Bed bug
Bed bugs, which had almost disappeared from most industrialized countries, have made a comeback by hiding in the luggage of travelers around the world. They began to spread in Quebec with tourism, transportation, trade and moving. Although bed bugs do not transmit diseases to humans, they can cause itching, lesions, sleep problems, and anxiety.
Development and morality of bed bugs
Bed bugs have brownish, flattened, oval bodies without wings and measure 4 mm to 7 mm. There are three stages in the life cycle of the bed bug: egg, nymph and adult. Full development takes about six weeks. They are usually found in bedrooms where they feed on the blood of sleepers during the night.
A blood meal lasts 10 to 15 minutes for adult bed bugs. They then digest this meal for a period of four to seven days. During this time, the bug mainly hides around the mattress and the box spring. Depending on the degree of infestation, they can also hide in cracks in walls, floors and furniture, behind paintings and under wallpaper. Adults can survive up to a year without a blood meal under optimal conditions, but this does not mean that they will go without feeding during this time if a food source is available.
Bed bug prevention
To avoid a bed bug infestation, follow these tips:
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Avoid retrieving mattresses or furniture left on the side of the street.
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If you move into a building, check with the landlord to see if there is a bed bug management policy (pest control). In some municipalities, it is an insect to report.
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Before signing a contract with movers, find out about the measures they take regarding bed bugs.
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Once in your new home, vacuum everything before installing your furniture. Dispose of vacuum cleaner bags outside in closed garbage cans. Check baseboards at the bottom of walls, electric baseboard heaters, and other places where a small insect the size and shape of a flattened apple seed may be hiding. Inspect electrical outlets and moldings in bedrooms for bed bug droppings. Contact your landlord immediately if in doubt to avoid being held responsible for the infestation.
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In buildings, bed bugs can travel from one home to another: be vigilant for the first few weeks!
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At the hotel, don't leave your luggage on the floor or on the bed: store it in the bathroom or on a luggage rack.
Recommendations for Bed Bug Detections
If you detect small blood stains on your sheets or pillows, call a bed bug exterminator from Pest Control Fj. Inspect the bed, mattress, box spring, zippers, seams, upholstery, behind and around the headboard. Check furniture and walls: furniture frames and upholstery, using a hard-cornered object like a credit card. Check behind paintings, posters, photos, mirrors and around mouldings, woodwork, baseboards and window frames. Inspect for cracks in plaster and peeling wallpaper. Inspect electrical outlets, light switches, telephones and clocks, and rugs and carpets, especially around beds.
What to do in case of an infestation?
Don't throw anything away. Any object can be rid of bed bugs. Do not apply any insecticides yourself. In addition to posing a risk to your health and that of your loved ones if misused, most pesticides available on the market have a repellent effect. This means that the product releases vapours that are powerful enough to repel other bed bugs in more remote locations, making it difficult for the pest management technician to intervene. If you find even a bed bug, contact us immediately. An intervention must be carried out without delay to contain and eradicate the infestation.
If you detect bed bugs in your home, do not hesitate to call Gestion Parasitaire Fj. Our exterminators will give you advice adapted to your situation to prepare you for the intervention. Bed bug treatment is a safe, targeted, and environmentally friendly procedure.
What to do after the treatment?
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Avoid moving to another room. Bed bugs that survive treatment may follow you into the other room, potentially causing a new infestation.
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Wrap mattresses and box springs in zippered covers recommended by allergy prevention companies. Cover the zipper with tape. It is advisable to keep the mattress covered for a year.
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Wash fabric items in hot water and dry them on high heat. Store items in sturdy plastic bags.
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Use white or light-colored sheets to make it easier to detect bed bugs.
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Vacuum every day for a few weeks after treatment.
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Conduct regular inspections for bed bugs.
Do you have a bed bug infestation in your home? Our exterminators are trained in using safe and effective methods and products to get rid of these unwanted little insects. To find out about bed bug exterminator prices, contact Gestion Parasitaire Fj, your exterminator in Montreal. We offer bed bug extermination services at competitive and guaranteed prices.