Bed bugs are small, oval insects which live in dark spaces close to their food source and feed at night. They range in size from 1/4” to 3/8” long and are mahogany or red-brown in color. They live close to their food sources and feed at nights. They once again are invading our lives.

Bed bugs were widespread before World War II in homes, hotels, and boardinghouses, but were greatly reduced with the widespread use of the pesticide DDT. Bed bugs have been making resurgence in recent years due to the banning of DDT, an increase in international travel, and immigration from the developing world.

The most common bedbug, Cimex lectularius, is found in the northern temperate climates of North America, Europe, and Asia. C. lectularius feeds on humans, bats, birds, and rodents. In tropical regions such as Florida, it is replaced by the tropical bedbug, C. hemepterus.

Bed bugs commonly reside in the seams of mattresses, in the edges of carpeting, and in the bedframe behind baseboards, window and door casings, picture frames, loosened wallpaper, and cracks and crevices. They can enter a structure by attaching to clothing and bedding, by hiding in luggage or in firewood coming from infested sites. In certain cases they may be brought in by birds or bats.

Bed bugs have a life cycle that can last many months. Adult bed bugs feed once a week on the average. Female bed bugs will lay one to five eggs a day after feeding. Bed bugs can lay 200 to 500 eggs in their lifetime. The eggs hatch in about ten days.

Kill bed bugs with Heat™

ThermaPure is an ideal solution to bed bug infestations. This non-chemical, non-toxic approach penetrates wall cavities, mattresses and other hard to reach locations to kill bed bugs in all metamorphic stages, including their eggs. Though laboratory studies under controlled conditions have shown bed bugs to be susceptible to lower temperatures, ThermaPureHeat® technicians achieve and maintain temperatures of at least 140 degrees for 2 hours throughout the treatment area to ensure a complete kill.