One of the worst pests that can get into your home is the bed bug. This insect feeds on our blood at night while we’re asleep. When you’re most vulnerable and can’t defend yourself, these insects find their way to your skin and leave bites that can be painful and itchy. Keeping them away from you and your loved ones is very important. If you think you have bed bugs or any other pest, it’s time to call a Tulsa pest control company that can help.

Let’s take a look at bed bugs and how they operate.

Signs of Bed Bugs

If you think you have bed bugs, it’s important to know the signs. One of the first things you may see is small black and red dots on your pillowcases and sheets. When these insects feed, they may leave small blood spots behind, which show up as red dots. They also often defecate as they feed, leaving black dots. These spots can be signs that bed bugs have been feeding in your bed.

Some people develop itchy, mosquito-bite-like bumps. Others may have more extensive rashes or different reactions, and some people don’t react at all. So if you’re getting itchy bumps but your spouse isn’t, that doesn’t necessarily mean your spouse isn’t being bitten. It may just mean they’re not reacting to the bites. We find this happens quite a bit. The EPA’s bed bug guidance also explains why it’s important to look for physical evidence rather than relying on bites alone.

How to Inspect for Bed Bugs

At this point, the best thing to do is have a Tulsa pest control company perform an inspection or inspect the area yourself. Adult bed bugs are small, orangish-brown insects about the size and shape of an apple seed. Their eggs are whitish-yellow and much smaller, about one millimeter long.

Remove the sheets from your mattress and look closely along the seams to see whether you can find bed bugs or their eggs. If you see either, it’s time to get a Tulsa pest control company involved. University of Minnesota Extension has additional information about identifying bed bugs.

Bed Bug Treatment Options

Your Tulsa pest control company may use multiple methods to get rid of these insects. Heat is one common method. Bed bugs can be killed by sufficiently high temperatures, but the time required depends on the temperature and whether the heat reaches the insects and their eggs. Some companies heat an entire home, while others use localized heat treatment, such as a steamer, to target areas where bed bugs hide.

Chemical treatments are another option. Some products have a residual effect that can continue working after your Tulsa pest control company has left, when used according to their labels.

Lastly, a biological treatment can be used against these insects, such as Aprehend.

Call TermMax Pest Control

If you’re having issues with bed bugs or any other pest, it’s time to get a Tulsa pest control company involved. TermMax Pest Control is the best when it comes to this, and we can handle anything you throw at us. Call us today for an affordable and effective solution.