Fully-grown bed bugs are exceedingly small (about the size of an apple seed) and usually have a distinct, reddish-brown color. Because of their size and their gift for hiding, they’re more difficult to spot than cockroaches or larger spiders–so it helps to have a professional look for you.

Secondhand furniture might be a great bargain, but this comes at the expense of hitchhiking bedbugs. If you bring a piece of secondhand furniture into your home and shortly thereafter find evidence of bloodstains, casings, or eggs, bedbugs are likely the cause.

A strange, musty odor is one of the most common signs of bedbugs. The odor is caused by the pheromones released by the bugs – and the more bugs that are present, the stronger the smell. If you wake up one day and notice such a smell lingering in the air, contact us for an inspection and quote for pest removal.

Here are some tips for protecting your home and family from bed bugs:

• Use a protective cover that encases mattresses and box springs to eliminate hiding spots.
• Reduce the clutter in your home to reduce hiding places for bed bugs.
• Vacuum frequently.
• When using shared laundry facilities, take precautions such as transporting ‘to be washed’ items in plastic bags, and removing items from the dryer directly into a separate bag for folding at home.
• Install door sweeps on the bottom of doors to discourage movement of bed bugs into hallways.
• Seal cracks and crevices around baseboards, light sockets, etc. to discourage movement through walls.
• Consider purchasing a portable heating chamber to treat any items that you believe may have bed bugs. Heat is a great way to kill these critters.

Our experienced pest control team takes an integrated approach to bedbug management. This includes not just data concerning the life cycles of pests and their interactions with people, but also the latest pest control methods and eco-friendly products. Our goal is always to provide the most affordable solution while minimizing any hazard to people, property, and the environment. If pesticides are needed, we always use them judiciously–and whenever we can, we seek solutions that can be achieved through non-chemical means. Considering how difficult bedbugs can be to completely eradicate, the chances of a non-chemical approach being successful are greatly increased when the residents of a home actively participate in the process.

The most effective bed bug prevention plan is one that starts as soon as possible–so the moment you recognize any of the telltale signs, call Tabor Services right away. Our professionals have the tools and the know-how to rid your home of bed bugs before they can spread further.