Never before has it been more important to find a reliable pest control service that can detect and treat bed bug infestations and at The Bed Bug Inspectors you can be sure you are Hiring the Best Bed Bug Inspectors and Exterminators.

This is especially true for those living in highly populated areas of Queens, Manhattan, Bronx or Brooklyn, New York where infestations are reaching record levels.

But why are bed bugs making a comeback?

Starting with the use of DDT after WWII, and continuing through the 1970s, bed bugs had nearly been eliminated from New York and the rest of the western world.

By the 1980s we led a relatively bed bug free existence, which led us to become complacent about bed bug inspections and treatment.  The result is that the number of reported bed bug infestation cases in New York has seen an alarming uptick since the 1990s.

Hiring the Best Bed Bug Inspectors and Exterminators

The National Pesticide Information Center (NPIC) reports a disturbing upward trend in bed bug inquiries made to their hotline.  In 2003, the number of calls regarding bed bugs was negligible – less than 1%.  By 2014, bed bug-related questions accounted for nearly 6% of all calls.

Trends like this are one reason why the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Centers for Disease Control (CDC)  recently issued a joint statement reaffirming that bed bugs are a public health pest.

Like many people, you may not know where to start if you suspect or have confirmed a bed bug problem in your home.  One thing is for sure – you must take immediate steps to try and contain the infestation before it hurtles out of control.

expert visual inspection

If you own your home, your first step is to contact a qualified and reliable professional pest control company to conduct a thorough bed bug inspection.  So what do you do if you are renting? You may be surprised to hear that twenty three states have passed or enacted bed bug-specific legislation, including New York.

These ordinances govern the rights and responsibilities of both landlords and tenants.  In most cases, the responsibility for preventing and treating bed bugs lies squarely with the landlord. So your next step would be to contact the landlord, who must very quickly arrange for a pest control service to visit and cover the costs.

Why DIY bed bug extermination may not be the best idea:

Hiring the Best Bed Bug Inspectors and Exterminators

You may attempt to exterminate bed bugs on your own because you feel you cannot afford professional intervention or simply do not wish to.  You may be considering purchasing supermarket insect spray or using an insecticide or diatomaceous earth specially designed for killing bed bugs. But there is no one-time magic bullet to completely eradicate an infestation.  Bed bugs are persistent and resilient, and they do not respond to over-the-counter extermination chemicals.

Bed bugs have developed resistance to pesticides, and usually require require repeat treatments and different methods. If your DIY approach proves to be ineffective, then you will have lost time as your bed bugs, and your problem, have multiplied.

Bed bug resistance to pyrethroids, which are contained in many residential products on the market, is wide spread. Adults can hide from pesticide applications or move along wires and walls to other areas.

Bed bugs are capable of surviving several months to a year without feeding, and infestations can regenerate when even one pregnant female survives treatment. This means that regular, ongoing bed bug inspections and attention are necessary to prevent re-infestations.  A combined treatment plan requires coordination by a specialized pest control company.

bed bugs on skin

What to look for in an exterminator

Hiring the Best Bed Bug Inspectors and Exterminators

The best pest control companies in New York will design a tailored plan to attack your problem from various angles, over a period of time. Confirm that the company has been in business for more than five years, is licensed by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, and is well experienced with bed bugs.

Licensed exterminators should always be able to provide proof of their license upon request.  You may also consider asking the pest control company for references from private residences, perhaps in Queens, Brooklyn, Manhattan or Bronx, where they have successfully eradicated an infestation.

Confirm with the homeowner that the company was reliable, effective and easy to communicate with.  Also check the Better Business Bureau for any complaints filed against the exterminators you are considering.

The exterminator should first do a thorough bed bug inspection to determine the extent of the problem.

You will want to hire a reputable pest-control company that specializes in bed bug inspection and treatment so they can also help to educate you on ways to prevent re-infestations.

They should recommend things like learning how to avoid bringing new bed bugs into the house, and sealing your mattress with a leak-proof cover that will trap existing bugs inside the bedding and prevent new bugs from entering.

A good company to consider is The Bed Bug Inspectors, an independent pest inspection company that employs highly trained, nationally certified (NESDCA) bed bug dog teams to identify bed bugs and live bed bug eggs.

The company will pinpoint where the bed bugs or bed bug eggs are hiding and advise you on next steps.

The exterminator may also apply insecticide powders in hiding places, and then seal all the crevices around electrical outlets.


Learn with The Bed Bug Inspectors