The following post was written entirely by Sean, a Pest Control Operator and entomologist in Vancouver, and is posted with his permission. Check out his Bed Bug Resource page. Thanks Sean!
If anyone wants to add to this topic, click comments, and let us know what you know!
Treating a Bed Bug Infestation: advice from a Pest Control Operator
I can not stress enough how important it is to do a bed bug treatment correctly right from the onset. The slighest misstep can literally make a solvable problem a nightmare.
All too often you get do it yourselfers that think they can do the job just as well as a licenced technician can. This is simply not the case 95% + of the time.
As I have said many times … leave this one to the pros.
The trick is for the general public to decipher who the pros are in their area. I will not lie to you, there are good companies and bad companies. There are also good companies with some bad individuals.
Two things to watch out for; underpricing and overpricing. Ask them what the job breaks down to on an hourly basis per technician that they are sending (some companies use two techs per job). This puts all companies on equal footing for comparison.
Underpricing means you will get what you pay for; poor service and inexperience.
Overpricing means that the company likely does not want to do bed bug jobs. They price so high that they are looking to discourage people from hiring them. They just plain can’t or do not want to do bed bug work.
Look for a company with middle of the road pricing. Check with the Better Business Bureau to see if they have received complaints recently. Ask the company to provide references from clients that have been satisfied with their bed bug work. Many companies will have letters of praise on hand.
Some other things to look for;
1) Do they offer a guarantee?
2) If so, what does it entail?
Keep in mind that many companies will NOT offer guarantees to hotels or multiunit dwellings because the chance of reinfestation is too great. If you live in an apartment ask what their guarantee is for a freestanding home. This will give you an idea of how confident they are about their work.
3) Do they have liability insurance?
4) If yes, how much does it cover?
If no … walk away.
5) Do they have dedicated bed bug technicians?
Many companies are now forming bed bug task forces if you will. These companies will likely have more experience.
6) How long do they expect the treatment to last?
A thorough bed bug treatment (inspection plus application) is going to take a minimum of two hours (based on a normal hotel sized room).
7) How many treatments does the price include? (Editor’s note: it should include at least two, spaced about two weeks apart).
Ask the company how many treatments it will take to rid the bed bugs.
If they say one … walk away.
If they say two-three they are being honest.
If they say several (3+) they likely are not doing the job right.
The last thing is that people need to realize that they are going to need to be bait for the treatment to be most successful. They essentially need to carry on their routine of sleeping in the bed, etc. This will maximize the chance of the bed bugs coming in contact with the pesticides.
Sean
Entomologist / Pest Professional
www.thebedbugresource.com
Update 11/2007:
This is what one PCO posted on the forums in this thread, in answer to the question of what traditional treatments entail:
Bugologist
MemberThis is what you should look for (as a person knowledgable in the topic):
1. They don’t rely solely on pesticides. Non-chemicals measures are a plus and they should use bed encasements or at least recommend them, vacuums and hopefully steam. Current research is showing tolerance and resistance to a lot of pesticides we have available so relying on them may be a mistake.
2. Some sort of crack and crevice treatment, and hopefully a dust, is an absolute must, these bugs hide in cracks and crevices and if you’re not getting to them you’re not addressing the problem.
3. Follow-up treatments. Having done lots and lots of jobs I almost never get rid of the problem in one treatment and depending on the conditions (infestation level, clutter, construction, etc…) is will take 3 or 4 typically, maybe more.
4. They address most if not the whole structure. If they just do the bedroom that has the known problem, or the bedrooms or just the couch it’s a mistake. These bugs distribute throughout the structure and you can’t limit yourself to one area. The treatment should encompass the entire structure.I could probably go on and on but these are the big ones. The rest is a personal decision.
Editor’s note from Nobugsonme: Readers, feel free to add a comment below which tells us what PCO you used (and your location), and the kind of service you got. Be sure to tell us what you know about the treatment used, how many times they came back, and how long your problem has been solved (or going on, as the case may be.) Obviously, we are not responsible for the mini-reviews below. Anyone is welcome to comment. Please be honest and fair, and don’t recommend yourself!
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Great detective work, pnb! I cannot believe that these pcos are trying to cash in on the anxieties of bb victims. Can’t this man be reported for false information?
I am a PCO from GA dealing with new outbreaks of bed bugs here. I have found this info very usefull. We have a new product that is “GREEN”. It is a dust that has botanical insecticides. I am just starting to use with all the other non pesticide methods. Hope to have great results. Thank you for the great info posted here.
how the triple S work out with you anonymous because they treat my unit in Fairfax and they are coming for 4th time !
Bedbugproblem,
This is not a defense of your PCO since I never used them, but getting four bed bug treatments by traditional methods does not necessarily mean you have a bad PCO. 3 or MORE treatments is unfortunately the norm.
Of course, each treatment should be reducing the problem–if someone has not noticed a reduction in bed bugs and/or bites (assuming you react to bites), then there might be cause for worry.
If treatment is not working, though, it doesn’t even mean the PCO is to blame. It can also mean they are coming from the neighbors or another source, and it can also mean prep isn’t being done thoroughly or properly, and so on.
Just wanted to throw that out there. Make sure your landlord/bldg. management has ensured all neighbors above/below/on all sides have had a pro inspect carefully. Don’t take neighbors’ word that they have no bed bugs, or assume they would notice bites. Up to 50% of people don’t react to bed bug bites.
yes they treating people below me too!,no baits on us(good thing) but i found one so they coming 5th time , I hope thats it.
You may be someone who does not react to bed bug bites. If you are still seeing bed bugs, unfortunately, you may need more than 5 treatments–especially if your building is badly infested.
a saw only ONE thats it
so they coming i hope one more time 
I am tired of this.
Bedbugproblem,
You probably don’t realize but some people are bitten for six months and see one. Bed bugs hide very well, they’re designed for it. Sorry that’s not what you want to hear, but knowledge is power.
my wife get bite last night the nightmare is back. 5th treatment is coming when will be over
Sorry, bedbugproblem.
Please continue getting treatments at 2 week intervals until there are no more signs or bites.
And please make sure your neighbors (if you live in a multi-unit building) are professionally inspected (top, bottom, all sides). If your neighbors are attached and have bed bugs, so will you. Come to the forums if you want to discuss this further, please:
http://bedbugger.com/forum
I have been a member for only a few days but never posted a comment. My husband and first got bite on April 9th 2008 and I on April 10th. By April 15th I had found this site and reading up on everything you guys had to offer. I feel like an expert now lol. It took me 3 days to prep for the PCO. It’s now April 21 and today the PCO came over to spray and told us he found NO proof of Bed Bugs. “No Bed Bugs” so what I’m I going crazy!!!!! I have to say he was a good PCO he was all up in my Box spring and checked every inch of our apt. He still sprayed and is coming back in 2-3 weeks. He said it could of been dust bunnies. Has anyone ever been wrong? I read and checked every link, picture, FAQ and blog to make sure what we had was bed bugs but now I’m some what confused. Any ideas ?
InaDream, sometimes people “prep” so vigorously (for example, cleaning and throwing things out) that they clean away evidence of bed bugs. For this reason, we recommend people do not clean or prep until a PCO inspects and finds bed bugs.
Sometimes, though, PCOs can inspect carefully and not see bed bugs. Even if they are there.
On the other hand, you could have another cause for what seem to be bite marks. You might have scabies (which a doctor can rule out, and which would get markedly worse), or fleas, which a PCO should be able to rule out, though you can get plug-in flea traps to rule them out yourself.
Even if the PCO is treating, it is wise to try and find a sample and rule out other problems.
Please click the forums button at top right if you would like to discuss this further.
what type of chemical they use (PCO)
Bedbugproblem,
There are a variety of chemical and mechanical treatments. Your PCO should be able to tell you what they’re using. Come to the forums if you have additional questions:
http://bedbugger.com/forum
I felt like I need to share my story with all of you because I have visited this Website regularly, which has really helped me through my bed bug nightmare. It started out like any other story I’ve heard or read on the internet..suspicious bites and huge hives that itch like hell. I went to my doctor and he gave me some anti-itch cream and sent me on my way. Things weren’t getting any better, so I went to a dermatologist who told me it looked like flea bites and def. were not scabies. Funny thing about the fleas is that I am allergic to dogs/cats and am never around them. So, I got my super (I like in a 3-floor apt. building) to exterminate for fleas…(you know where this is going). Weeks later, problem is still there. I am thinking beg begs but everyone thinks I am crazy, until I find one. I knew it right away when I saw it. I freaked and did the things you’re not supposed to do like threw out my bed and old dresser. (I ordered a new bed and frame that has been warpped in plastic since it’s been in my room). I called the super and the exterminator came to spray, and I was scheduled for them to come 2 more times. During the three treatments, I was still getting bit and my life was really sucking. I washed all my clothes (am I am a girl who loves clothes, so it cost me a lot to clean ALL my clothes). I refused to bring the clothes back into the apt except for a few key items, so everything is in plastic in my car. I’ve cried a lot over this, but I know that if this is the worst thing that can happen, I’m pretty lucky. But, that perspective argument only can comfort you so much. Anyway, I knew these bugs couldn’t have come from me, so I asked my neighbor who had traveled in Europe about 2 months ago if he was experiencing anything like I was. He said no, not at all. Then, yesterday, after 3 months since this whole thing started, he told me he found a couple big, red bed bugs. Since I think I am an expert now on this subject, I knew right away that he was the source of the bugs and the reason why the extermination was not working- they were coming from his apt. Big, red bugs means only one thing- there are a lot of them and these are fully-fed, grown, happy bugs feeding off of a human whose body does not react to the bites at all. My lease is up June 1 (it’s May 3), and I have to leave here for other reasons. I am extemely nervous about bringing the bed bugs with me to my new apt. If anyone has any tips on making sure I don’t bring them with me, please let me know. I am hoping my move, along with my neighbor getting his apt exterminated in the next few weeks will end this nightmare.
Deleted.
See Bedbug victim’s question in forums:
http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/is-my-landlord-choosing-a-bad-pco
Sorry for the double-post. I posted the comment before I realized that you had forums.
No worries, Bedbug victim!
Glad you found us.
I have a question Had a treatment on April 28th. Threw out all furniture infected (room is bare) still seeing babies. How long before I will not see the babies any more? thank You
Nightmare,
You need to have follow-up treatments until all bed bugs are gone. Call your PCO today and try to get the next appointment within the next few days (follow-ups within two weeks are best. Traditional treatments do not kill eggs and the eggs hatch within 7-10 days which sounds like your experience.
Do not let up with treatment (approx every two weeks) until all signs of bed bugs and all bites are gone. If you’re renting, in a building, sure landlord has neighbors professionally inspected and treated.
If you have further questions click the “forums” button top right and go there.
My PCO has returned twice but the pesticides he used he says has a 30 day lasting period. He is scheduled to retreat the entire house 30 days from April 29th. Should i still be seeing babies? They are now secluded to only seeing them in the bathroom and closet? Thank You
Should I call my PCO every time I see a bug? Thanks Again
I recently realized that I have a serious bed bug problem. Ive been noticing bites for about a month I now have about 40-50 bites. Ive just interviewed several PCO’s but IM un sure how to pick the right one they are all competitively priced and offer the same treatment procedures. I was thinking about eliminating the ones that dont offer steam cleaning. Does anyone know any thing about Terminex. I’m ready to start treatment immediately .What should I use to disqualify a PCO. Does anyone have any recommendations for the New York area. I would like to chose one today I can not stand this any longer. Thanks for your help
beingeatenalive,
Please click the button at top right that says “forums” and repost your query there to get lots of answers.
Nightmare,
PCOs who know bed bugs seem to favor treating every two weeks or so. The chemicals may claim to have a 30 day residual but we are told that more frequent treatments are a good idea and every 30 days is probably going to mean you have bed bugs for a very long time. I am not a PCO. Please click the forums button at top right to go to the forums and ask questions there. You will get more answers.
Darn bed bug bit me in the bell button and @$$ crack. I’m going to try to cut a deal with these little bastards. I’m going to leave’em a couple of shaved, drug-induced-sleeping lab mice under me bed at all times so the leave me the hell alone. If that doesn’t work, I’m burning the place to the ground.
Maybe it’s time for everyone to move on to the acceptance stage of the bed bug epidemic. Bed bugs are not ever going away. That war is lost. In fact, bed bugs will never, ever be completely eliminated from one single dwelling. Certainly, people can spend many thousands of dollars to hire PCOs. But no matter how thorough the treatments, a few resistant and hidden bugs will always remain to re-populate the space. And those will soon be augmented by bugs reintroduced from other infected people and homes. Bed bugs are like herpes. Symptoms are treatable, but the disease will never go away.
I’m sorry you are despondent, Mike, but I disagree.
Bedbugs can be gotten rid of. In the most severe situations where there are several spaces or additional units in the structure that are infested, then getting rid of them will probably require a strong will and a hefty financial commitment. But I disagree that one must be reconciled to living with them.
Hi lastresort and Mike,
Mike–I agree with hopelessnomo. People get rid of bed bugs all the time. Some find they just can’t, but it is usually true that they have a recurrent source of infestation (such as a neighbor who has bed bugs and continues sending them over). It’s a bad situation. No one should “accept” it. And it’s not like Herpes. You can cure it.
lastresort– Bed bugs are treatable. I know what a pain they are and I am hoping you’re getting good help in fighting your problem. Click the forums button top right if you need support or advice.
Deleted at author’s request.
Hi guys,
The PCO says well the bug is a life-cycle bug and this is why they treat 3 times. Why is it that the PCO was able to spray while we were in the house and only charge $185 a floor? Anywho I called around and spoke to another company who told me that Phantom is not that strong and is only best used for ants. They charge about $425 for 1st time and $250 for 2nd time 2 weeks apart. They use something called Suspend and mix it with an IGR a growth regulator.
I am a boston resident. I’m a single mom with a 3 yr old daughter who lives with her parents in a 3 family home, dad the owner. I am sleeping on an airbed, draws have been emptied, clothes have been washed, and placed in garage bags, we pulled up the old carpet in the living room, threw away the old couch as it was infested, as well as some of the other prevention tips required. I have chosen to use a PCO(Ecosystem Pest Control) uses a product called Phantom. Same process as Nigtmare stated above 30 day treatment. Problem is that I still see the bedbugs even on the airbed. The clothes are in garbage bags on the porch or lower level as it is a family house what a hastle this can be and feeling like you have to clean everything you own feeling like I have the heebie-jeebies
1.) Does anyone have any recommendations on exterminators in Boston Area?
2.) Does anyone know or have any info about these products?
3.) What has it costs people on this blog to get an exterminator?
Thanks much feedback is appreciated it’s been past 30 days and i think I gipped out of my money!
Has anyone worked with a company called Magic in the NYC area? They came out and then sent a contract with what seems like an extremely high price ($4,125 for a 5 bedroom house on three levels). Return visits are free if the customer buys an extended plan for $125/month.
Does this seem way too expensive? And has anyone used these people? THANKS for any help!
Another question: I am in an old brick house which has so many cracks and crevices, expecially in the basement, attached garage, old radiators, and stairways–It would be impossible to ever track them all down for sealing. Is there anything special that can be done with the CPO treatment to address this issue? THANKS!
HeebieJeebies,
That’s a good question. From what I understand, a lot of people recommend Phantom for bed bugs– including Harvard university, but it does take something like 7-10 days to kill them, so you wouldn’t see immediate results. Also, it sticks around longer than Suspend and doesn’t repel bugs from the treated areas like Suspend. So, I’m hoping it’s a good solution (it’s what our guy is using), but it all depends on how good your PCO does in getting all the important areas (including areas they could spread to) each time.
Your price is better than ours, but we’re south of you.
It’s hard to know what’s best, I made our guy come every two weeks, but now I’m not sure if that’s best with Phantom.
IGottheHeebieJeebies and Nan,
I strongly suggest copying and posting your questions in our Forums:
http://bedbugger.com/forum/ (or click the “forums” button at top right).
There, you will likely get many more responses.
You can create an account for free and it can be anonymous if you choose an anonymous username.
I live in nyc and just moved into a new apartment. I am an extremely clean person and live in a new building in a small studio. I still have never gotten bit (knock on wood) but my boyfriend had been getting bites for a while when he would sleep at my place. After he saw the doctor, who didn’t think it was bed bugs, a month after moving in and getting settled I found them on my bedskirt and little bug-like stains on my sheets.
I contacted my building to have them hire an exterminator and was convinced the bedbugs were already in my apartment before I moved in. My building paid for the exterminator but both the doormen and management had said there were no other cases of bedbugs. After googling my moving company and bedbugs I realized I had gotten them from my move- probably on the coverings they use to cover my furniture.
My question is my exterminator only found two bugs when we was here, before he came I had found a few bugs one night which I killed myself. The exterminator said I dont have them bad at all and doesn’t think he needs to come back- unless I spot them again.(He also used this chemical which is a African flower root or something? Starts with a P I think… anyone familiar with this?) Its been 2 weeks since the extermination and I have done everything I was told (laundering and packing all clothing/fabrics before extermination; putting mattress and box spring encasements, caulking, steaming everything, vacuuming thoroughly, etc) I haven’t seen anything since and have been inspecting constantly. I don’t sleep here every night but neither me or my boyfriend have had bites when we do. Can I assume they are gone? Should I make the exterminator come back even though he doesn’t feel its necessary? Any help would be appreciated as I am afraid to buy anything new for my apartment and just want to sleep peacefully again!
I am not a pest control professional. (We do have some participating in our forums.) So read what I am going to say in light of that fact.
It sounds like your PCO used pyrethrins. It is a substance used in many pesticides, and it can kill bed bugs.
A few warning bells go off for me: first, most PCOs use more than one chemical or dust in the course of treating for bed bugs.
This is in part because some populations of bed bugs are developing pesticide resistance to pyrethrins. So it’s not unusual for them to use a second chemical or a dust (mechanical killer).
Second, most bed bug treatments (especially those that do not include careful, meticulous inspections) don’t get rid of bed bugs in one shot.
While some people do get rid of bed bugs in one treatment, it is usually if their PCO was extremely fastidious. Did he carefully inspect the entire home (including underneath and within other furniture items such as sofa, chairs, etc.)? Did he locate every bed bug and every bed bug egg, and remove them? I would hazard a guess that he didn’t.
If you got the more common, more cursory kind of inspection and treatment, then you will likely need follow up. Most cases take 3+ treatments, spaced two weeks apart.
If any eggs were left behind, they will hatch in 10-14 days of being laid. They can be killed by walking through a residual, but they might not, and any residual effects won’t last forever.
You will probably know soon if you still have bed bugs if your boyfriend sleeps there and is being bit. But this can take longer if there are few bed bugs and he’s not sleeping there much.
I would actually encourage you both to sleep there nightly if possible (while taking precautions to avoid spreading them to his home or your workplaces– see TRAVEL faqs for more on that; this faq is about not taking them to others’ homes, but will be applicable to the workplace too).
Here’s why: YOU may be bitten but may not be allergic to bed bug bites. If the bed bugs are biting you, you won’t know. And if there are a few bed bugs, they only need to feed once a week or so.
So imagine you are there a few times a week, BF is there a few times a week. If the bed bugs bite YOU, they may not be hungry again when BF comes over. So you can imagine if this is the case, it could be weeks before he is the one who’s bitten, thus alerting you that you still have them.
Personally, I’d get a follow-up. I’d ask if he can spray again and put down a dust if he uses them. And I’d have BF sleep over a lot.
Again, that necessitates steps being taken to make sure he does not take them home and you don’t take them to work. But it may be your only way to know if they’re gone.
If you want to discuss this further, please come to the forums, where more people will respond!
http://bedbugger.com/forum/
I don’t know who edward jacob is but I do know EDWIN who works and/or owns Pest2kill and he really IS amazing. I live in brooklyn and we discovered we had a bedbug problem a couple weeks ago. I called around after doing extensive research and ended up first calling a local exterminator- Ecology Exterminating. I was fastidious in following all the adice I got on bedbugger and cleaned and bagged EVERYTHING to prepare for a first treatment by Ecology Exterminators. A guy showed up and basically fogged the place. Didn’t turn the mattresses over. Didn’t spray the beds. Did nothing. He called me after 45 mins and said he was done and ready to be paid….$400!!!!!!!! When he opened the door I saw that the place had been fogged and because of what I had read on bedbugger I knew that was not the thing to do. I asked him if he had treated the putlets and, get this, he LIED and said “Uh…I treated the ones I could.” A lie. When I called ecology to complain they sent one of the desk guys, a guy who itold me he is in week one of exterminating school to come by and squirt dust into the outlets. It was a disaster. I called to complain to a friend and she told me about this great exterminator she has been using who keeps telling her how busy he is treating bedbugs, a guy named edwin. I called him right away. He came that night, with another PCO and they spent two hours doing a full treatment. They found the bugs hiding under my childs crib and in our bedframe. Told us what we should throw out and what to keep and after that we have not had a problem. That was 10 days ago. Edwin is actually coming back today to do round two and seal up all holes in the apt. But i googled him, came upon this unfair post and am just trying to correct the public record. Edwin IS a true professional and has been a godsend to us. His last name, which I don’t remember isn’t Jacob, so I don’t think he posted that himselfand I hope anyone in trouble will consider giving him a call. (and yes, to finish the story, I asked for my money back and they gave me all back but $65, which is worth the price of knowing never to ever call ECOLOGY EXTERMINATING again!!!!!!
Hi,
I got bitten for few times now, but I am not exactly sure if those bites are from bedbugs, eventhough my doctor said so. I looked all around my bed, and I found nothing. Are there any other possibilities or explanations for these bites? Or where else can they hide around my room?
There are other possibilities. Sometimes folliculitis or scabies are mistaken for bed bug bites. Doctors can’t diagnose them on sight alone.
However, it is also true that bed bugs are very hard to detect. You may have them and not see them for a very long time.
A very careful inspection by a pro who does careful inspections, or a bed bug sniffing k9, might be options.
Please read the FAQs and come to the forums if you’d like more suggestions:
http://bedbugger.com/forum/
I had an exterminator come in Sept. 1 and it looks like I’m one of the lucky ones.
Would there be evidence of reinfestation by now if the bed bugs were still hanging around? Nobody has been bitten and I haven’t seen any more (and I’m checking all of our beds thoroughly every day) of the bed bugs.
Steph,
It sounds like you had only one treatment. I have to warn you that most pest control operators seem to expect to treat more than once in order to get rid of bed bugs. (There are some who take exception to this, but they also describe searching the home for hours at the outset and finding the harborages before treating.)
Bed bug eggs are not killed by traditional treatments, and so there’s a high likelihood they hatched after treatment unless the PCO found and removed them all (not an easy task).
If you reacted to bites in the past, then not having any bed bug bites for 55 days may be a sign you have beaten them (according to entomologist Richard Cooper). On the other hand, not seeing bed bugs is no guarantee, and bed bug reactions can vary among people or even in the same person over time.
If neighbors are also infested (knowingly or not) or were not carefully professionally inspected and treated if necessary, then you might not even decide to relax at 55 days.
You can get additional opinions in our forums:
http://bedbugger.com/forum/
I just discovered I have bedbugs. Have probably had them for about 10 days. The landlord hired East Park Exterminating Co to come out on Monday. Does anyone have any experience with these guys? He said one treatment would probably be enough but that I should call after two weeks if I want a follow up or there are any problems. He also said that the chemicals last about a month (meaning that the pesticide would continue to kill for a month - I assume that means all eggs would hatch within that period of time). Does this sound correct?
About 4 days ago, I started noticing bug bites on my body while I was visiting family in Texas. It began very mildly, and at first I thought it was just mosquito bites and didn’t think anything of it. Approximately 2 days later (one day after I returned home from Texas), I noticed bites all over my body. After researching, these bites look extremely similar to all the pictures posted on this website. I went to the doctor the next day who immediately refered me to a dermotologist. The dermotologist said she didn’t think the bites were from bed bugs, and she ruled out scabies as well. She said it looked as though my body was having an allergic reaction to a single bug bite, and my stress and itching caused spreading. She also told me to bring in a bug specimen if I happen to find one. The next day I saw 3 tiny bugs on the wall; one was near the bed, two were still in the bedroom but adjacent to the bed. A body scale from the same looking bug was found at the end of my mattress. These bugs seem similar to the pictures of the young bed bugs on this website; however, they had many more legs. I immediately put the bugs in a zip-loc baggie and took them to the dermotologists office. A 2nd dermotologist assured me that they weren’t bed bugs, but couldn’t really identify them and suggested I have a PCO inspect my apartment. I am having that done in a few days (earliest appointment available), but I am freaking out in the mean time. I am beyond paranoid that I have bed bugs in my apartment. I have not seen any blood or fecal (rust colored, etc.) spotting on the sheets, and that one bug scale was the only thing I’ve found. In addition, my husband, who was on the trip to Texas with me, has nothing on his body to speak of. Does this sound like bed bugs? Also, can pets show signs of bites? I have a cat, who also seems to be uneffected. Any advice would be greatly appreciated!
hi,
i live in Fairfax, and my apartment got infected with bed bugs. So we did a treatment from Triple S. They completed their fourth treatment and after a week saw one more bug.
Did they completely go after the fifth treatment from Triple S?
Please advice what to do.
Uma,
Sorry but we have no way of knowing if your bed bugs are entirely gone.
If you react to bites, I would continue to be cautious until several weeks have passed with no bites or signs of bed bugs.
If you do not react to bites, I would be cautious even longer.
It would be very difficult for a human to tell you if bed bugs are entirely gone, by looking.
I would consider hiring a bed bug sniffing dog if this is an option.
If you repost your message on our forums: http://bedbugger.com/forum/ — you may have more responses than you do here.
It’s been confirmed that we have bed bugs. Ugh! And of course I began to do all of the wrong things. My husband and I moved over to the livingroom to sleep because the biting was so bad that we could not sleep. And we have jobs that if we are not rested and alert it can cause seriouse consequences. (He is a mechanic working with heavy equipment and I work with seriously emotionally disturbed children who can become violent at the drop of a hat.) I threw a bunch of DE on the bed and the draperies above our bed. And I was going to do my own treatment. But I found this website so I’m changing my gameplan. I had contacted ABC Pest Control ( I live in Texas) and they inspected and confirmed the infestation. But was going to charge me about $1, 5000.00 which included 2 treatments, with poison and steam and was going to supply us with one bed encasement bag. After encountering this website I did some more PCO shopping. And found one PCO who will treat for about $600.00 which includes a liquid and powder poison and a growth regulator in two treatments with a 60 day warranty. I was leaning toward this PCO, until I talked to “Lawrence” who is a PCO. He will charge me about $500.oo for as many treatments as it takes to get rid of them. When I asked about a warranty, he said, “I guarantee my work. I keep treating until they’re gone.” Lawrence said that he uses only poison and no growth regulator. When I asked why, he said that he been in business for 29 years and he’s heard the regulators are not safe and he does not like to mess with chemicals that start messing with reproductive cycles and such. It’s just too screwy. I don’t know, I like Lawrence’s down to earth style and seeming pride in his work. When I checked with BBB, and even though he is not BBB accredited, they gave his company a rating of A, listed no complaints against him in the last 3 years, he has been in business since 1980 and he was the sole propieter of the business. The other PCO is BBB accredited with a rating of A+ and the corporation has been in business since 2000, and no complaints in the last 3 years. Any reason that I should not go with Lawrence?
freakinout,
Please copy and repost your query in our forums: http://bedbugger.com/forum where many more will see it and likely respond. Thanks!
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