Bed Bugs

Bed Bugs and their cousins Martin Bugs are about 5mm long x 2mm wide with flattened oval bodies. They are reddish brown in colour. They are both parasitic, the Bed Bugs principle host being human, whereas the Martin Bug as the name suggests prefers to feed on birds, though both will feed on other warm blooded animals in the absence of their prefered host.

As Bed Bugs cannot fly they must be transported luggage, furniture, clothing or other objects used as harbourage. Martin Bugs will usually come down from birds nests in loft spaces etc. Any living accomodation can be invaded by Bed Bugs, especially Hotels, Holiday Camps and Hostels.

Both adults and juveniles live similar lifestyles, hiding away in cracks and crevices for most of the time, coming out at night usually just before dawnto feed on the blood of their sleeping hosts. Their hiding places will be close to where the host sleeps. In the bed frame or in the folds of matresses, in furniture, behind the skirting, behind loose wallpaper, in fact anywhere that affords a dark harbourage during the daylight hours for these nocturnal creatures.

Due to modern day central heating, bed bugs can breed continuously the female will lay on average 3 eggs per day, the number of eggs laid by a single female throughout her life can be over 100.

Bed Bugs are not known to carry disease but their blood feeding can cause severe irritation in some people, but more importantly is the distaste with which these insects are regarded. In really bad infestations they can give off an almond like smell. Plus the very thought of being preyed upon by these creatures is enough to make most people take immediate action.

High standards of hygiene and housekeeping alone are unlikely to provide an adequate measure of control, but will reveal the presence of bed bugs at an early stage. Signs to look for are blood stains on sheets and pillow cases, and brown specks from their excrement on headboards matresses and other areas of harbourage.

Bed Bug treatments need to be carried out by professional pest controllers, as the detection and thorough treatment of all Bed Bug hiding places is a job that requires experience due to their elusive nature. It will be necessary to treat the the premises with suitable insecticides including beds furniture and even plug sockets, several treatments will be needed. Infested bedding or clothing will need to be laundered or destroyed.

We cover Gloucester, Cheltenham, Stow On The Wold, Moreton In The Marsh, Chipping Campden, Burford, Lechlade, Fairford, South Cerney, Swindon, Malmesbury, Tetbury, Stroud, Avening, Stonehouse, Painswick and every village in between