Most Ontario insects are harmless to humans and live out their life cycles quietly, away from people. Others are more invasive, and when their diet mainly consists of blood, they can become a significant problem for you and your family. One such insect is the bed bug, and our team for bed bug control in Kitchener is here with some interesting facts about this creature, its habits and how to prevent their presence in your home.

1. They Are Survivors 

While other insects that live near people, such as the cockroach, tend to be sneaky and know how to hide, bed bugs can be even more elusive when it comes to surviving in a human dwelling. During the day, they hide in a variety of locations that keep them well out of sight, including:

• Behind light switch plate covers 
• In the interior of picture frames 
• Behind wallpaper 
• Inside box springs 

When night falls, they emerge from their hiding spots in search of a meal and can find it by tracking the carbon dioxide you exhale. They tend to avoid light, so you may not see them at all, even if you wake up with bites.

2. They Can Go Without Food 

Unlike other insects that feed on blood, such as mosquitos, bed bugs can go for months without a meal if necessary. This gives them the ability to travel on people’s clothing and luggage from other locales where food sources were scarce and find a new home. While other insects tend to die out as winter approaches, bed bugs can survive cold temperatures and wait for the presence of a human host.

3. They Leave Signs Behind 

While you may not be able to see bed bugs, you may see signs of their presence after they spend the evening feeding. You may see small blood smears on the sheets, cast-off exoskeletons or shells and small, dark fecal stains. Unlike flea bites, which are usually clustered around your ankles, bed bug bites may occur on any exposed area of the body, including the arms, and they may feel sore or itchy.

If you do find evidence of bed bugs, it is important that you act quickly and call in our services for bed bug control in Kitchener. These insects are often resistant to bug sprays found at your local home hardware store, and while some might succumb to a fogger, others may hide and survive the treatment.

4. They Multiply Quickly 

Once a female bed bug eats a blood meal, she will lay up to 12 eggs per day. These eggs are almost impossible to see, and she will typically lay them in the seams or under the buttons of your mattress. Once the eggs hatch, it only takes five weeks for the larvae to grow to adulthood and continue the infestation. While adult bed bugs live out their life spans in about 40 days, the bugs’ mating and egg-laying habits ensure that there is always a new generation coming up behind them.

5. They Are Experienced Travelers

Bed bugs are not only prolific, but they are also hardy travellers that often hitch rides to your home on suitcases, clothing and other fabrics. They often hide in the seams of such objects, so you may want to wash these items immediately before you store them again.

If you find that you have an infestation, our team can inspect your home for signs of these insects and use our misting system to ensure treatment reaches all the cracks and crevices where bed bugs might be hiding. Because these insects will travel over four metres to find a meal, they could infest multiple bedrooms, so widespread treatment is usually needed.

When bed bugs invade, the results can impact your physical and emotional health. Contact us today for inspection and treatment options that can help you say so long to bed bugs for good.