If you are having an issue with bed bugs, then it’s time to get a good nights rest by calling your Tulsa exterminator. Bed bugs are a bloodsucking parasite that feed upon us as we sleep. They take advantage of the vulnerability that we have at night and use it to feed on us and create their small disgusting little families. In order to protect yourself from the them, then you must know as much as you can about bed bugs and their life cycle. So this article, let us take a good hard look at bed bugs, their life cycle, and what you and your Tulsa exterminator can do to protect yourself from them.

BED BUG LIFECYCLE AND TULSA EXTERMINATOR

Bed bugs use an incomplete metamorphosis to develop. The way this starts, is that the female will lay her eggs usually in the seams of your mattress. Bed bugs love the seams because they feel protected by the ground under them and the pressure of the seam up against the top of them. So here they’ll lay their eggs in hopes that they will not be disturbed and be able to come to full fruition. These whitish yellow eggs are about the size and shape of a small grain of rice. 

Once they hatch, a nymph will emerge. A nymph is the smaller version of the adult bed bug. It’s about the size of a head of a pin and translucent in color. Their inside will stay this color until it feeds for the first time. What it does this, the insides will be stained the typical orangish brown that we’re used to seeing bed bugs.

As the bed bug feeds and grows, it will eventually get to the point where it outgrows it’s exoskeleton. At this point, it must molt. This is the process by which it sheds its exoskeleton in light of a new exoskeleton so that they can grow further. Each time that it does this, it will need to feed to have the energy to go through this process. Plus, we categorize the development stage by how many times this insect has molted. Each time it does it’s considered a new instar. The bed bug will go through five instars before it reaches full reproductive adulthood. Each time that it sheds its exoskeleton, it will need to feed again. Contact your Tulsa exterminator for help with getting rid of bed bugs.

BEDBUG REPRODUCTION AND TULSA EXTERMINATOR

Bed bugs use a way of mating known as traumatic insemination. This is because the female has no opening in her exoskeleton for sexual contact. So in order for them to mate, the male must break through the exoskeleton of the female. There’s a dark dot on the back of the female that gives him a place to aim for. Once he breaks through the exoskeleton, he can insert his reproductive material and the process is complete. Of course, this process is very dangerous for the female. It opens her up to many different diseases and injuries. In heavy populations, the males can overrun the females. And in those situations, often you’ll see the females flee up the walls of your bedroom, in an attempt to get away from the males. If you’re seeing bed bugs up your walls then you know that you have a large infestation.

LAYING EGGS

Once the female has become impregnated, it will be time for her to lay eggs. Before she can do this, she will have to take a blood meal again so that she has the energy in order to do this. As I said before, she will find a good hiding spot that she can lay her eggs in, so they’ll be protected from any predators or any other issues. Usually, this is a seam in a mattress, or some other place that she can hide these eggs and protect them. When she lays those eggs, her job as a mother is done. 

Those eggs will hatch and they will have to fend for themselves. Bed bugs are an insect that don’t have problems with inbreeding. It many cases, brothers and sisters can mate without issue, and sometimes parents and children can still mate and continue the genetic line without issue. And often this happens. Contact your Tulsa exterminator for more information when it comes to bed bugs.

CONTROLLING BED BUGS AND TULSA EXTERMINATOR

So once you figured out that you have a problem with bed bugs, it’s time to get your Tulsa exterminator to your home in order to eliminate these pests. There are multiple avenues by which you can do this. Many companies will use heat treatments to eliminate these bugs. If you can get a bed bug over 120°F, they will not survive. So many companies use a large heat treating system that raises the temperature of your home far above 120° in order to get these bed bugs hot enough to die. 

While in some cases this can be effective, heavy infestations are really difficult to deal with with heat treatments. The problem is the heat doesn’t penetrate deep in the walls or the center of mattresses were some of these can be hidden. At TermMax pest control ,we have found that a localized, steamer heat treatment is much more effective at dealing with these insects.

CHEMICAL TREATMENTS

Chemical treatments are also available. There are many different pesticidal options when it comes to dealing with bed bugs. The tricky part is is that these insects are very good at adapting to the pesticide and developing an immunity. In addition these insects often live in our mattresses and beds where there’s a lot of skin contact by us as humans. This means that harsh chemicals are not available to be used safely in these situations. But there are options if you need them.

If you are having an issue with bed bugs, or any other pests, then it’s time to call a Tulsa exterminator that can help. Here at TermMax pest control, we are the best in the business when it comes to dealing with bed bugs or any other insects. We service the greater Tulsa area, including Broken Arrow, Sand Springs, Coweta, Claremore, Catoosa, Prattville, Sapulpa, Bixby, Jenks, Owasso, Turley, and so much more. Call today for a free estimate. We’re here to help!