{"id":716,"date":"2022-06-13T20:34:05","date_gmt":"2022-06-13T20:34:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.qualityaffordablepestcontrol.ca\/blog\/?p=716"},"modified":"2025-11-04T19:12:09","modified_gmt":"2025-11-04T19:12:09","slug":"how-do-i-prevent-and-monitor-bed-bugs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.qualityaffordablepestcontrol.ca\/blog\/how-do-i-prevent-and-monitor-bed-bugs\/","title":{"rendered":"How do I prevent and monitor bed bugs?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>If you know what to look for, a thorough visual inspection is the most reliable way to spot a bed bug infestation even in its earliest stages.<br>Bed bugs can be very stealthy pests.<br>Spotting the early warning signs of an infestation often takes the experienced eye of a professional pest control professional.<br>Call us to book an inspection service, we can almost always get there the same day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What you&#8217;ll need to do a bed bug inspection:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>flashlight<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>small spray bottle<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>magnifying glass<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Latex gloves<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Where to look for bed bugs:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Any furniture where you <strong>sit, sleep or rest for more than 45 minutes per day<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Bed bugs CANNOT penetrate fabrics. They <strong>cannot live INSIDE<\/strong> of a mattress or pillow<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The less clutter and storage underneath and around the beds couches and chairs the more thorough and conclusive an inspection can be<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"how\">How to Inspect for Bed Bugs:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Use Your flashlight to look carefully at every surface on, or close to, furniture where you spend 45+ minutes per day sitting, sleeping or resting<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Focus especially on cracks, folds, seams and corners<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>You will need to prop up your mattress and box spring and flip over your couches and chairs<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Make sure you check the surface and seams of all of these pieces of furniture:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>the sides and bottoms of the mattress<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>the sides and bottoms of box springs (always pull off the dust cover on the bottom, and check the plastic cups at the corners)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>bed slats<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>bed frame<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>headboard<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>the underside, cracks and drawer tracks of side tables<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>all items in storage bins or drawers underneath the bed<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>folds of the bed skirt<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>baseboards around the bed<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>electrical sockets around the bed<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>picture frames hanging above the bed<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>curtains close to the bed<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>couches<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>lazy-boys<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>office chairs<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>any piece of furniture within 4 feet of beds or couches<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What you&#8217;re looking for:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">1. Bed Bug Faecal Markings<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Round dark rusty-brown dots about the size of a pinhead in clusters<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Bed bug faeces is dried blood<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>If you wet these spots with your spray bottle and rub them with your finger they will leave a smear marking<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">2. Bed Bug Eggs<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Glassy white and oblong in shape<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Often clustered together in a protected area close to the bed or couch surface<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Bed bug eggs hatch within 10-14 days<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">3. Bed Bug Nymphal Skins<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>wispy exoskeleton casing<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>light tan translucent colour<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">4. Bed Bug Nymphs<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Nymphs are smaller and lighter in colour than adult bed bugs<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>They can be smaller than one millimetre about the size of a grain of salt<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>If nymphs have fed they have a dark red dot in their interior<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">5. Live Adult Bed Bugs<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Adult bed bugs are the size and shape of an apple seed<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>An oblong abdomen that narrows towards their back end<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Bed bugs have a single pair of antennae and a pair of wing pads.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>They have a series of horizontal segments along their dorsum that will expand when they are full of blood<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Book a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.qualityaffordablepestcontrol.ca\/bed-bugs-exterminator.html\" data-type=\"URL\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.qualityaffordablepestcontrol.ca\/bed-bugs-exterminator.html\">professional Pest Control Inspection<\/a> in the Greater Tornoto Area with QAP:<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-advancedbtn kt-btn-align-center kt-btn-tablet-align-inherit kt-btn-mobile-align-inherit kt-btns-wrap kt-btns_0e4544-64\"><div class=\"kt-btn-wrap kt-btn-wrap-0\"><a class=\"kt-button button kt-btn-0-action kt-btn-size-standard kt-btn-style-basic kt-btn-svg-show-always kt-btn-has-text-true kt-btn-has-svg-false\" href=\"https:\/\/www.qualityaffordablepestcontrol.ca\/contact.html\"><span class=\"kt-btn-inner-text\"><strong>CONTACT <\/strong><strong>US<\/strong><\/span><\/a><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">1. Furniture Leg Interceptor Traps<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>An effective method of monitoring for bed bugs is using interceptors traps also known as passive pitfall traps.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>These traps can be filled with mineral oil or diatemaceous earth<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Bed bugs may hide directly on the bed or in a crack or crevice nearby the bed<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How to monitor bed bugs using interceptor traps<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>You must set up your bed as an \u201cisland&#8221;: the only thing making contact with the ground is the bed legs inside the interceptor traps<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Be very careful to eliminate other pathways for bugs to access the bed:\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The bed should not be touching a wall or side table<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>infested clothing or linens should not be deposited directly onto the bed<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Sheets and linens should not hang down from the side of the bed and make contact with the floor<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">2.\u00a0Preventative Insecticide Treatment<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>If you are at high risk of a bed bug infestation you may opt to perform a preventative bed bug treatment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">You should consider a preventative insecticide treatment if:<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>You live in a Toronto-area building that is repeatedly dealing with bed bug issues<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>A close friend or family member has been dealing with a bed bug infestation infestation<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>An adjacent neighbour has a confirmed bed bug infestation<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>A personal care worker or anyone who visits your home regularly has a confirmed bed bug infestation<br><br>Addison&#8217;s preventative bed bug treatment can keep you protected from bed bug infestation for up to 6 months.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">3. Mattress Encasements<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>Zip-up mattress encasements are a useful monitoring tool, but they <strong>will not prevent bed bugs from infesting your home<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>These zip-up covers are useful for spotting bed bug infestations in the early stages<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>By sealing off the folds and cavities of a typical bed and box spring bed bugs have fewer hiding places<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The white surface makes it easier to spot blood spots and bed bug faecal markings<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>We do not advise customers to put on an encasement AFTER an infestation has been identified. This will not eliminate the bed bug problem<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Encasements can rip and tear easily giving bed bugs MORE places to hide out of sight<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>If you know what to look for, a thorough visual inspection is the most reliable way to spot a bed bug infestation even in its earliest stages.Bed bugs can be very stealthy pests.Spotting the early warning signs of an infestation often takes the experienced eye of a professional pest control professional.Call us to book an&hellip; <a class=\"more-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.qualityaffordablepestcontrol.ca\/blog\/how-do-i-prevent-and-monitor-bed-bugs\/\">Continue reading <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">How do I prevent and monitor bed bugs?<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":717,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"kt_blocks_editor_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[11,14,24],"class_list":["post-716","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-bed-bugs","tag-bed-bugs-exterminator-in-ajax","tag-pest-control-in-ontario","tag-quality-affordable-pest-control","entry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.qualityaffordablepestcontrol.ca\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/716","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.qualityaffordablepestcontrol.ca\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.qualityaffordablepestcontrol.ca\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.qualityaffordablepestcontrol.ca\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.qualityaffordablepestcontrol.ca\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=716"}],"version-history":[{"count":14,"href":"https:\/\/www.qualityaffordablepestcontrol.ca\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/716\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1563,"href":"https:\/\/www.qualityaffordablepestcontrol.ca\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/716\/revisions\/1563"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.qualityaffordablepestcontrol.ca\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/717"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.qualityaffordablepestcontrol.ca\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=716"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.qualityaffordablepestcontrol.ca\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=716"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.qualityaffordablepestcontrol.ca\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=716"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}