Don’t Let The Bedbugs Bite!

Presented by:Advantage Pest Management

History of the Bedbug• Originated from the Bat

Bug• Has been around for over

3,300 years• In the 1950s, bedbugs

were nearly eradicated– Product called DDT

• 1990s started to see a resurgence of bedbugs– Early 2000s, started to see a

huge increase in infestations

What Do They Look Like?• Adults

– Dark brown in color, reddish-brown after a blood meal

– About the size of an apple seed when engorged

– Flat when they have not been fed• Nymphs

– Start out pale colored to nearly transparent

– Gradually get darker through every instar stage

• Egg– Look similar to an uncooked piece

of white rice– Can be difficult to see on a

mattress

Bedbug Lifecycle• Females can lay 1-5 eggs per

day (avg. 540 eggs in a life time)– Eggs are typically laid in cracks

and crevices and rough areas• Box springs, mattress seams,

headboards

• Nymphs take 21 days to reach adulthood after hatching

• They molt 5 times– Must have a blood meal in

order to molt

Feeding Habits• Bed bugs are attracted to carbon

dioxide and heat• Tend to feed on hosts at night due

to being sedentary and exposed skin

• Will feed at any time of the day– Usually in heavy infestations

• Each feeding lasts from 5-10 minutes

• Insert two feeding tubes– One injects saliva that acts like an

anesthesia and the other draws blood

• After feeding, they will hide for 5-10 days where they molt, mate and lay eggs

Detecting Bedbugs• Early detection is key to

preventing infestations• Signs of bedbug activity:

– Bites: small raised welts, everyone has a different reaction, typically in a row, one bug bites 2-3 times per feeding

– Fecal: small dark spots typically found on box springs and mattresses

– Shed skins: bedbug exoskeletons after molting, typically in cracks and crevices of box springs

Most Common Bedbug Hiding Spots

Boxspring

Mattress

Frame/Headboard

Couch/Chair

Baseboard Area

Nightstand/ Dresser

Walls/Ceiling

Other

What Do We Look For?

Treatment for Bedbugs• Contact a pest management

company immediately– DIY treatments usually fail and

change the behavior of the bug, usually making them move to different areas of a room spreading the infestation

• Heat– Extensive process, heat unit to

120°F for several hours, costly, typically completed in one treatment

• Chemical– Multiple treatments used, prep

work may be necessary, cost less than heat

• Cryonite – Newer treatment, non-toxic, freezes

pesticide resistant bedbugs

Advantage Pest Management Treatment Procedure

• Low Prep / No Prep– Minimal prep work needed for treatments

• Population Reduction– Eliminate the visual verification of and

bedbug• Break the Lifecycle

– Use steam to destroy eggs that may be hidden within the seams of the mattress and box spring

• Residual Insecticide– A combination of chemicals used to

eliminate and new bugs or hidden bugs– Statically charged dust sticks to bedbugs

passing by• Follow-Up Treatments

– All treatments come with 2 follow-ups• Monitor

– A variety of monitoring tools help ensure that your home is bedbug free

Preventing Infestations• Do not take furniture from the

roadside or trash• Check hotel rooms on travel• Wash and dry clothes

immediately after travel• Do routine checks while cleaning• Keep homes free of clutter• Apply mattress encasements• In the event of finding a bedbug

use 91% rubbing alcohol for a quick knock down and call a pest control company

Quick Bedbug Facts• Scientific tests have shown

that bedbugs DO NOT carry diseases

• Have an ability to travel undetected

• Bedbugs are found anywhere regardless of sanitary conditions

• Bedbugs can survive months without a blood meal

• Many people will not react to bedbug bites

• Bedbug infestations have jumped 500% over the past several years

• Bedbugs are methodical feeders. They have similar patterns, not all feed at the same time

• Bedbugs do not fly or jump, but are great climbers

QUESTIONS