Family Owned and Operated Pest Control Experts Servicing the San Francisco Bay Area
Bed Bug Treatment Program
How California American Exterminator can eliminate your bed bug infestation
and what you can do to prepare for service.
Bed bugs have been around for millions of years and have been plaguing people throughout history. From the early 1950’s to recently, bed bugs became very rare probably due to the use of DDT, Lindane, and other products used after World War II, in addition to other factors. However, after an almost 50 year absence, bed bugs began appearing around the late 1990’s and have had a thousand fold increase in the last four years. The resurgence is thought to be partially due to the old chemicals working their way out of the environment along with an increase in world travel.
Eliminating bed bugs is very challenging. It takes a collaborative effort from residents, managers and your pest control route manager to control them. Bed bugs hide in areas close to where people sleep, such as beds, box springs, bed frames, nightstands, dressers, desks, recliners, luggage, closets and clothing, items stored under beds, and clutter within a unit. They can be found in pictures, electrical sockets, smoke detectors, loose wallpaper and drapes.
There are restrictions on how beds can be treated with pesticides. For these reasons, we may recommend that infested beds and box springs be discarded or that approved bed bug mattress and box spring encasements be purchased and placed on all mattresses and box springs in the unit.
Contact us and we will arrange for one our technicians to reach out to you
One of our highly-trained technicians will perform a thorough inspection
Our specialized bed bug team will come out to provide your treatment
We will perform two inspections to ensure no evidence is found
Quick response
Local pest specialists and trained office staff
Both heat and chemical treatment options available
Both heat and chemical treatment options available
Appointments made with your schedule in mind
A treatment plan designed with your needs in mind
Licensed and certified
pest control specialists
Window times available
for appointment
Prevention recommendations
1. Contact Us
2. Inspection
3. Treatment
4. Post-Treatment
Where They Hide, Life Cyle & Warning Signs
Bed bugs can live in almost any crevice or protected location. The most common place to find them is the bed. Bed bugs often hide within seams, tufts, and crevices of the mattress, box spring, bed frame and headboard. A thorough inspection requires dismantling the bed and standing the components on edge. Things to look for are the bugs themselves and the light- brown, molted skins of the nymphs. Dark spots of dried bed bug excrement are often present along mattress seams or wherever the bugs have resided. The gauze fabric underlying the box spring must be removed to gain access for inspection and possible treatment.
Successful treatment of mattresses and box springs is difficult, however heavily infested components may need to be discarded. Cracks and crevices of bed frames should be examined. Headboards secured to walls should also be removed and inspected. Bed bugs also hide among items stored under beds. Many areas besides beds, however, can harbor bed bugs. Nightstands and dressers should be emptied and examined inside and out, then tipped over and inspected beneath. Oftentimes the bugs will be hiding in cracks, corners and recesses. Upholstered chairs and sofas should be checked, especially seams, tufts, skirts and crevices beneath cushions. Sofas can be a major bed bug hotspot when used for sleeping.
Other common places to find bed bugs include: along and under the edge of wall-to-wall carpeting (especially behind beds and furniture); cracks in wood molding; picture frames, switch plates and outlets’ under loose wallpaper; in clothing stored in closets; and inside clocks, phones, televisions and smoke detectors.
