Bed Bug FAQ

Question: Can bed bugs bite?
Answer: Yes. It takes about 2-3 minutes for bed bugs to take a full meal.

Question: Do bed bugs fly?
Answer: No, they do not have wings.

Question: Do bed bugs transmit diseases?
Answer: No, as far as entomologists know, bed bugs don’t transmit diseases.

Question: How far will bed bugs travel?
Answer: Usually not far—between 10 feet and 100 feet but often not farther than 20 feet.

Question: How do bed bugs develop?
Answer: Through simple metamorphasis (i.e. egg, nymph and adult).

Question: How long can a bed bug go without a blood meal?
Answer: They can easily live 3 months or longer without a blood meal.

Question: Are bed bugs only found in bedding?
Answer: No. Bed bugs can be anywhere that there is a crack or crevice, including furniture, picture frames, or anywhere else – but they do prefer warmth.

Question: Can you smell bed bugs?
Answer: Yes, the smell is a pungent rancid odor.

Question: What do bed bugs feed on?
Answer: They feed on blood only.

Question: Can other animals become infested with bed bugs?
Answer: Yes, they will feed on animals as well as humans.

Question: How did they get into my house?
Answer: You carried them in or they traveled from another apartment. You could have picked them up from places like a hotel or movie theatre.

Question: Why have bed bugs become such a problem?
Answer: Over the years, pesticide use has gone down in favor of I.P.M. (Integrated Pest Management), giving them a chance to come back; the increase in international travel has been a factor as well.

Question: Why is it so costly to treat for bed bugs?
Answer: A bed bug job is extremely labor intensive. It can take a day or more to treat a home the first time.

Question: Can you see them?
Answer: Yes. They are plainly visible and once engorged with blood they are even more visible.

Question: After a treatment can I get them again? How?
Answer: Yes. You can get them again by carrying them in on you just like before.

Question: What attracts them to us?
Answer: Bed bugs are attracted to us the same way mosquitos are—through warmth and CO2 (carbon dioxide).

Question: Are there different kinds of bed bugs?
Answer: The bat bug is found on Long Island.

Question: Can you freeze bed bugs? What happens?
Answer: Yes you can freeze them if done quickly.

Question: Can I get rid of bed bugs?
Answer: It’s very difficult to get rid of them by yourself, unless you’re very lucky and they are just starting, contained and eliminated. By the time you find them they are usually well established. Best bet? Give us a call. We carefully and professionally handle them on a daily basis and can take care of them for you.

Question: How do I know if I have a bed bug problem?
Answer: One sure way is by seeing them in your home. You may see 1 or 100 at a time. Look for blood stains on your sheets, bites on your body, or for the bugs themselves. If you are not sure call or email us for an I.D. and inspection.

Question: Where can bed bugs be found in my home?
Answer: One big problem with bed bugs is they go everywhere. Any crack and crevice. Behind pictures. Screw holes. Bedding. They can be anywhere!

Question: Does Arrow offer programs to treat bed bugs?
Answer: Absolutely! Arrow is a full service pest control company. Simply give us a call. We have a certified Entomologist training our staff on proper bed bug treatment. We have continuous training on the newest and best methods to solve infestations. And we’ve come up with many of the methods commonly used by companies today.

Contact us today! We look forward to helping you with any of your residential or commercial pest control needs.