Our Bed Bug Control & Treatment Services

Bed bugs have been a pesky companion to mankind since the beginning of time. Drawn in by our body’s carbon dioxide emissions, and other factors, these flat-bodied creatures ranging from 1mm – 7mm in size are not just found lurking between sheets… they can also be spotted on mattresses and box springs, headboards, bedside tables, couches, etc. They are even pests of chickens and infest chicken coops and houses! Even more alarming is their ability to go up to an entire year without needing a blood meal. If you are experiencing bed bugs or you are losing the battle with bed bugs, call Pest Medic Pest Control.

True Bugs… and Blood Feeders

Bed Bugs are in the insect family Cimicidae. The true bugs have piercing and sucking mouthparts. Bed Bugs and their close cousin, Bat Bugs, are blood feeders, feeding on the blood of primarily humans, birds, and bats. There are two species of bed bugs commonly found in the US. The common bed bug, Cimex lectularius, (meaning “couch bug”) which has nationwide US distribution, and the tropical bed bug, Cimex hemipterus, which has been found in Florida. For our purposes in Oklahoma, the focus is on the common bed bug. In addition, the bat bug, Cimex adjunctus is common in our area, and can be a secondary pest after the removal of bats inhabiting structures.

Our Unique Approach To Treating Bed Bugs

The first step in bed bug control is proper identification. They can be confused with such things as German Cockroaches. Bed bugs are often found in structures, and sometimes the initial concern stems from bites experienced by humans in homes, businesses, even recreational vehicles! Often bed bugs go unnoticed until they are a significant problem, especially with those who can’t easily identify the problems, such as elderly or handicapped populations. Proper ID is crucial to any integrated pest management effort, but especially bed bugs. Many times a customer’s bites are attributed to bed bugs, but no bed bugs are found. Proper ID is the first step toward a solution to your bed bug problem.
Once the problem is properly identified as bed bugs, a prescription treatment plan is developed by Pest Medic Pest Control. See below the instructions on the details of our inspection and treatment program. With customer cooperation, bed bugs are a manageable problem and Pest Medic Pest Control can provide the solution.

1. BED BUG INSPECTION

Bed bug initial inspection begins with proper identification. Once the pest is accurately identified as a bed bug, the next step is SOS… seek out the source. Pest Medic will determine first whether it is in fact a bed bug, or another pest, such as a cockroach.

Bed Bug Biology and Identification

Bed bugs have gradual metamorphosis, which means egg/nymph/adult.
Adult bed bugs can be tan to Reddish brown in color, depending on whether they have obtained a blood meal. They are oval-shaped, 1mm-7mm in size, with piercing mouthparts. Nymphs are similar but smaller and lighter in color. Young nymphs can be confused with mites.

Bed bugs aggregate (crowd) together. At the aggregation site you can find light colored eggs, bed bugs of all growth stages, cast skins from molting, fecal stains,(dark specks of digested blood meals, lighter colored specks from nitrogenous waste). These sites are likely found where humans lounge and sleep, especially in beds and furniture such as couches and recliners.

Follow your nose: As bed bug infestations progress, they produce a tell-tale odor.

2. Bed bug treatment preparation protocol checklist

Bed bugs are notoriously difficult to control. They will take a blood meal, and often move away from the area. The greater the population, the more broad the spread of the bed bugs from the food source. Proper preparation is essential to success, and the preparation can be the difference between success and failure in controlling bed bugs.

Our bed bug preparation is much less demanding than most companies. It is less difficult, less time-consuming, and still gives excellent results. Our cornerstone product is Aprehend, an insect-specific fungus applied in a special formulation. It is the only product on the market that kills adult and immature bed bugs, and keeps killing bed bugs for three months.
with faster results.

Listed below are the Aprehend preparation tasks:

Basic Prep
• Clothes: Pick up clothes on floors and hanging over chairs and wash in the hottest water possible, and then run
through a hot dryer cycle for a minimum of 40 minutes. Place these clean, dry clothes in a large garbage bag, sealed at the top until the treatment has been completed.
• Dressers and closets: It is not necessary to remove clean clothing or other items from inside dressers and closets (Huge time and labor saver!) unless these items are clearly heavily infested (visible bed bugs). Ornaments and other items can be left in place.
• Bedding: Remove all sheets, covers, dust ruffles, comforters, pillows, and any other bedding covers from your mattress and box spring in all bedrooms. Wash all bed linens in the hottest water possible and then run through a hot dryer cycle for a minimum of 40 minutes. Replacing the original bedding without treatment at high heat is likely to reintroduce bed bugs to the treated room, which could result in control failure.
• Cabin beds/beds with built-in storage: Remove all clothing items from these storage areas and wash in the hottest water possible, and then run through a hot dryer cycle for a minimum of 40 minutes. Place these clean, dry clothes in a large garbage bag sealed at the top until the treatment has been completed.
• De-clutter: This will assist in removing potential bed bug harborages. Check items for signs of infestation.
• Facilitate perimeter access: Move all furniture items away from the walls to allow access the baseboards around the entire room.
• Baseboards: Vacuum baseboards to remove dust build-up from these areas. Remove the vacuum cleaner bag or contents of the canister, place in a plastic bag, and dispose of in the trash can outside your apartment/home.
• Pets: Keep cats and dogs out of treated area while treating and after treatment for 4 hours. Cover fish tanks, terrariums and small animal cages with a clean towel or sheet.
Important
• USA: DO NOT RE-ENTER TREATED AREAS FOR 4 HOURS AFTER SERVICE.
• DO NOT SPRAY ANY PESTICIDES OR CLEANING PRODUCTS IN TREATED AREAS AFTER THE APREHEND TREATMENT.
THIS WILL KILL THE APREHEND AND RESULT IN CONTROL FAILURE.
Please Note:
• Allow the treatment time to work, do not clean or remove the spray barriers. In most cases barriers will have been applied in inconspicuous areas, but, if the infestation was suspected behind baseboards or electrical outlets, a 2” spray barrier may have been applied on the wall above or around these installations. Under certain lighting conditions, these barriers may be visible. Leave these in place until you are certain that the infestation has been eradicated. The barrier will remain active for up to 3 months if left undisturbed, but is easily removed with kitchen or bathroom cleaner when required.
• Live bed bugs may be visible for 2-3 weeks after the treatment. Affected bugs may be seen wandering in unusual places, this is a sign that the treatment is working. Remember that bed bugs may not leave their harborages for a number of days after treatment, and nymphs hatching from eggs will not be affected until they cross a spray barrier. However, all bed bugs will die within 3-7 days after coming into contact with Aprehend.

3. bed bug TREATMENT

Once the structure is properly prepared, Pest Medic Pest Control arrives for the treatment. We discuss the upcoming treatment, confirm proper preparation, and discuss arrangements for the customer to be away from the structure, along with their pets, for 4 hours. It is a label requirement when applying Aprehend.

The application will consist of treating crack and crevices with Cimexa, a dessicant dust that is very effective on bed bugs. The Aprehend is strategically applied in narrow treatment bands in areas where bed bugs are known to cross when moving about. Unlike traditional insecticide treatments, only one application will be needed. Certain areas may be retreated where regular contact may wipe the treatment off of the surface. Focus of treatment will be anywhere that humans sleep or lounge. Bathrooms and kitchens are rarely a problem, except in very heavy infestations. All baseboard and electrical outlets will be treated, beds, excluding the mattress. We treat mattresses with products labeled for mattresses, and recommend a mattress encasement to prevent future infestations. Vacuuming of existing infestations will be implemented, as well, using vacuums with HEPA filters, preventing dander, etc. from becoming airborne.

For an overview of Aprehend, watch their video explaining the treatment:

Once treatment is completed, we vacate the structure and allow it to dry for 4 hours. The customer is free to return after that time.
The bed bugs will die over the course of the next week. Be prepared to see them out in the open, as the infection from the spores can cause odd behavior. Just know that if you see this, it means it is working. There will be occasions where a 30-day follow-up is warranted, in cases of heavy infestations.

Why Choose Pest Medic Pest Control

We’re passionate about helping people just like you get rid of unwanted pest problems. As such, we are proud to be the only pest control company in Tulsa, OK promising excellence in value, service, and trust.

Frequently Asked Questions