Category Archives: Bed Bugs Oregon

What are Bed Bugs?

Bed bugs are small insects. Adult bed bugs are reddish brown in color and range from 1/16" to 1/4" inch in lengthi (about the size of a poppy seed and apple seed, respectively). Bed bugs are nocturnal and active at night. They are visible to the naked eye, but can be difficult to spot because they often hide in clusters in cracks and crevices around the home. They feed mainly on the blood of humans, but may also feed on pets.

Bed bugs are not known to spread disease, but many people consider them a nuisance. The timing and severity of bite reactions is dependent on the bitten person's immune response and can vary from one person to another. Some people are allergic to bed bug's saliva and can develop itchy welts on their skin immediately after being bitten by a bed bug. It can take some people a week or more to develop a reaction to a bed bug's bite, while oftentimes, a bed bug bites a person three times during a single feeding.

Bed bugs multiply quickly; each female may lay 200-500 eggs in her lifetime. Bed bugs can live two years or longerii and an adult bed bug can survive over 12 months without feeding on blood.

Adult bed bugs are reddish brown in color and vary in size. A bed bug's appearance can change dramatically depending on their feeding status. If an adult bed bug has not fed recently, it looks flat, long and oval-shaped. However, once it takes a blood meal, the body will appear almond in shape and the bed bug will look less disc-like.

Bed bugs leave fecal spots after digesting a blood meal. These fecal spots are dark, round in shape, and are often seen in clusters of 10 or more. If the bed bug population is low, there may be only a few dark spots in one location.

- Along mattress seams

The Washington County Environmental Health Program recommends that homeowners, property owners, or property managers hire a pest control professional licensed by the Oregon Department of Agriculture. Licensed pest control professionals should always provide proof of their licensure and their company's licensure upon request. Select a licensed professional who has experience in bed bug control and who will use control measures for all life stages (egg to adult). Cooperation with a pest control company is essential in successfully eradicating an infestation. Multiple treatments and/or follow-up inspections may be needed to effectively wipe out an infestation. A prompt response to the problem will reduce the financial burden of bed bug control to owners and managers.

Read more from the original source:
Bed Bug Information - Washington County, Oregon

Bed Bugs Portland Oregon

Bed bugs portland oregon No, you don't have to throw away your stuff - for one thing, mattresses are costly, and you don't necessarily need to chuck it out just because you have discovered a bed bug invasion. A mattress encasement is an easy option to help keep you from spending more money. This encasement is in essence just a plastic, bug-proof cover for your mattress that you zip around the outside. bed bugs portland oregon The truth is, if you don't throw stuff away, there is a danger that you will have a repetition of the problem because a bed bug will have concealed itself in a nightstand, a couch, or some other random part of your house.

Bed bugs portland oregon A lot of people have thrown away loads of their stuff and bought a bunch of new furniture, only to be re-infested anyway, either because they missed something or because the bugs were coming in from the walls of another apartment, or the treatment was deficient. bed bugs portland oregon That is why when you first start suspecting that you have some unwanted guests or start o notice them, you need to get on the phone and contact an exterminator right away. The longer you delay or ignore the problem, the worse it will get. There is no need for you to feel ashamed or embarrassed about the situation. Bed bugs have been around for centuries and even show up at some of the best hotels in the world.

Sales Rank:73,107

Category:Book

ASIN:1909414018

Publication Date:October 1, 2013

Availability:Usually ships in 1-2 business days

CERTAIN CONTENT THAT APPEARS ON THIS SITE COMES FROM AMAZON SERVICES LLC. THIS CONTENT IS PROVIDED AS IS AND IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE OR REMOVAL AT ANY TIME.

Bed bugs portland oregon This is the reason that it is important to keep home environment clean and free from any clutter. Although cleaning alone may not really eradicate bugs but it can be beneficial in identifying them and for seeking their hiding spots. bed bugs portland oregon Don't assume that just because you can't see them you don't have them. Many people don't notice that they are in the home until someone starts noticing bite marks or experiencing other allergic reactions to their presence.

See the original post here:
Bed Bugs Portland Oregon : Bed Bugs Help

Published on February 08, 2012

Older | Newer

Is it a flea? Is it a bed bug? No, its a carpet beetle!

In todays world, were all a little paranoid when it comes to anything with more than four legs. For some of us, insects have always been gross. For others, the modern-day outbreak of bed bugs has us constantly on alert. Either way, its important to be able to distinguish between OH MY GOSH WE HAVE BED BUGS and other insects that are definitely a nuisance, but not the alarm-raising infestation you suspect it may be. In the Portland and Seattle area, organic pest control technicians often encounter two other types of insects that are thought to be bed bugs.

Commonly, flea bites and occasionally fleas are mistaken for their much more prolific and costly relatives, the bed bug. Fleas are not capable of living off humans alone, but can create a problem in a home for a period of six months or more once the pet has been removed and/or treated. This is because fleas often remain in undeveloped stages in the carpet, and only progress to adult stage once direct pressure, carbon dioxide and/or heat have activated them. There are green methods of pest control for managing fleas, and our technicians, trained in organic pest control, will be able to provide details on those.

In the Seattle and Oregon area, we are also getting calls regarding carpet beetles. Carpet beetles are a part of the Dermestid family, and we see a few different types. We often find the varied carpet beetle, the black carpet beetle, and the furniture carpet beetle infesting homes. They all eat the same class of things organic materials such as natural fibers (cotton, wool), fur, hair, skin, food, et cetera. Their eating habits often explain some of the confusion because their larvae consume our dead skin, we often find them in or around our mattresses.

More importantly, it isnt the adult beetle that causes alarm. The larvae are small and reddish brown, with hairs protruding from their exoskeleton. Once the skin is cast off from the insect, it can often be confused with a bed bug casting. The hairs can cause irritation of the skin, creating something like a rash. This rash, along with the castings, is the most common reason people assume they have a bed bug infestation rather than a carpet beetle infestation.

Here's a great photo that might help:

So its still a bug, right? In my bed? Right. We agree, its creepy and it needs to be fixed. The good news is that bed bugs spread like wildfire, while carpet beetles can be easily managed with green pest control techniques. If you suspect you have a carpet beetle infestation, or a bed bug one for that matter, you can always give us a call. We perform free identifications and can put your mind at ease. We can also work with you to provide the proper applications necessary to eliminate your problem.

Thanks for reading!

Follow this link:
A flea? A bed bug? No, it's a carpet beetle! | Oregon and ...

Bed Bug Information What are bed bugs?Bed bugs are small insects that feed on the blood of mamals and birds. Adult bed bugs are oval, wingless and rusty red colored, and have flat bodies, antennae and small eyes. They are visible to the naked eye, but often hide in cracks or crevices. When bed bugs feed, their bodies swell and become brighter red. In homes, bed bugs feed primarily on the blood of humans, usually at night when people are sleeping.What does a bed bug bite feel and look like?Typically, the bite is painless and rarely awakens a sleeping person. However, it can produce large, itchy welts on the skin. Welts from bed bug bites do not have a red spot in the center - those welts are more characteristic of flea bites.Are bed bugs dangerous? Although bed bugs may be a nusiance to people, they are not known to spread disease. They are known to cause alergic reactions from their saliva in sensitive people.How does a home become infested with bed bugs? In most cases, bed bugs are transported from infested areas to non-infested areas when they cling onto someone's clothing, or crawl into luggage, furniture or bedding that is then brought into homes.How do I know if my home is infested with bed bugs? If you have bed bugs, you may also notice itchy welts on you or your family member's skin. You may also see the bed bugs themselves, small bloodstains from crushed bed bugs, or dark spots from bed bug droppings in your home. Bed bugs often hide in or near beds and bedroom funiture, and in the tufts, seams, and folds of mattresses and daybed covers. In more severe infestations, bed bugs may spread to cracks and crevices in bed frames and box springs; behind headboards; inside nightstands; behind basboards, window and door casings, pictures, and moldings; and in nearby funiture, loosened wallpaper, and cracks in plaster and flooring. Bed bugs may also hide in piles of books, papers, boxes, and other clutter near sleeping areas.How can I get rid of bed bugs? It is recommended that homeowners hire a licensed pest control professional to evalutate what type of pest is present, and to exterminate them if required. When bed bugs are suspected, a careful inspection must be undertaken and all possible hiding places with infested and adjoining rooms examined.Where can I get more information about bed bugs? http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/bedbugs/ http://www.idph.state.il.us/envhealth/pcbedbugs.htm

http://www.cdc.gov/nceh/ehs/Publications/Bed_Bugs_CDC-EPA_Statement.htm

http://www.dpd.cdc.gov/dpdx/HTML/Bedbugs.htm

http://npic.orst.edu/pest/bedbug.html

http://www.nj.gov/health/eoh/phss/documents/bedbugfactsheet.pdf

http://www.oregon.gov/DHS/ph/pl/index.shtml https://sites.google.com/a/kean.edu/marcia-anderson/ipm-for-bed-bugs

Follow this link:
Bed Bug Information - Marion County Oregon - Bed Bugs

Infestation Control

If you think your home may harbor bed bugs, then you should check out every crack and crevasse you can find, from the crack behind the baseboards to the folds of drapes and even seams or tears in mattresses or other bedding, clothing, or clutter that may be lying about. If you can fit a credit card edge into the crack, then a bedbug infestation can be hiding within that innocent-looking crack.

Lest you think that bed bugs are attracted to filth, you should know that infestations can be controlled by keeping a neat home since a vacuum can suck up bedbugs and eggs alike, however they are attracted to living things and feed on blood, not filth. They can be brought home from hotels in your luggage and can even travel into your unit from other apartments or condominiums in a shared unit structure.

Identifying a bed bug infestation might be difficult since you will need to find and catch one of the creatures to have it identified. Once you do, controlling the infestation can be just as difficult.

To get rid of your bed bug bites for good, start with a VERY thorough vacuuming, including every crack and crevasse that might harbor the bugs. Bedding should be sanitized by running it through the dryer at 120 degrees, and the mattress itself should be steam cleaned if possible. Truly getting the best of the bugs, however, typically requires professional treatment.

There are a variety of simple things that can be done to reduce the accessibility of your home to bed bugs. Calking openings on the outdoor of your home is an effective first step. If your attic has an opening that allows birds or bats to find lodging, you should block any entryways you may find. When birds or bats enter your attic they may also be bringing bed bugs that will drop after a feeding and find a new meal with one of your family members.

To discover the level of infestation you can place a few pieces of double-sided tape in various locations in your bedroom. Bed bugs will stick to the surface and you will get a clear picture in the morning if a more aggressive approach is needed. By adopting a higher standard of household cleanliness you may be able to further reduce infestation levels.

There are many different means by which domiciles become bed bug infested. People can acquire bed bugs at motels, hotels, thanks to increased domestic and international travel, and bring them back to their man domiciles in their suitcases. They also be picked up inadvertently by bringing infested furniture or clothing to their houses. If someone is in a place that is severely infested, bed bugs may actually movel onto and be carried by clothing, although this is not typical behavior. Finally, bed bugs may move amongst units in multi-family domiciles (such as condos and apartments), after being originally carried into the building by one of the above ways. This spread between homes is dependent in part on the level of infestation, on the materials used to separate units and whether or not infested contents are dragged through shared areas while being discarded, resulting in the shedding of bed bugs and bed bug eggs while being moved.

Common areas of infestations

See original here:
Bed Bugs Infestation - Bed Bug.org