Bed Bug Pest Control in Essex
Bed bugs are one of the most distressing pests you can encounter. They bite, cause irritation, and can lead to sleepless nights and stress. At Red Pencil Pest Control, we provide discreet, professional, and effective bed bug treatments across Essex for homes and businesses.
THE BIG 3 QUESTIONS
Bed Bugs and Why Do We Need to Control Them?
The main species in the UK is the Common Bed Bug (Cimex lectularius). These small, flat, reddish-brown insects feed exclusively on blood and hide in cracks and crevices near where people sleep.
Key reasons for control:
- Bites: Bed bugs bite exposed skin, causing itchy red welts. Some people suffer painful swelling or secondary infections.
- Mental distress: Infestations often lead to anxiety, stress, and even delusional parasitosis.
- Business risks: Hotels, B&Bs, hostels, and other accommodation providers risk complaints, refunds, and serious reputational damage.
Although bed bugs are not proven to transmit disease, their impact on health, sleep, and well-being makes professional treatment essential
How to Identify a BED BUG Infestation
Signs of bed bugs include:
- Bites: Red, itchy marks in rows on arms, legs, back, or neck.
- Blood spots: Small reddish-brown smears on sheets or pillowcases.
- Droppings: Dark ink-like spots on mattresses, skirting boards, and headboards.
- Shed skins & eggs: Pale shells or tiny cream-coloured eggs in mattress seams or furniture joints.
- Live insects: Flat, apple-seed sized brownish bugs hiding around beds and sofas.
Bed bugs spread easily via luggage, second-hand furniture, or even through shared walls in multi-occupancy buildings.
How We Treat a BED BUGS Infestation
At Red Pencil Pest Control, we use a combination of methods for thorough and lasting control:
- Survey & Inspection: A detailed search of beds, furniture, skirting boards, and hidden cracks.
- Professional Treatments:
- Residual insecticides (sprays or powders) applied to floors, skirting boards, beds, and furniture.
- Insect Growth Regulators (IGRs): Prevent eggs and nymphs developing into adults.
- Steam treatments (where appropriate): Specialist equipment which delivers high temperature dry steam (up to 180 degrees) which is is lethal to all life stages.
- Follow-up Visits: Bed bugs can survive weeks without feeding, so repeat visits are often required.
- Preparation Advice: Wash bedding at 60°C, tumble dry on hot, or deep freeze items for at least 3 days.
DIY sprays rarely solve the problem and can make infestations worse by spreading them. Professional help ensures a safe and complete eradication.