Bed Bugs are back!

It's no joke, bed bugs are back!

This means bed bugs are showing up more frequently everywhere and even here in the Hudson Valley. Many ask, how and why? Bed bugs have made a resurgence over the past few years due to increase travel, lack of public knowledge, resistance to pesticides and changes in pest management services.  Bed bugs are excellent hitch hikers (their nickname) and have the ability to spread at a rapid rate. Bed bugs are not fun, but there are many measures YOU can take to prevent yourself.

Bed Bug Identification:

• Small brownish insects just under a ¼ inch long.
• Oval in shape, flat and about as wide as they are long.
• Immature bed bugs are much smaller, about 1 mm and lighter in color.
• Bed bug eggs are very small, about 1 mm in size and whitish in color.
• After a blood meal, bed bugs will appear to be reddish in color.

How do I know I have bed bugs?

• Actually finding a bed bug itself.
• Finding blood stains on the bed due to the bed bug feeding.
• Very small black marks (size of pepper) on or near the sleeping area.
• Initially bed bug bites are painless, but turn into large, itchy welts. A good indication: waking up every morning with new bites.

I have bed bugs, now what?

• Bed bugs are best handled by a BedBugFree professional, like Craig Thomas Pest Control.
• Physical methods such as vacuuming or hot laundering can be helpful.
• Vacuums that are used to remove bed bugs can become infested
• Beds do not have to be thrown out, they can be saved by using an appropriate mattress & box spring encasements provided by Craig Thomas Pest Control.
• Sleeping in a different room or vacating the structure is not a solution and can make the problem more difficult to eliminate.

Most recently, New York City has experienced a major bed bug problem from hospitals, apartment buildings, high end stores and more! Below is a video acknowledging the increase in bed bug activity in the city. Bed Bugs on the rise in NYC!

Craig Thomas Pest Control is a locally owned, 3rd Generation family owned business serving the entire Hudson Valley. As a licensed, BedBugFree company, we are specialized in treating bed bugs. If you need us, call us at 1.800.255.6777, email, twitter or facebook.


*information and pictures provided by: www.bedbugcentral.com