“A dog’s keen sense of smell can detect bed bugs in all crevasses quickly while it takes an exterminator hours to perform the same inspection,” says Carl Massicott, owner of Advanced K9 Detectives. “More accurate detection means that if there is any kind of bed bug infestation, the dog will alert us to it and control measures can begin.” Cleanliness and sanitation are the first steps to controlling the spread of Bed bugs. However, upscale hotels and homes have recently reported infestations, which suggests that this not enough to stop a bedbug infestation. Before the 1950’s, Bed bugs were a problem in the United States, but the widespread use of DDT eliminated the infestation. Since DDT spraying is not longer permitted, Bed bugs are back!
Bed bugs usually feed at night when people are asleep. Bed bugs feed mainly on the blood of humans. During the day, Bed bugs hide in tiny places. Bed bugs can be carried into hotels and homes by infested clothes, used furniture, suitcases, and by people. Bed bug eggs are white and about 1/3-inch long. Under favorable conditions the female bed bug lays about 200 eggs at the rate of 3 or 4 per day. Eggs have a sticky coating and stick to objects where they are laid. It usually takes the eggs 6 to 17 days to hatch, and the newly emerged nymphs will feed immediately. A bed bug goes through five molts (shedding of its skin) before it reaches maturity. Depending on environmental factors and the availability of food, there can be considerable variation in developmental rate. Bed bugs may live for several weeks to several months without feeding, depending on temperature.
