty odor.

Bed Bug Cluster

Where to Check for Bed BugsBed bugs usually are found close to where people spend much of their time, and since bed bugs have flattened bodies, they like to get into small cracks and crevice near where people sleep. Examples include mattresses, box springs, headboards, footboards, bed frames and other furniture that is within 5-8 feet of the bed. Other common locations are cracks and gaps behind wall outlets, floor molding, window and door molding and where carpet edges meet the wall. Bed bugs have been known to occur in many different locations if their population is large and they have dispersed from their more common areas to areas where they are normally less likely to be found.

Bed bugs are easily transported into previously non-infested dwellings.

If you have detected a bed bug infestation within your home, contact a pest control professional to discuss treatment options.

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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How to Check for Bed Bugs: Detection Tips - Orkin.com

Central Illinois struggles to find solution for bed bugs Lexington Herald Leader A resurgence of bed bugs has cities in central Illinois scurrying for answers of how to tackle the issue. Bed bugs are becoming a problem in places such as Decatur because there's no funding for prevention and extermination, the Herald & Review ... and more »

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Central Illinois struggles to find solution for bed bugs - Lexington Herald Leader

The steps you take should depend on your personal preferences and the particular environments youre dealing with, experts say. Consider the following:

Know what a bed bug looks like. These small, disc-shaped bugs can be seen with the naked eye, as can their fecal matterpeppercorn-sized black spots.

Be attentivewhere its warranted. Theres little need to keep your eyes constantly peeled for bed bugs, Miller says. But its reasonable to look for signs of them in places where people live and/or sleep, especially where they receive a lot of visitors, such as nursing homes and hospitals.

Other places people may want to be cognizant of are lounging areas with lots of public traffic, such as sofas in public libraries, waiting rooms, and public transportation settings, Potter says.

Protect your belongings. If you suspect a problem in your office, school, or another location, store your coats, handbags, and any other items that youll bring home away from those of other people.

If you know of a problem at your office, keep your personal belongings in a closed plastic bin. If its your childs school, ask to have his or her things secured in the same way.

Treat with heat. Concerned that you or your child might have brought home a stray bed bug? Try this DIY strategy (but don't rely on it for an infestation): Toss clothes, blankets, and plush toys that have come home from your child's school in a hot dryer for 30 minutes.

Reactbut dont overreactif you see one. If you spot a bed bug, remain calm. One bug does not an infestation make. Instead, ask who handles these issues in the location you've spotted the bug init may be management and/or the facilities staffand report what youve seen.

(Management should take quick action if a bed bug is seen on premisesalerting those in the building, examining the area to determine whether its a single stray or a sign of bigger problems, and dealing with an infestation promptly.)

Be vigilant at nursing homes. If you have a loved one in a nursing home, you should be inspecting his or her bed regularly, not relying on people there to do it, Miller says. Thatmeans carefully examining the mattress and headboard (and wheelchair, if applicable) each time you visit, and checking your relative for any signs of biteskeeping in mind that they may not display any.

Consider encasing your relatives mattress and box spring with bug-proof covers, and reduce clutter to give any bed bugs fewer places to hide.

Call in experts at the right time. Think youhave a bed bug problem at home? When in doubt, have an experienced pest control person come to your home and perform a detailed inspection, Potter says.

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Surprising Places Bed Bugs Can Hide - ConsumerReports.org