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The common bed bug feeds on blood, and can cause itchy and irritating bites on its human host. Although a pest, it is not known to spread diseases. However, it can cause some other health issues, so it is important to spot and treat an infestation as quickly as possible.
There is no quick fix to treating a bed bug infestation. The first step in effective prevention and control is reliable and solid knowledge on how to control them.

How to Spot a Bed Bug Infestation

It is best to spot a bed bug infestation early. Treating an infestation in its early stages is less costly and easier to treat. Look for the following physical signs of bed bugs in your place:

• Rusty or reddish stains on mattresses and bed sheets
• Dark spots, like a small marker bleeding. These are bed bug excretions
• Tiny eggs and eggshells, and pale yellow skins that they shed as they grow
• Live bed bugs

Check the following places in your homes, where bed bugs usually hide:

• Between cushions, between seams of chairs and couches
• Between curtain folds
• Drawer joints
• Beneath wall paper and under wall hangings
• The crack where your ceiling and wall meets

Treating Bed Bugs Properly and Effectively

Once you have established that you have an infestation at hand, and you have found where they hide, it is time to start getting rid of them. There is no quick fix in treating bed bugs. It will take time and lots of patience.

1. Have a strategy.

Make a calendar and record the whole process. Include dates and location where the pests are found. Include long-term monitoring in your planning to make sure the infestation does not recur.

2. Limit the infestation and keep it from spreading.

• Place items that cannot be treated in a sealed plastic bag. Leave it for a year to ensure the bugs are dead.
• Empty your vacuum after use. Seal the bag and throw it out.
• Discard furniture which cannot be saved. Get rid of it responsibly and mindfully.
• Dispose infected items as soon as possible.

3. Prepare for treatment.

Whatever treatment method you choose, it is important to prepare your place for treatment. Jumping right into treatment will not work and will not give you favorable results.
• Reduce the clutter in your home. Take extra care that you do not spread the bed bugs
• Make your bed an island and move it away from the wall
• Clean and treat all items in the bug-infested area
• Eliminate bed bug living areas

4. Eradicate the bed bugs.

Now it is time to go for the kill. There are non-chemical and chemical ways to get rid of bed bugs. You can also opt for an integrated pest management, which uses a variety of methods, which may include both chemical and nonchemical methods.

Non-chemical treatment can include:

• Heat treatment of infested bedding and clothing for at least 30 minutes
• Cold treatments (below 0 degree Fahrenheit) for at least 4 days
If you will use pesticides, make sure of the following:
• The pesticide you will use is EPA-registered
• Bed bugs are listed in its label
• Use pesticides with caution

5. Evaluate and prevent the infestation from returning.

At least every seven days, continue to inspect your place for bed bugs.

Hire a Pest Management Professional

Hiring a pest management professional gives you the peace of mind and confidence that your home is getting the right treatment. When hiring professionals, get them involved as soon as you suspect an infestation. Waiting can end up in a more widespread infestation.

Written by BugOut Pest Control & Lawn Care. BugOut Pest Control & Lawn Care offers the best service for pest control in Columbia, MO.