Bed Bug FAQ's

During it's life cycle, a bed bug will start from an egg and then increase in size. During this cycle a bed bug will go through the following stages:

• Egg (1mm size)
• 1st stage nymph (1.5mm size)
• 2nd stage nymph (2 mm)
• 3rd stage nymph (2.5 mm)
• 4th stage nymph (3 mm)
• 5th stage nymph (4.5 mm)
• Unfed adult female
• Unfed adult male

This document can help you identify which bug is giving you problems. Bed bugs can sometimes be mistaken for other insects.

Adult bed bugs are about 1/5 inch in size, are a reddish brown color, and oval shaped.

Immature bed bugs are about the size of a poppy seed and are yellow/white in color.

Bed bugs feed, then shed their skin (molting). Molted skin will be similar in size to the bed bugs and they can located in the following locations:

• Along mattress seams
• Behind head boards
• In ceiling and wall junctions
• Along baseboards 
• Your personal belongings

This document by Virginia Tech has more information about the signs of bed bugs.

Bed bugs are difficult if not impossible to control without professional help. Most pesticides are not effective in controlling or preventing infestations. What's more, bed bugs can develop pesticide resistance quickly. Thermal technology is the only safe and sure way to eliminate bed bugs without damage to your furniture or home. This treatment poses no toxic threat to pets or humans.

The EPA has found that bed bugs can develop pesticide resistance. 

No, as long as your personal items and furniture have been treated you dont need to throw away anything. 

New York City has ruled that things after treatment are safe. 

Bed bugs like to hide in various places:

• Seams of chairs and couches.
• Cushions and the folds of curtains.
• Joints of drawers.
• Electrical receptacles and appliances. 
• Under loose wall paper and wall hangings.
• Wall/ceiling meeting points.
• Heads of screws.

For pictures of these hiding spot click here.

• Bed bugs travel up to 20 feet from their hiding spot for feeding. 
• Bed bugs are mainly active at night.
• Bed bugs feed for about 3-12 minutes.
• A full life cycle can take about 4-5 weeks. 
• Bed bugs can survive in climates as low as 46°F (7°C)

Click here for more Information. 

Call us immediately at 816-237-5342 so we can stop the spread and save your home. 

According to the CDC bed bugs do not generally present a health risk to people, but it depends on the individual. Bed bug bites might cause an allergic reaction that could require medical attention.  

The CDC has rules that bed bugs do not generally spread diseases that can affect people. However excessive scratching bed bug bites might lead to an increase chance in a secondary skin infection. 

Bed bugs like to travel and sometimes they catch a ride on you or your luggage. According to the CDC, bed bugs can crawl into small tight spots and hide there for long peroids of time with out a meal.

Bed bug bites look similar to mosquito or flea bites but they appear in a pattern. Bed bug bites occur singly in clumps or in a line. 

Avoid scratching the area where the bite is located and then apply antiseptic cream or lotion. No ER or urgent care visit is needed.