"Don't let the bed bugs bite." Many people are surprised to learn that bed bugs are not just something from a nursery rhyme, they are a reality and they have an affect on the public in various ways. We hope you'll find this knowledge center helpful in learning about the facts and myths of these insects, as well as avoiding the large amount of misinformation which can be found online. As uncomfortable as they are to deal with, knowledge is power.

Identification is the first step to solving any insect problem. Below you'll find some pictures of what to look out for.

Bed bug eggs found along seam of a couch.

How do bed bugs spread?

Bed bugs spread through hitchhiking. They are usually picked up and transported on clothing and belongings which were kept at a location with an existing infestation.

Can bed bugs spread disease?

There are many myths about bed bugs, and this one is understandably at the top of the list. Luckily, studies have failed to demonstrate that bed bugs can spread disease. The CDC has more information on this here.

Do bed bugs only infest dirty environments?

People often associate any insect infestation with unsanitary conditions. While this is true for a lot of insects, it's not true for bed bugs. They only need the presence of people for survival.

Cluttered conditions can, however, make it harder to detect and treat for them because clutter gives them more places to hide.

Can I treat for bed bugs myself?

There are many products on store shelves being advertised as bed bug treatments. Much like the ant and roach sprays out there, yes they will kill a bed bug on contact, but most have little to no residual control (ability to kill insects for a prolonged period of time after treatment), and to treat effectively you would need to find every harborage area, something extremely difficult to do with bed bugs. For these reasons, we recommend leaving treatment to a licensed professional.