Bed Bugs UK

Bed Bugs IdentificationEssex Pest Control and Bird Control have noticed a big increase on the number of bed bug calls in London over the last few years. Bed bugs are still a major problem worldwide, partly because of the ease of travelling in the modern age.

People are asking – How do I get bed bugs? What do bed bug bites look like? Or How can I find Bed Bugs if I have them?

Bed Bugs are infesting everywhere from Libraries, hotels, hostels, residential apartment complexes to schools. This is a pest on the rampage. Understanding the signs of this bug helps and will limit the risk of spreading them.

Why not take a look at out other blog and also take our poll – Bed Bugs London, Have You Ever?

How did I get bed bugs?

Well, for a start, contrary to popular belief, it isn’t always a hygiene issue.

The most popular way of picking up bed bugs is from travelling around the world. It is common for people to pick them up in their cases, return home, a pregnant female lays her eggs in the cases or crawls out when you put that case on top of your wardrobe (extremely common) and then lays her eggs on your furniture. Check the back of bedside units and wardrobes along the edges and corners for signs of bugs.

Bed Bugs whilst in their infant stage are translucent (almost see through to the untrained eye). This can result in an infestation not being noticed in early stages. If on the other hand you have brought back half a dozen fully grown adults, you will know about it as soon as they make their way to your bed! An adult bed bug can best be described as about the size of an apple pip, and when fed, very dark brownish/reddish in colour.

So, first bit of advice is, check cases thoroughly when returning from traveling, and where possible do not place them under the bed or on top on the furniture.

You can also pick up bed bugs from:

  • Whilst visiting or staying with friends and family if they have them.
  • Being given furniture that may have bed bugs in it.
  • Hotels.
  • Hostels.
  • Adjoining properties.
  • People visiting you that themselves are living somewhere that has bed bugs.

Signs Of Bed Bugs

A clear tell tale sign of bed bugs is their excrement marks. Take a look at our bed bug control page for picture of excrement marks and bed bugs in a bed.

Simply, the more bed bugs present, the more excrement, the more excrement, the easier to spot. Black dots, which will turn to large black patches in extreme circumstances. So what if I only have one or two bed bugs, how do I can I find Bed Bugs? Look for blood spots on your sheets, pillow cases, dead bugs.

Look around the skirting boards, walls and slats of your bed for the excrement marks. If you only have one or two bed bugs, it will be less visible but still visible. Black dots every so many centimetres that will rub off. Usually they will be tucked into the tightest corner, crack or join.

Bed Bug bites will usually be in the form of a track, between 1 to 4, 5 or more bites in a row, usually along the arms or areas of the body outside of the duvet. They will be red, itchy and can become infected with scratching. There are however no known diseases that can be caught from bed bug bites.

  • Excrement.
  • Blood.
  • Dead Bugs.
  • Bed Frame.
  • Bedside Unit.
  • Wardrobe, Chest Of Draws.
  • Items Under Bed.

What to do if you think you have bed bugs

Firstly, if you think you have bed bugs, Do not waste money on self treating products from the internet. These products, like bed bug bombs will only make the problem worse, driving the bugs into the walls and resulting in a more expensive and drawn out treatment.

Limit the moving of items around the home, they can live on pretty much anything and whatever is under or close to your bed has an increased risk of having bugs or their eggs on it.Contact a professional pest control company with experience in dealing with bed bugs, such as Essex Pest Control and Bird Control. Ask questions over the phone, what will they do, how will they do it, results, risks, visits and so on.You should also consider filling all cracks, crevices and gaps around skirting boards if you have or have had bed bugs.
They will crawl into the smallest and tightest areas to lay their eggs. If you need to see what bed bug eggs look like, go to our pest control videos page and view the bug video of bed bug eggs.A female bed bug can lay up to 300 eggs in her lifetime, they can also go for up to 9 months without feeding and are forming resistance to some insecticides, think about this before you decide to waste your time and money on diy products, seek professional help.

Essex Pest Control and Bird Control provide bed bug pest control London, bed bug pest control Essex as well as Kent, Surrey and Hertfordshire. If you would like to know more about any of our services, contact us today.

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