Bed Bug Identification & Control

Bed Bug Appearance

Size: Eggs are approximately 1/32 of an inch long while adults are approximately 1/4 to 3/8 of an inch long.

Color: Their eggs are white, while babies (nymphs) are colorless, and adults are a mahogany or rusty brown color.

Shape. All bed bugs are oval shaped and have six legs. Their feet have claws, not pads, making it harder for bed bugs to move about freely on slicker surfaces, such as plastic or metal.

Characteristics. Bed bugs are wingless insects that are flattened on the top and bottom with microscopic hairs that give the impression of a wrinkled appearance. After feeding, they become engorged with blood, increasing their body length and swelling at the sides while typically expressing a more dull-red or red-brown color.

A bed bug on a white background.

Bed Bug Behavior and Diet

Bed bugs feed on the blood of humans and other mammals. As soon as they hatch, baby bed bugs – or nymphs – look for a host to begin feeding from. Once they locate a food source, they attach to its skin and probe for a good access point using their straw-like mouths. A feasting bed bug takes anywhere from 3-10 minutes to complete a meal, stopping once they are completely engorged.

Bed bugs are shy and nocturnal creatures that mostly feed at night. Once finished, they leave the host and return to their hiding place for several days to completely digest the meal. This cycle repeats each time the bed bug becomes hungry – normally every five to 10 days.

Bed Bug Reproduction and Life Cycle

Bed bugs don’t become fertile until they reach their final, adult life stage. On average, an adult female bed bug will lay 131 eggs in her lifetime, or approximately one to five eggs each day. Their nests can be found hidden in bed frames, floors, walls and other similar and quiet sites within homes or businesses.

Bed bug eggs can take anywhere from 6 to 28 days to hatch, depending on the environmental settings and temperatures. The warmer it is and the more food available, the more prolific they’ll be. Bed bugs develop very quickly and can reproduce so often that it is possible for bed bugs to produce offspring of 5-7 generations in one year.

The life cycle of a bed bug, from egg to adult.
A zoomed-in photo of what a mattress looks like during a bed bug infestation.

Signs of Infestation

Bed bugs leave behind a lot of visual cues to let you know you have an infestation. Look for early detection signs of bed bugs on sheets. Inexplicable small brown or red stains on your sheets are a common sign that you have an infestation. On top of these stains, look for visual cues with clusters of eggs and bugs (little dark spots) in all the seams and crevices on your bed or fabric furniture.

Conventional Treatment

Our conventional IPM treatment method can eradicate a bed bug infestation, by timing our services to coincide with bed bug life cycles. Once bed bugs are eliminated, it’s important to take the necessary steps to avoid re-infestations. This treatment method utilizes conventional tools that are designed to remediate infestations. Our Conventional four Part Protocol treatment consists of:

  1. HEPA-Vacuuming Assured uses high-powered HEPA filtration vacuum to target bed bug infested areas and remove the pests quickly and effectively.
  2. Steam Treatment We apply a low humidity steam treatment in areas that are not accessible by our HEPA-vacuums.
  3. Dusting of Voids Assured eliminates bed bugs that are hiding inside walls by injecting residual dust insecticide between all accessible wall voids.
  4. Crack and Crevices Hard to reach areas receive an application of a residual pesticide to kill bed bugs hiding in cracks and crevices.

For your convenience and improved results, Assured Environments also offers:

Pre-Preparation Services Treatments are successful when proper preparation of the infested area occurs. Assured will do all the prep work required for you with our pre-preparation services.

Offsite Fumigation Large quantities of personal possessions can be much more efficiently remediated by using an enclosed offsite fumigation chamber. Items are loaded and delivered to our fumigation facility, are treated and returned bed bug free between 24 and 48 hours later.

Thermal Treatment:Assured Environments can also provide services for the remediation of bed bugs within the structure utilizing our portable thermal structural heat system. This one-service treatment strategy uses forced hot air technology to obtain quick, reliable results and effectively eliminate bed bugs. Assured Environments Thermal Treatment is a “green” option, which uses a limited or chemical-free process. This option can significantly eliminate all stages of bed bugs, return a property to use within 12 hours and can also eliminate bed bug activity that can significantly damage your reputation.

The treatment steps will include equipment placement throughout the infested dwelling as follows.

  1. Unmarked mobile equipment will be placed in the street, loading dock, or driveway of the client’s property.
  2. Portable thermal equipment and industrial fans will be placed strategically throughout the entire home/apartment in order to ensure uniform temperature sufficient to terminate various life stages of bed bugs.
  3. Contents in drawers, closets and other areas will be moved / positioned properly to ensure effective heating.
  4. Beds and other furnishings will be moved to ensure all areas are heated to critical temperature.
  5. The temperature will be monitored using real time wireless remote sensors to ensure the treatment reaches critical temperature.
  6. The air is then circulated throughout the infested area to reach insects in cracks, crevices and high infestation zones.
  7. We will inject a residual insecticide dust in to all accessible wall voids through removed light switch plates and receptacle outlet plates.
  8. We will furnish and install high quality “bed bug” rated mattress and box spring encasements throughout the dwelling at an additional cost.
  9. Standard or large climb-up monitors based upon bedpost size.

Why Assured for Bed Bugs?

We have a dedicated and separate division that provides bed bug detection and elimination services. Each service solution is distinct from our Integrated Pest Management (IPM) business. The intensity and thoroughness of the bed bug treatment process, however, requires more complete training. It leverages many technologies and working principles. This approach has strengthened our reputation as one of the world’s leaders in providing high quality results to individual consumers and businesses.

There is a great difference in working with Assured Environments.

We have two full-time entomologists and multiple bed bug K-9 elimination teams, each closely supervised, incorporating a rigid quality control process. Our different avenues to an ideal bed bug extermination process have proven themselves effective time and again.Assured Environments is the leader in providing accurate K-9 detection services in the greater tri-state area. Bed bugs are small, wingless insects, and can be found anywhere. They thrive in cracks and crevices. They hide in walls, light fixtures, phone jacks, and other receptacles, and are accidentally transported throughout personal belongings in practically any environment. K-9 inspections are a unique service that can prove cost-effective by locating bed bugs before they become overwhelming infestations. This process can potentially reduce both the total treatment area and the cost of treatment. Detection in early bed bug life stages is key to eliminating bed bug infestations.

Assured Environments is the leader in providing accurate K-9 detection services in the greater tri-state area. Bed bugs are small, wingless insects, and can be found anywhere. They thrive in cracks and crevices. They hide in walls, light fixtures, phone jacks, and other receptacles, and are accidentally transported throughout personal belongings in practically any environment.

K-9 inspections are a unique service that can prove cost-effective by locating bed bugs before they become overwhelming infestations. This process can potentially reduce both the total treatment area and the cost of treatment. Detection in early bed bug life stages is key to eliminating bed bug infestations.

Bed Bug FAQ

Are bed bugs dangerous?

Bed bugs don’t carry disease, but they are a very obnoxious nuisance that can be difficult to get rid of once they take hold. Bed bug bites can cause irritation or itching. Their presence can cause anxiety and sleeplessness.

What color are bed bugs?

Bed bugs are normally dark brown or rust colored. Babies begin colorless and gradually become darker brown as they grow.

How long can bed bugs live?

Typically, 3-4 months. There is debate about how long bed bugs can survive without a blood meal. In colder weather, bed bugs can slow their metabolism and survive for longer stretches of time.

How to tell if I have bed bugs?

The easiest way is by noticing bites that weren’t there the night before or seeing bugs on your mattress or in your bedding. Assured has a K9 bed bug team that uses dogs to pinpoint where bugs are hiding.

How do bed bugs spread?

Bed bugs are notorious hitch hikers. They cluster in hubs like hotels, airports and malls where large numbers of people pass through daily. They can climb into your luggage or on to your clothes and follow you home. Once there it may take time before you notice. You may never know where bed bugs come from, but a simple precaution is to throw all your travel laundry into a high heat dryer when you get home. This will kill any uninvited bugs.

What do bed bugs look like on a mattress?

Bed bugs themselves are tiny dark dots about the size of a pin head. They can be hard to see alone but visible in groups. They also leave easier to notice rust colored smears that will stain your bedding and mattress.

How do I prepare for bed bug treatment?

Preparing for bed bug treatment depends on which treatment your provider recommends. For heat treatment, you simply need to evacuate all people and pets from the premises. For steam treatments, you may need to rearrange rooms to accommodate your pest control technicians. We’ll discuss all preparations with you. Our goal is for you to feel safe and comfortable with your treatment.