Bed Bug Extermination in Baltimore County
Eliminate Bed Bugs at Your Baltimore, MD Home
All Star Pest Management Protects Your Home
We all assume that when the lights go out at bedtime and we’re snuggled up in our blankets that we’re safe and sound from insect pests. But the truth is, hidden pests could be lurking anywhere, waiting for the opportune time to feast. For bed bugs, this time is late at night when you’re asleep. This is when they come out to feed, and you may not even notice their presence until you wake up with small bites on your body. When this happens, you need a professional to eliminate bed bugs at your Baltimore, MD home. Bed bugs can make a home almost anywhere and reproduce rapidly. When they show up at your home, it is an absolute necessity for you to hire an exterminator, as household insecticides are likely not able to handle the job. Please reach out to us today for more information.
What Are Bed Bugs?
Bed bugs are small nocturnal insects that feed on human blood. Only measuring one to seven millimeters in length, these insects are hard to spot with the naked eye but leave behind visible bites or rashes on humans. They can live almost anywhere, making their home in tiny cracks in your furniture, under baseboards and wallpaper, and in your bed, only venturing out at night to feed. Due to their small size and their ability to hide and multiply efficiently, it’s often difficult, if not impossible, to get rid of bed bugs without the help of a pest control expert.
Common Signs of Bed Bugs
Due to their small size and innate ability to hide, chances are you won’t ever catch sight of a bed bug in the act, but there are other signs that can alert you to their presence. It’s important to act quickly upon the first suspicion, as they can multiply rapidly and make the infestation worse. You may have bed bugs in your home if you notice any of the following:
- Bug Bites: Because bed bugs feed on human blood, they’ll leave behind small red bites that may itch or look like a rash. These bites can appear on any skin that is exposed while you’re sleeping. This is usually the first noticeable sign that bed bugs are present in your home.
- Dark Spots on Bedding: If you notice bug bites, you’ll also want to check for any dark spots on your bedding. After feeding, the bugs may leave a trail of blood on your sheets as they retreat to their hiding places.
- Eggshells or Shed Skins: Bed bugs may also leave behind eggshells or shed skin that gives away their presence. The shed skin looks just like the bug itself, only will be an empty shell that is translucent in color. The eggshells are usually white and are incredibly tiny, almost resembling a grain of rice.
- Musky Odor: Bed bugs leave behind a musky odor after a night of feeding. This smell is emitted by the bugs’ scent glands and is a sign they’ve begun to make themselves at home in your residence.
How to Treat a Bed Bug Infestation
Once bed bugs have found their way into your home, it can be difficult to remove them. These little creatures are expert hiders and can stay concealed until it’s time to feed. Without knowing where they’re hiding, it’s hard to target and eradicate them. That’s why you’ll need a professional exterminator to take on this job. At All Star Pest Management, we have a team of knowledgeable technicians who can find the best method to eliminate these pests from your home. We have a keen eye for identifying bed bug infestations and pinpointing their hiding places.
Methods Used in Professional Bed Bug Extermination
Professional exterminators have access to special products and equipment better equipped to handle large bed bug infestations. That’s why it’s essential to call in professionals as soon as you suspect you have bed bugs. Our team can confirm your suspicions and then get to work eradicating the bugs. We’ll use the below treatment to help ensure your home is rid of these annoying insects:
- Insecticides: In some instances, heat treatments may not be enough to fully eradicate the problem. Multi-family housing units and hotels present a unique challenge because the bugs can quickly move to new areas of the structure. Using solely heat treatments in these environments may simply chase the bugs to a new room. Therefore, these types of structures may require more extreme chemical treatment to get rid of bed bugs.
What You Can Do to Stop Bed Bugs
Though you’ll likely need a professional to fully eradicate your bed bug problems, there are some actions you can take before our technicians arrive. We know that the knowledge that bed bugs have infiltrated your home can often cause mental distress and the inability to sleep. Unfortunately, we can’t always make it to every household on the same day, but we have a few suggestions to give you peace of mind until our arrival. Taking these actions will not only help you feel better but will also help improve the effectiveness of our professional treatments. Start the process of eliminating bed bugs by:
- Repairing Cracks: Get rid of popular hiding places for bed bugs by repairing any cracks in your drywall or wallpaper.
- Tidying Up: Bed bugs love to hide in clutter, so tidy up your space and vacuum thoroughly to remove any bugs that could have been living in these spaces.
- Laundering Bedding: Because bed bugs can’t withstand heat, strip your bedding from your mattress and wash it in hot water. Then put it in the dryer on high heat for at least 30 minutes if it’s able to withstand hot temperatures.
Contact Us Today
If you are concerned you have bed bugs in your home, there is no time to delay in calling a professional. Our team will respond to your property as quickly as possible to assess the situation. We not only provide extermination services for bed bugs but can also offer pest control for many other pests, like ants, bees, spiders, and more, as well as wildlife removal services. Please reach out to us today to schedule an appointment for us to visit your home!