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We always prefer to utilise our bed bug sniffer dogs when assessing the extent to which a bed bug in-habitation has spread. However sometimes the evidence is all too obvious to our technicians and negates the need for a bed bug dog search. In the first six weeks of in habitation, bed bugs will often leave little to no visible evidence of their presence, making them very difficult to find. However, if the problem is ignored or the victim is simply oblivious as to what may be causing their insect bites the bed bugs steadily multiply and given enough time, it becomes all too clear were the insects are hiding; you just have to know where to look.

At a glance, a bedroom may look clean and tidy and our customers are often confused as to

Bed Bugs on Rear of Headboard

why they keep getting bitten when they’re so thorough with their housekeeping. The first place to look in any given room is, quite obviously, the bed, the sofas and chairs. Bed bugs aren’t said to have nests rather harbourages where they cluster together. This is because although they like to rest together in cracks and crevices, they won’t necessarily lay their eggs all in one place. To see these harbourages, the best place to look is underneath furniture and behind headboards, so when our technicians inspect a property they will get into these places.

Bed Bug Harbourage

If a property has been inhabited by bed bugs for more than 6 months or even closer to a year’s time it can be overwhelming for the victims and its common for them to doubt the idea that they may ever get rid of, kill bed bugs. It’s at this stage when our technicians need to reassure customers that we are a specialist company who deal exclusively with bed bugs treatments and no matter how bad it looks we will eradicate the problem, full stop.

Find out when to use Bed Bug Dogs here

Paddy

A few weeks back I was booked in for a bed bug dog search for a lady in Islington, London. She had been noticing insect bites for some time, but couldn’t find the source of the problem.  After taking the bed bug sniffer dog through her whole house we knew for sure it wasn’t bed bugs.

Determined to solve the mystery, I searched through her bedroom but still couldn’t find any signs of insect activity.

Finally I went up into the loft to see if there was any clue to what might be biting her in case they were dropping down from above. On the far side of the loft, in the eaves of the roof, I noticed some twigs sticking out. On closer inspection, it turned out to be the nest of a small bird and I found bird mites in the nesting material.  Now we knew exactly what to do.  As well as getting rid of bed bugs, Heat Treatment is also highly effective for treating bird mites.

We removed the nesting materials and carried out a heat treatment and have put a stop to her parasitic problem.

We are bed bug specialists and by proxy can help with other biting insects – remember, whatever goes bump in the night- Trust K9 can help!

Paddy

If you have been unlucky enough to be bitten by a bed bug, then you will know that they like to feed on human blood. But what about our pets- should we be worried about Fido and Felix as well?

Trust K9 know for a fact that the answer is yes. Bed bugs will bite other mammals including your pet dog or cat. However, animals are not the bed bugs first choice for a source of food, mainly because they have to get through the fur, which is more work for them.

Whilst on a recent Trust K9 bed bug heat treatment for a fairly heavy infestation in East London, our technicians were looking over the property for items to be removed and for obvious reasons, pets need to be taken out whilst the house is structurally heated up over 24 hours. The owner was about to take Fido’s bed with him, and we asked to check the bed – we found 15 bed bugs just from a visual inspection.

Trust K9 often gets asked by customers ‘how did I get bed bugs?’

Firstly, bed bugs have nothing to do with cleanliness.  The following are common ways you can get bed bugs, with a bit of bad luck thrown in.

Planes, Trains and Automobiles
Bed bugs will live anywhere where they can get a blood-meal, so planes, buses, trains, the tube, anywhere that people frequent and sit still for a while are perfect habitats.

Some airlines do use bed bug dogs to check aircraft for bed bugs, but many don’t.

Hotels
Anywhere where there is a high turnover of guests will be at high risk for bed bugs.  This could be in hotels, hostels, friends or families houses and shared accommodation.  One of our own staff members encountered bed bugs when she moved into a rented room which already had a bed bug problem.

Second hand furniture
People unwittingly bring bed bugs into their homes by buying second-hand furniture. This previous blog goes into more detail about this particular issue.

Neighbouring property
Bed bugs can travel between houses so if your neighbours have bed bugs, it is possible you will get them too. Tell-tale signs are beds or mattresses outside the house.

If you suspect you have bed bugs, or have recently stayed somewhere with bed bugs, Trust K9’s bed bug sniffer dogs are a great solution for early detection.

If you are unlucky enough to have a bed bug infestation, the golden rule is to get it treated by a professional.  Trust K9 is a member of the BPCA and the NPTA, so you can be sure you are in safe hands.