Bothered by bed bugs?

Appearance and behaviour

  • Bed bugs are 4 to 5mm long and are flat with an oval body.
  • Young bed bugs are yellow-white in colour and change to a light reddish brown as they mature.
  • Bed bugs can live in furniture, cushions, mattresses and walls in your home.
  • They are blood sucking insects that feed on humans, pets, chickens, and other animals.
  • They feed at night or in the dark.
  • Although not painful at first, bed bug bites usually become red, swollen and itchy. Reactions to bites range from mild to severe.
  • Bed bugs are not known to spread any diseases.

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What to look for

Indications of a bed bug infestation include: small blood stains on walls and sheets (stains are from bed bug excretions, not bites), skins shed from the early life stages of the bed bug and an odour similar to the smell of fresh raspberries. Bed bugs multiply rapidly and can quickly infest your home.

Bed bugs can enter your home when you bring in infested furniture, bedding, old books, laundry and suitcases. They may also enter your home through water pipes, gutters, windows etc

Bed bugs can be hard to get rid of because they hide in small places like the cording around mattresses, under buttons and in the seams of cushions. Check for bed bugs hiding in your bedding, curtains, furniture, cracks in the walls and behind loose wallpaper.

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How to get rid of bed bugs

Wash all bedding, curtains and clothing in hot water on a regular basis.

Vacuum and steam clean carpets.

If you have a bed bug infestation you can call us on 01483 755855, as we provide a domestic pest control service. There is a charge for this service.

Alternatively you may wish to treat the infestation yourself.

Pesticides are available from hardware stores, make sure you read and follow the instructions before use.