Bed Bug Biology

Unfed adults bed bugs are mahogany to rusty brown color. Engorged bed bugs are red-brown color after a blood meal. Nymphs (baby bed bugs) are nearly colorless when they first hatch and become brownish as they mature.


Unfed bed bugs are flat and broad-oval. Fed bed bugs become swollen and more elongated.


Adult bed bugs can reach a size of about 1/4 inch long. Nymphs range from 1.3 mm to 4-5 mm.


Bed bugs are attracted to the carbon dioxide emitted by their hosts. For this reason, they tend to feed at night on bare skin that is exposed while sleeping. However, they are opportunistic insects and will consume a blood meal during the day, especially in heavily-infested areas. Although bed bugs prefer to feed on humans, they will feed on other warm-blooded hosts as well. Bed bugs usually require 5-10 minutes to engorge with blood. They feed by inserting two hollow, beak-like feeding tubes into their host. The first tube injects the bug\'s saliva, which contains anesthetics to numb the feeding area. The second tube draws blood. After feeding, they move to secluded places and hide for 5-10 days. During this time, they do not feed but instead digest their meal, mate and lay eggs


Bed bug biology naturally promotes infestation. Female bed bugs lay one to five eggs per day, or an average of 540 eggs in a lifetime. They typically lay their eggs in cracks or rough surfaces. Bed bug nymphs grow to full adulthood in about 21 days and go through five stages of development before they reach maturity. A bed bug will molt once during each stage of development, though a blood meal is required for a molt. An adult bed bug can live for several months without a blood meal.

"How Did I Get Bed Bugs?"

Bed bugs are easily passed from one person to another wherever people gather, especially when person possessions are brought along. A bed bug can easily crawl onto a person's body, into their purse or backpack, or be placed into bags or luggage when packing clothing or other items that are then taken out of the house. The bed bugs can then drop off anywhere the person or these infested items go, like a public bus, train, subway, or taxi. They can also drop off as that person sits down to eat at a restaurant or sits down at a movie theater. Anywhere crowds of people sit and congregate is an ideal place for bed bugs to spread which is why bed bugs aren't going away. This doesn't mean you should avoid all public places or be paranoid, it just means you should exercise precaution and be mindful of your surroundings and guests you have over your home. There is a myth that having bed bugs means you are dirty, don't clean your home, or visit dirty places but this is not true. Even 4 and 5 star hotels have issues with bed bugs! All it takes is one pregnant bed bug to begin an infestation.

Bed Bug Service

Peerless Pest Control only uses the best, most up to date procedures for servicing Bed Bug infestations.


Our technicians are highly trained in identifying and treating even the worst Bed Bug infestations.


We service residential homes, apartments, apartment complexes, offices, medical facilities, medical offices, businesses, hotels, motels, college apartments, college homes, college residences, and any other type of building.


Our technicians have what it takes to eliminate the infestation in a timely manner. Each bed bug service will come with a 2 week follow-up included as well as a recommendation of which rooms need to be treated. Generally these rooms will be the ones that you spend several hours in, every day: bedrooms, living room, den, family room, TV room, basement hangout rooms. These are the rooms that the bed bugs will detect you in and congregate in for an easy meal. Most of the time the kitchen and bathrooms don't need to be treated unless you have seen activity in these rooms or they share a wall with other infested rooms. If all the pre-treatment instructions are follow and the recommended rooms are treated you will get our 60 day guarantee attached to our service. After we get rid of your bed bugs be cautious not to introduce them into your home again!

If you are unsure if you have bed bugs, our technicians can perform an inspection. If you do have bed bugs, we can quote you a price on service. Our rates are very competitive. Give our office a call at (215) 324-4719 or email us at sales@peerlesspest.com for an immediate response.


As always, we do free insect identification at both our locations. We also sell DIY kits to treat your infestation yourself with expert instructions and advice. For locations, click here and scroll down to see maps and get directions.

Please fill out the form below and we will get back to you shortly.

Get In Touch.

Peerless Pest Control is based in the historic city of Philadelphia.

Olney

5246 N. 5th St.

Philadelphia PA, 19120

West Philadelphia

6150 Market St.

Philadelphia PA, 19139

(215) 324 4719

(215) 324 4720

WE'LL GET BACK TO YOU SOON.

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Hours

Olney

(215) 324-4719

5246 North 5th Street

Philadelphia, PA 19120

(Phones active at 9 a.m.)

Hours: M-F 10am-5pm

Sat: 10am-3:30pm

Sun: CLOSED

West Philadelphia

(215) 324-4719

6150 Market Street

Philadelphia, PA 19139

CLOSED WEDNESDAYS TEMPORARILY

Hours: M-F 10am-4pm

Sat: 10am-3:30pm

Sun: CLOSED

Our stores will be closed Christmas week through New Year's day. Happy holidays!

Please Note the Recent Change in Winter Store Hours

Service Dept. Hours

(215) 324-4719

Hours: Mon-Fri 9am-5pm

Sat: 10am-3:30pm

Sun: CLOSED

Winter Store Hours

(Closed Mondays)

Olney

(215) 324-4719

5246 North 5th Street

Philadelphia, PA 19120

Hours: Tues-Fri 10am-5pm

Sat: 10am-3:30pm

Sun: CLOSED

West Philadelphia

(215) 324-4719

6150 Market Street

Philadelphia, PA 19139

Hours: Tues-Fri 10am-4pm

Sat: 10am-3:30pm

Sun: CLOSED