Photo Album: Bed Bugs Treated in South Plainfield, NJ Apartment Building
Bed bugs on chair
Infestations can spread quickly because of all the common areas shared by tenants in a building. As I did here, I always talk to the tenant myself to quickly review the common bed bug signs, the first of which is often waking up with mysterious, unexplained bites. Actually seeing live bugs is often a later sign after populations have increased.
Severe bed bug infestation
During our inspection of the unit, we focused on those furnishings where bed bugs are commonly hide between blood meals - the mattress, boxspring, sofa recliners. Even though they are called "bed bugs," these pests will hide anywhere where hosts are resting, relaxing, and just staying still for a period of time.
Bed bugs on furniture
Here, we found bed bugs on the sofa and recliner as well as a few on the bed. It is important to inspect all of the cracks and crevices and even the seams. Bed bugs like to hide out in the smallest of spaces.
Live bed bugs
These insects are masters of stealth and we can't assume that we sucked up the entire infestation. The next step is a liquid application as well as a dust that we apply inside the electrical outlets. Bed bugs often crawl into outlet holes! This initial treatment will be followed by two more follow-up visits where we re-inspect and make sure that the infestation has been resolved. With bed bug infestations, every single bug must be eliminated to prevent a re-infestation.
Vacuuming up the bed bugs.
We started treatment by vacuuming all of the infested areas of the unit including the mattress, boxspring, bed frame, sofa, recliner, and all of the cushions and seams, and the baseboards around the unit as well. Thorough, systematic vacuuming will get rid of much of the infestation including the adult bugs, the tiny nymphs, and the eggs waiting to hatch.