Bed bugs are a significant pest challenge in the U.S. They feed on blood and can be hard to identify because of their cryptic nature and they mostly emerge at night. In addition, bed bug bites can be itchy and uncomfortable, not to mention a cause of anxiety. Bed Bugs impact people from all walks of life. 

Once you discover signs of bed bugs or suspect you have them, you should take action immediately and schedule a consultation with Dodson Pest Control. If left unattended, bed bugs will quickly reproduce and create a significant infestation.

Signs of Bed Bugs

Bed bugs are small, hardy insects about the size and shape of an apple seed as adults. Because bed bugs are so small and excellent at hiding, it can be challenging to detect their presence, especially when they have just hatched from eggs. For this reason, bed bug detection requires a trained pest management professional (and, in some cases, a friendly canine). However, some key indicators may alert you to a potential bed bug problem. These include finding live or dead bed bugs, bed bug fecal spots, unexplained blood spots, or bed bug castings, along with discovering small, itchy, red bites on the skin. If you look closely with a flashlight, you may find live bed bugs around bed frames, box springs, headboards, and other hiding places near sleeping areas.  

The bed bug life cycle is several weeks long, and since most bed bug infestations are not identified for weeks, you may find several forms of bed bugs. Bed bug nymphs are tiny hatchlings that are difficult to see. Bed bug eggs are usually hard to find because female bed bugs usually lay them in cracks and crevices in walls, under furniture, or in voids such as walls. That is why it is best to contact Dodson Pest Control immediately for a free inspection if you have even a small suspicion of a bed bug problem.

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Bed Bug Detection

Scent Detection Canines

The first step in bed bug management is bed bug detection. One of the best ways to detect the presence of bed bugs is with specially trained canines used by Dodson Pest Control. Many bed bugs hide in bedding or other items that can be easily moved and transported from infested locations, making bed bug detection crucial. These items can include boxes, clothing, luggage, and furniture.  Our trained dogs can detect bed bugs by smell. This highly effective detection method uses the canines’ enhanced sense of smell to inspect your area as precisely as possible. If a Dodson technician discovers bed bugs, your Dodson professional will develop a treatment plan and start eliminating the infestation. Contact a Dodson inspector today if you think you may have bed bugs.

Bed Bug Management

Bed Bug Fumigations

The most effective bed bug control technique is fumigation. Dodson’s preferred bed bug management treatment uses specialized fumigant to eradicate bed bugs wherever they may be hiding, including deep behind walls, in bedding, and upholstered furniture. 

Why choose fumigation?
  • Penetrates all spaces of the home – including clutter
  • Nondamaging to property – including electronics and medical equipment
  • It leaves no surface residue and is a one-and-done treatment
  • Applied by our certified and highly trained technicians to eliminate all life stages of bed bugs – including eggs
  • Appropriate for treating houses, cars, RVs, and storage 
Bed Bug Liquid Treatments

Liquid and dust treatments are effective and are typically utilized when a pest control technician has identified the source of a minor infestation or when fumigation is not an option. With this treatment, a Dodson technician will apply the liquid treatment to the infested areas. The liquid will kill the bed bugs as they make contact. Some bed bugs have been shown to be resistant to chemical insecticides, as bed bugs have evolved over time to become insecticidal resistant. However, many bed bug liquid treatments will still kill bed bugs when they come in contact with the surface of the treatment. Your technician will identify if a liquid treatment will be sufficient or if more extreme measures like fumigation are recommended. 

To Develop a Treatment Plan

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Preparing for Bed Bug Treatments

Before beginning a treatment plan, your Dodson inspector will let you know how to prepare your home or facility for the process. We will make recommendations that are unique to your situation. For example, depending on the severity of the infestation and the type of property undergoing treatment, your technician may suggest removing belongings, vacuuming floors, placing objects in plastic bags, or otherwise tidying up the area before treatment.

What You Can Expect from Dodson Bed Bug Treatments

Our entomologist, David Moore, is an expert on all things bed bugs. In this interview, he discussed Dodson’s bed bug treatments.

Common Bed Bug Home Solutions
(And Why They Don’t Work)

There are all kinds of do-it-yourself bed bug remedies that people try to eradicate bed bugs themselves. Some include washing clothes and bedsheets in hot water, thoroughly vacuuming, or filling cracks in walls. When you’re trying to save money and time it’s natural to turn to DIY techniques or over-the-counter insecticides like foggers, boric acid, or diatomaceous earth. 

However, these are all solutions that, while they may kill the bed bugs in the infested clothing or linens, will not eliminate the infestation. Not to mention, trying home remedies without knowing how to properly use them (i.e., using harsh chemicals) could potentially be hazardous to you or your family’s health or could damage your possessions. 

Bed bugs can hide easily and infest many areas. Turning up the heat to kill bed bugs is mostly ineffective because the temperature would need to approach their thermal death point before they will really start to move away.

Find a Local Dodson Office near you!

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Schedule a Bed Bug Inspection

If you are concerned about the presence of bed bugs in your home or business, contact Dodson Pest Control. We have bed bug experts available to answer your questions, inspect your property, and develop a treatment plan that works for you. With over 75 years of experience, we are prepared to handle any bed bug infestation, no matter how big or small. Our integrated pest management techniques will allow us to come up with a solution that can help you get rid of bed bugs for good. In addition, Dodson Pest Control offers preventative treatments for residential and commercial customers. 

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