Okay prepare yourself because this subject is not for people who have bad creepy crawly dreams. If you read all of this you will have the knowledge on how quickly you will need to take action on these critters.
So how fast do bed bugs multiply? The answer is… In normal conditions and with regular feeding intervals and a male to mate with, the female bed bug lays 4-7 eggs a day. Bed Bug eggs hatch once every 10-12 days. After 20-60 days depending on the weather, bed bugs (nymphs) become an adult and the females start hatching for themselves. So as you can imagine, at 90 days and the rate of hatching you will be more than 1,200 – 1,600 bed bugs strong. Each female bed bug under normal conditions will lay between 200 – 500 eggs in her lifetime. Disgusting right? Keep reading.
A lot people believe that bed bugs only come out at night. Bed Bugs come out when the host (you) are sleeping, or sitting on the couch, or a chair. Depending on the infestation you could see them out in plain sight.
How Easy is it For Bed Bugs to Spread?
Despite the belief that bed bugs can ONLY spread from person-to-person this is simply not the only bed bug practice.
Bed Bugs are a traveling bug and prefer to get around by:
- Luggage
- Older Furniture
- Clothes
- Backpacks
- Used Mattresses
- Purses
When I visit a home that has an infestation, the first place I check is the beds and bed frames in the home. From there I move to the furniture. I check couches, nightstands, dressers, and along the wall where the headboard sits. Bed Bugs can get into wall voids and electric outlets around the home as well. This will all depend on how big the infestation is. A larger infestation you can see the floor move literally I’ve seen it.
Bed bugs will travel around the home freely, they can travel on you as well if you sit in a spot that is infested. They can be spread to other homes when you visit a place that has bed bugs or someone who has them visits yours. You will likely take these critters with you if you decide to sit down anywhere or set your purse down in an infested home.
Now that we know how easily they spread how fast can this happen?
How Fast Do Bed Bugs Spread?
Whether it’s from a how visit, person to person or home to home bed bugs can spread almost instantly. They can transfer from someone sitting on your couch or if you set a bag or purse down in a home that has a
So, in 12-14 days the nymphs are now producing their own offspring. If you leave this unchecked you will be amazed in a bad way as to how quickly they spread.
So in a month or two after they have inhabited a place they will start to become more noticeable and out in the open with less places to hide and strength in numbers.
How Do Bed Bugs Spread From House To House?
How Much do Exterminators Charge For Bed Bugs?
You can expect that when you have bed bugs it is taken seriously by exterminators. You will pay for the initial inspection, generally $85-$150 for that. When all is said and done you can expect to pay anywhere from $500-$2,500 for the services rendered. There are multiple types of treatment, here are the most common.
Top 3 Treatments:
- Chemical
- Dust
- Heat
Chemical treatment requires 3-5 visits from the exterminator to treat your home they visit every 2 weeks for these visits. That can take 6-10 weeks to get rid of the problem. The cost for this treatment is anywhere from $90-$150 per visit.
Dust treatment is a one shot deal. The pest technician will dust all the infected areas it does make a big mess and treatment drys out the oils on the bed bug’s back an suffocates them. After the dust is put down it can still take up to 45 days before they are all dead. The cost for this treatment is roughly $500.
Heat treatment is the fastest treatment. In 8-12 hours you can kill the bugs. It is the most expensive of all the treatments because the technician has to get your home up above 120% Fahrenheit. This will make you power bill a little high. It does kill all the bed bugs in the room and is very effective if done along with the other 2 treatments listed above. This service will cost anywhere between $1,500-$2,500.
I have my own thoughts on heat treatments that I would like to share. Like I stated above heat treatments are very effective within the rooms being treated, but the bed bugs that have made their way to the outer walls between the insulation may not be killed. If this happens and the home owner/renter goes to bed that night can can likely be bit again.
Pest Insider Secret: You can treat bed bugs yourself with the pro chemicals!
What Should I Do To Prepare For A Bed Bug Treatment?
As a pest industry professional I have found that chemical treatment is half the battle
Let’s get organized for this:
- Stand mattresses and box springs up against the wall.
- Machine dry all clothing items, linens, and bedding. Place them into clean trash bags, then place the bags in the center of the room. Laundering tips: change the lint trap between loads, throw away (outside of your house) any laundry bags used to transport items to the laundry room.
- Remove books and knick-knacks from shelving units and put them into plastic trash bags and seal the bags Place bags in center of room.
- Vacuum your home thoroughly.
Be sure to evaluate your belongings, If you mattress looks bad throw it away and get a new one. Carpet may need to be replace in severe cases of infestation. You must be vigilant when your up against bed bugs. Keep everything vacuumed and and empty it outside of your home.
What Pesticides Get Rid of Bed Bugs?
The best pesticides for bed bugs are:
Temprid SC – This chemical is in my opinion the industry leader to get rid of bed bugs and roaches. Temprid has a good residual and an amazing knock down. The 2 chemicals in Temprid are imidacloprid and cyfluthrin. These 2 chemicals together give bed bugs a great 1,2, punch.
NyGard IGR – Nygard is a growth regulator, it’s purpose is to cause reproductive problems for the next generation of bugs. Nygard is never used alone, it is always used with another chemical to enhance the overall result.
Here’s The Equation:
Temprid + Nygard = DEAD BUGS!
CimeXa – This is precipitated silica dust. CimeXa is used in a bellow duster.
The use of these 3 chemicals properly will get rid of any size bed bug infestation in 6-8 weeks. Be sure to apply every 2 weeks. You can just do the spray or just do the dust.
Safety equipment for these treatments:
- Valved Respirator Mask
- Nitrile Gloves
- Safety Glasses
- Long Sleeve Shirt and Pants
How Can I Get Rid of Bed Bugs Myself?
Chemical Treatment: In a gallon spray can you will mix the Temprid and NyGard and Water. Be sure to follow the label when mixing these chemicals together. I believe it is 16 mil. of Temprid and 4 mil. of NyGard.
Okay Here are the Items you will treat.
First treat all the beds, the mattress, box spring, and bed frames. Treat behind the frame of the headboard as well Anything you sit on that has a cushion love seats, sofas, and chairs. Treat around the perimeter of all base boards.
Dust Treatment: Take CimeXa and put it in a bellow duster. Now you will treat all the areas stated in the above paragraph.
Disclaimer: Dusting your home you will need to wear a paper mask or respirator to treat. CimeXa makes a big mess and there will be dust all around your house. Make sure to turn the HVAC off when applying it.
Summary
When bed bugs enter your home your response time is very important, it could mean the difference of how hard you will have to work to eradicate them. Remember the female lays 4-7 eggs daily. You will spend between $500 and $2,500 dollars for the pros to treat it. Temprid SC, NyGard IGR, and CimeXa are the some of the very best chemicals to treat bed bugs. So yes, you can do this yourself it will cost you around $200. Decide which way to treat that will be right for you. Bed bugs are a serious thing, I have seen lives turned upside down over the effects of it. To bed bugs you are the food.
Related Questions
What Is The Best Indoor Chemical To Get Rid Of Ants?
There are 2 chemicals you can use inside for optimal ant treatment
- Optiguard – This is a gel bait you will put in the areas the ants are getting in from. You will likely find them getting in around sink areas in the kitchen, bathrooms, electrical sockets and unsealed floor HVAC vents.
- Alpine WSG – This chemical has one of the most liberal labels. Spray it around all the base boards.
Where do Yellow Jackets Make Their Nest?
Yellow Jackets are among the most vicious species of bee they are fast and give almost no warning before they strike. They nest in the ground, in wall voids, and under siding.
