About Bedbugs
Bedbugs (cimex lectulariuis) are small, sneaky parasites that feed on human blood. They are difficult to detect because they hide so well during daylight hours or anytime victims are active.
Once bedbugs sense that activity is reduced and the victim may be asleep, they come out from hiding to feed. The longer the bugs live in your bedroom, the harder it is to get rid of them.
Bedbugs can squeeze into nearly any crevice; tiny cracks in plaster or even the narrow seam of electrical outlet plates are no barrier to these hungry little parasites. They can crawl freely on nearly any surface, navigate while inverted, and have been observed falling up to ten feet without being harmed.
There are several theories about why bedbugs are thriving in North America once again, said University of Manitoba entomologist Terry Galloway. Some blame international travel, suggesting bedbugs are stowing away in clothes and suitcases to set up homes in Canadian bedrooms. But Galloway said bedbugs are also capable of covering large enough distances on foot, traveling from apartment to apartment quickly within a building.
While bedbugs aren't known to spread infectious disease, some people develop welts after being bitten. Many people - even entomology students - don't recognize the tell-tale signs of bedbugs such as clusters of bites and small droppings on the sheets.
Why use a Bedbug Dog Such as Bailey?
Specially-trained bedbug dogs such as Bailey can detect the presence of elusive bedbugs with pin-point accuracy, saving time and money. These K-9s can detect the presence of selective bedbug/nymph scent at the finest molecular level.
Specially-trained bedbug dogs can help improve the optics of an infestation if it's become public. Specialty K-9s have a history and reputation for solving and identifying problems unidentifiable to the human eye.
Top 6 Reasons for Using a Bedbug Dog
(used with permission from www.bedbugdog.com)
1. Less Expensive. Bedbug detection dogs generate quicker and more accurate results, which lead to lower remediation costs for homeowners and insurers. Schools, hotels, commercial and government buildings cost-savings can be quite substantial.
2. Cutting-Edge Technology. The "nose" is cutting-edge technology and the latest trend in the commercial and home inspection industry.
It's the only inspection tool that can detect and pinpoint sources of bedbugs within a matter of moments.
3. Proven and Trusted. "Man's best friend" has been used for years by military and law enforcement agencies to detect bombs and drugs, among other things.
4. Dogs are Honest. Dogs are trained to work for food and love, not for profit.
5. Greater Peace of Mind. Research supports that if the dog finds bedbugs, there's a high statistical probability you should investigate further. If the dog doesn't find bedbugs, you can know with greater certainty that your hotel, motel, home, office or school is safe.
6. Effective Problem Solvers. The bedbug dog can quickly and more accurately inspect a home, which gives both parties the feedback they need to quickly and effectively resolve issues.
General Questions
1. What are Bedbugs? What do they look like?
Bedbugs are small, oval, wingless insects that reach about 1/4 inch in length. They belong to the insect family Cimicidae, which includes three species that bite people. Bedbugs or Cimex lectularious have flat bodies and are reddish-brown in color. The adults look much like a small apple seed. They may sometimes be mistaken for ticks or small cockroaches. They do not develop wings and cannot fly.
Bedbugs are bloodsucking insects that feed on any warm-blooded surface such as exposed human skin. Bedbugs are shy and that is why they feed mainly at night, when humans are sleeping.
When bitten by a bedbug, human skin may become irritated, inflamed and itchy which may lead to an infection or an allergic reaction. A bedbug feeds by extracting a small amount of blood from skin, which is usually painless. Without feeding, the nymphs can survive for months and the adult for over a year. An adult bed bug can live for approximately 12 to 18 months.
Bedbugs hide in cracks and crevices mainly in the daytime to protect themselves and deposit their tiny, whitish and sticky eggs. That's why it's important to find their resting places.
A female will lay approximately 200 to 500 eggs in her lifetime, and as many as 12 eggs a day, although the average is three to four eggs per day. The eggs are smaller than a pinhead making it quite difficult to see with the naked eye. Bedbugs do not have a nest, but congregate in hiding places.
2. Why are Bedbugs so Difficult to get rid of?
Bedbugs have become immune to many modern pesticides and have evolved into a super-bug that can be incredibly difficult to exterminate.
They spend most of their life-cycle in hiding and only come out to feed - primarily on human blood when victims are sleeping. In fact, a sleeping person can be bitten as many as 500 times in a single night! Victims suffering from bedbug bites often feel embarrassed and violated. No one wants creepy little bugs crawling on them and biting them while they sleep at night.
Bedbugs can survive up to a year without feeding. They multiply very quickly, and their populations have the potential to double every two weeks.
Additionally, these pests are so strong that if there were a worldwide nuclear holocaust tomorrow, bedbugs would be one of only a couple of creatures on Earth to survive.
Furthermore, bedbugs quickly adapt to pesticides. In fact, they are even starting to become immune to the current chemical treatments being used to exterminate them.
3. How are Bedbugs Spread?
Bedbugs live in any articles of furniture, clothing, or bedding, so they or their eggs may be present in used furniture or clothing. They may also be present in boxes, suitcases, or other goods that are moved from residence to residence or from a hotel to home. Bedbugs can live on clothing from infested homes and may be spread by a person unknowingly wearing infested clothing.
4. What are the Symptoms of Bedbug Bites?
Bedbugs are not believed to carry infectious diseases. However, they do bite and suck blood from humans. In the act of feeding on human blood, they may inject their own saliva into the bite area, leading to a localized area of itching and swelling. If scratched, the bite areas can become infected.
Bedbugs are most active at night and bite any exposed areas of skin while an individual is sleeping. Bedbug bites may go unnoticed or be mistaken for flea or mosquito bites or other skin conditions.
Bedbugs also have glands whose secretions may leave odors, and they also leave dark fecal spots on bed sheets and around their hiding places (in crevices or protected areas around the bed or anywhere in the room).
A female will lay approximately 200 to 500 eggs in her lifetime, and as many as 12 eggs a day, although the average is three to four eggs per day. The eggs are smaller than a pinhead making it quite difficult to see with the naked eye. Bedbugs do not have a nest, but congregate in hiding places.
5. How can I Prevent Bedbug Bites?
Avoidance of infested areas is the method for prevention of bedbug bites. Recognition of bedbug infestation and proper treatment of affected rooms (usually with the help of a certified K-9 unit) is the best way to prevent bed bugs in the home, hotels, motels, apartments, condos and institutions.
Those concerned about the potential for bedbug bites in hotels should examine hotel beds and mattresses for signs of a bedbug infestation. You can also ask the front desk if they have been certified alert-free by a K-9 bedbug detection unit or have used the services of a dog.
Any hotel or other business that uses a K-9 unit is demonstrating a proactive approach in the war on bedbugs, meaning clients should be safe from worry.
6. How do I get rid of Bedbugs in my Home?
Getting rid of bedbugs is not an easy process, and most cases of bedbug infestation will require treatment by a pest-control expert. A variety of low-odor sprays, dusts, and aerosol insecticides can be used to eradicate bedbugs. These must be applied to all areas where the bugs are observed, as well as spaces where they may crawl or hide.
The pest control company can help you determine if the mattress can be disinfected or must be discarded. Since beds cannot readily be treated with insecticides, it's often necessary to discard infested mattresses and beds. The pest control expert may recommend certain forms of deep-cleaning such as scrubbing infested surfaces with a stiff brush to remove eggs, dismantling bed frames and furniture, filling cracks in floors, walls, and moldings, encasing mattresses within special bags, or using a powerful vacuum on cracks and crevices.