Currently, one in five Americans has encountered bed bugs, and this is becoming more common. These encounters will most likely continue to rise due to the increase in international travel and bed bugs' resistance to pesticides. Having an encounter with bed bugs can happen to anyone in any public place and is not a reflection of a person's cleanliness or economic status.

The average cost of bed bug treatment is currently $1,000 per home in the United States, according to Pest Control Technology. 

An effective treatment program will involve Integrated Pest Management (IPM) with many control tactics utilized. These tactics can include correct identification, inspection, vacuuming, trap monitoring, heat treatment, mattress encasements, use of insecticidal powders, and responsible use of liquid pesticides. Reliance solely on liquid pesticides is not effective for bed bug control.

Yes, repeated visits are critical. Every two weeks after treatment, bed bugs should be inspected using bed bug trap interceptors. Bed bug eggs are usually not killed by most treatment methods and can hatch out within the two-week period.

In large bed bug infestations that cover most of the home, fumigation may be the best, most efficient option because it will kill every living creature in the home.  Fumigation requires you to prep the home and leave for a few days. Reinspection visits to determine complete control are still recommended.

No. Foggers or bug bombs have been proven to be noneffective for bed bug control and can be dangerous to the applicator, residents and pets.

For traditional pesticide sprays to be effective, they must be applied to the bed bug directly. Another concern is resistance to the pesticide, which renders the pesticide completely ineffective against bed bugs. Resistance continues to grow among bed bug populations and happens quickly compared to other insects. Therefore, monitoring at two-week intervals is necessary after a pesticide treatment.  

Yes, bed bugs can move under wall baseboards, through outlets and any ceiling openings. That is why adjoining rooms and rooms above and below an infested room must also be treated to achieve effective control.

Yes. Bed bugs differ from other household pests in that quarterly preventative pesticide applications or use of baits will not work to control them. Other methods are used for prevention and control of bed bugs such as monitors, mattress encasements, insecticidal powders, contact pesticide sprays, heat treatments, and fumigation. 

Yes, especially in areas of high infestations, professional help is necessary. After treatment, the company needs to continue to monitor every two weeks until there are no signs of bed bugs.

You can find out if a company is licensed by visiting the Pest Control section of our website. 

Yes, as long as there is no escape clause in your lease, the landlord is responsible. If needed, you can file a complaint against a landlord by calling 1-800-HELP-FLA.