About bed bugs
Bed bugs are small blood sucking insects. They feed on humans and other animals. They are small, reddish-brown in color, and shaped like an oval. Each stage of their lifecycle requires a blood meal.
Why are bed bugs important?
- They are a serious problem worldwide.
- Bed bugs can hitchhike to new locations by traveling on luggage, clothing, and furniture.
- They like to hide in many places like nightstands, loose wall paper, and drawer joints.
- They are usually found in apartment complexes, college dormitories, shelters, hotels, moving vans, and residences.
- Infestations are found near where people sleep.
- Bed bug bites can make you itchy and uncomfortable, but they are not known to spread diseases.
- They can live in the spaces between walls and travel from room to room.
Services
Please note, we do not do any of the following:
- Spray to control the insects or arthropods.
- Conduct inspections.
- Provide recommendations regarding which private pest control company to hire.
Please research and contact a private pest control for those services.
Free insect identification services are available for Santa Clara County residents and businesses.
After a specimen is identified as a bed bug, we provide a letter that reports the presence of a bed bug infestation. This letter can be presented to your property manager or your local Code Enforcement agency for further action. Visit the Code Enforcement resource page to find your local Code Enforcement Agency.
To learn more on our insect identification services and requirements, visit our insect identification service page.
You can also request a consultation with one of our Vector Control professionals, who can give you information about what you can do to help in the treatment process.
Request insect identification
What can I do to prevent bed bugs?
- Seal all cracks and crevices in bedrooms with caulk.
- When traveling, inspect for bed bugs before putting your items in dresser drawers, or luggage on the luggage rack, spare bed, or floor.
- When returning from traveling inspect luggage carefully.
- Wash all your clothes, then dry on the highest heat setting.
- Do not bring bed frames, mattresses, box springs, or furniture you found on the sidewalk into your home.
