Bedbugs are parasites from the cicimid family. These insects feed entirely on blood of mammals. Some are even known to feed on blood of bats and different birds. They are mostly active at night, feeding on the unknowing host. Although there are some viruses and pathogens that may be carried by bedbugs, their bite is not known to transmit pathogens from one host to another.

These bugs are the masters of stealth. The nature of their size and shape allows them to fit even into the tiniest crevices between beds and furniture. And unlike mosquitoes, bedbugs can bite you and feed on your blood without you knowing it. You’ll only find out that you’ve been a victim of a bedbug bite after they’re done and moved on, leaving you with rashes or in more severe cases, blisters and skin allergies.

Aside from their resistant nature, and their mastery of stealth, an addition to the bedbug’s arsenal is their ability to go without feeding for extended periods. And we’re not talking about days: we’re talking about months up to more than a year! Dormant bed bugs can simply hitchhike on anyone’s clothes, old furniture, backpacks, etc., and be transported to another place where they can thrive.

Listing down these traits, it seems like the bedbug is a formidable foe. But with early detection, and the right team of professionals, bedbug infestation in your home can be a thing of the past.

Early detection is the first step in eliminating bed bugs in your home or establishment. Because of the elusive nature of this parasite, looking for signs of their presence will help you a lot. Here are some signs that can indicate that you may have bedbug infestation:

• Look for bedbugs. Many people are not aware of what bedbugs look like. Bedbugs are flat, oval, and brown in color. They are wingless insects, and kind of look like ticks. The eggs are black and round, and could be found in any imaginable crevices. Bedbugs also appear in cluster, which will aid in detection.
• Some of the favorite hiding places of bedbugs are:
  • Crevices in the bed frame or headboard.
  • Junctions between drawers.
  • Cracks on furniture.
  • Underside of a mattress, especially the seams and tags.
  • Fitted bed sheets
• Look for rusty looking stains/blood stains. These are caused by bed bugs that have been crushed.
• A group of bedbugs have a strong odor, similar to that of rotten berries. This indicator means that your bedbug infestation may already be getting out of hand, since the clusters of bedbugs are already emitting detectable odor.
• There are trained dogs that can detect the presence of an infestation.
• If you or any of your family members have crimson bites and blisters, it may be a sign that you have bed bugs at home.

Various approaches can be made when it comes to dealing with bedbugs. A combination of chemical and mechanical techniques may be employed.

Mechanical techniques may include vacuuming the affected areas, or applying heat up to 45 °C (113 °F) are known to kill bedbugs. You can also try to use a clothes drier to get rid of the nasty bugs. Chemical techniques use various pesticides, but because of the resistant nature of bedbugs, there’s no known effective pesticide.

Because there are many considerations to make when it comes to dealing with bedbugs, it is always best to call in the professionals to deal with them. Aside from attempting to eradicate these pests from your homes or businesses, another goal is to make sure that they are not transported elsewhere. Containment is something that only trained professionals can do.