Bedbugs
About bedbugs
Bedbugs are small brown insects which feed on the blood of humans. They grow to around 5mm long and are visible to the human eye, but they are nocturnal and live in cracks and crevices so the first indication of bedbug infestation is usually their bites. Small black-brown specks of bedbug faeces may be noticed close to the infestation sites.
Bedbugs lay their eggs on rough surfaces and exude a cement-like substance at the same time to stick them in place. In summer an average female lays two or three eggs per day, although the rate of reproduction falls off in cooler weather. Depending on food supply, a complete bedbug life cycle takes two to four months.
Why are they such a problem?
Bedbug bites cause a small, itchy white welt on the skin surrounded by a slightly raised red area. They can also carry disease. Bedbugs live in areas inhabited by humans and are a particular problem in areas with high occupancy such as hotels. They are highly mobile and may live several metres from the bed itself.
What will you need to do before our visit?
Effective bedbug control is a joint process and requires your co-operation to work. It relies on a combination of sound housekeeping practice and strategic use of insecticides. There are a few things that you must do before and after the visit to help make the treatment work effectively.
When you book in your appointment we will send you a preparation information sheet in the post or by email as you prefer.
What happens during our visit?
- Visits are usually booked several days in advance, to allow you to carry out the appropriate preparations for our visit. Each visit will take several hours, depending on how many rooms are to be treated.
- The technician will undertake a thorough inspection of your property and will try to find out/confirm the extent of the problem. This will help us to control the current problem and help prevent future re-infestations. He will then ask you to leave the property to avoid exposing you to the insecticide. You must not re-enter until at least two hours after he has finished.
- The technician will spray any cracks and crevices that the bedbugs may be hiding in, such as bed frames, carpets, curtains, inside cupboards, chairs and sofas, walls, and any other items with a chemical containing a conventional insecticide and an insect growth regulator to control the juvenile life stages.
- If there are any areas that you do not want sprayed because they contain items that are valuable or delicate, or that either you or your pets come into prolonged contact with, please let the technician know before he starts. These items should have been dry-cleaned and bagged up before the visit.
Microbee's bedbug treatments include three visits. The second visit takes place two to three weeks after the first visit. The third visit takes place about six weeks after the second visit.
If the follow up treatments are not carried out after six weeks then the treatment will be likely to fail as the insecticide residue from the previous spray will have worn out and the bedbug population will be able to recover.
We will attempt to contact you to book in your follow up appointments, if we can not contact you we will send you an appointment reminder card in the post.
Please note that follow up appointments will expire within 30 days of the postage date on our appointment reminder card.
