Bed bugs, also known as bed bugs, are small, oval-shaped, reddish-brown insects that feed on the blood of animals or humans. Adult bed bugs have a flat body about the size of an apple seed. After they feed, their bodies swell and become redder.
Bedbugs do not fly, but they can move quickly across floors, walls, and ceilings. Female bedbugs can lay hundreds of eggs, each about the size of a speck of dust, in their lifetime.
| Warranty from Zikis | Full details |
|---|---|
| transparency | At Musicis, we advocate complete transparency – the price for a room to be treated for bed bugs is approximately 1500 NIS (with a one-year warranty and guaranteed sleep from the first night). |
| What are the signs? | You can find signs of bedbugs on your own with the help of the following article. Look for signs similar to the pictures, if you find them you can even try to get rid of them yourself. (Video at the end) |
| One year warranty | Warranty – You receive a one-year warranty on bed bug treatment. Follow-up – Unlike the treatments that all companies offer – we perform heat treatment for bed bugs – there is no need to repeat the activity for one to two weeks and you will have a restful sleep from the first night! |
| How do we treat? | In addition to heat treatment (which takes an average of two hours per room), we perform treatment using an insecticide called Temprid – after spraying, you must leave the sprayed space (usually the bedroom) for 6 hours. You can be in other rooms, of course. |
The life cycle of bedbugs in the home
Young bed bugs, also called nymphs, shed their skin five times before reaching adulthood and consume a blood meal before each molt. Under ideal conditions, bed bugs can fully develop in just one month and reproduce in three or more generations in just one year.
Their lifespan is between four and six months, although some bedbugs in ideal conditions can live up to about a year.
Although they are a major nuisance, they are not considered disease-carrying pests.
| Type of pest | Signs |
| Bed bugs |
Black dots like stains on the bed base, the back of the bed, and in the folds of the mattress. |
| Bedbugs on the back of the bed |
Move the head of the bed away from the wall, looking for bedbugs or marks that look like black spots. Do you have fabric on the head of the bed? You will need to tear it off to find the bedbugs and the marks they left. |
| Bedbugs in the closet | If you find bedbugs or signs of bedbugs in your wardrobe, you should wash the clothes in a hot wash – 60 degrees or higher or put them in a dryer for 45 minutes. Can't do either? Put the delicate clothes (in a closed bag) in the freezer or put them in a car parked in direct sunlight (extreme heat or extreme cold will kill the bedbugs). |
| Bedbugs in a suitcase in a bag | If you returned from a hotel, B&B, or motel, chances are the bedbugs you brought home came with your suitcase or bag. Wash the bag in hot water or put it in the dryer. If it's a suitcase, vacuum it from every corner, put it in a sealed bag, and put it in the sun in the car on a hot day (by the way, heat treatment will solve this too). |
| Other insects that sting | Fleas – most bites will be on the legs and you will feel bites both day and night (unlike bedbugs where you will only feel them at night). Mosquitoes – mainly in the afternoon – and if at night then not under clothes (have you been bitten at night under clothes? Suspect bedbugs). |
Where are the bedbugs hiding?
Bedbugs can enter your home without warning through luggage from vacation, recently purchased clothing, secondhand beds and sofas, and other items. Their flat bodies allow them to hide in tiny spaces, about the width of a credit card. Unlike ants or bees, bedbugs don’t have nests, but they tend to live in groups in hidden places. Their favorite hiding places are usually in mattresses, box springs, bed bases, and fabric headboards, where they have easy access to bite people at night.
However, over time they can roam your bedroom, moving into any small space or sheltered spot. They may also spread to other rooms in the house or to nearby apartments.
Because bedbugs live exclusively on blood, having them in your home is not a sign of dirt or unhygienic conditions. You'll likely find them in even fairly clean homes and hotel rooms just as often as you will in filthy homes. So no matter how much you clean your home after you discover bedbugs, they won't go away on their own.
Signs of a bedbug infestation in the home
If you wake up in the morning or in the middle of the night with itchiness all over your body that you didn't have when you went to bed, you may have bed bugs that bit you during the night, especially if you received or bought a used bed or other used furniture before the night the bites started.
Other signs that you may have bed bugs include:
• If you notice blood stains on your sheets, pillowcase, or pillowcase
• If dark stains of bedbug feces appear on sheets, mattresses, bedding, bed base or walls
• If you have bed bug feces, eggshells, or loose skin in areas where bed bugs are hiding
• If there is a strong odor of mold secreted from the insects' scent glands
Suspect bedbugs in your home?
If you suspect an infestation, remove all bedding and carefully check for signs of bed bugs or their droppings. Remove sheets or mattress protectors and examine the bottom of the mattress near the springs for the signs described above, and thoroughly inspect the bed frame joints for dark stains. Also, check the space around the bed, including inside books, phones or electronic devices, carpet edges, and even electrical outlets. Check your closet, as bed bugs can attach to clothes. If you're unsure about bed bug signs, you can look at the attached photos or call an exterminator (you can call us too 🙂) who will know what to look for. If you find signs of infestation, start taking steps to get rid of the bed bugs and prevent their reproduction.
DIY Bed Bug Treatment Methods
To eliminate bed bugs, start with a thorough cleaning of their living areas. Your cleaning routine should include:
Fabric Treatment – Wash all bedding, curtains, and clothing on high heat, then dry them at the highest temperature setting. For shoes, stuffed animals, and items that can't be washed at high temperatures, run them through the dryer on high heat for 30 minutes. Check manufacturer's instructions as items may be damaged above certain temperatures.
Mattress Cleaning – Use a stiff brush to scrub mattress seams to remove bed bugs and their eggs before vacuuming.
Regular Vacuuming – Frequently vacuum the bed and surrounding area. After vacuuming, empty the vacuum container into a sealed plastic bag, tie it securely, and dispose of it in an outdoor trash bin.
Mattress Protection – Encase your mattress in a tight-fitting zippered cover that wraps around both sides to prevent bed bugs from entering or escaping. Since bed bugs can survive up to a year without feeding, keep the cover on your mattress for at least a year to ensure all bugs inside die.
Home Maintenance – Repair wall cracks and consider applying wallpaper to eliminate additional hiding spots.
Decluttering – Reduce clutter and organize the area around your bed.
Heat Treatment for Bed Bugs – Mezikis Method
Bed bugs die when exposed to high temperatures for an extended period. When properly executed, heat treatment is the most effective method for eliminating bed bugs from your home.
When professional and certified pest control experts perform heat treatments, they heat the infested room to approximately 70°C (in practice, bed bugs die within minutes at temperatures above 52.2°C) using specialized heaters and equipment.
Mezikis, the only company in Israel specializing in bed bug heat treatment using specialized equipment imported from the United States
During the heat treatment, we use a unique electric heating system to maintain high temperatures over time, ensuring the elimination of all bed bugs and other pests in the room. The heat treatment process takes 2-3 hours per room, followed by spraying for complete treatment.
?Can heat treatment damage your home or belonging
Although room heat treatment can take several hours, the temperature isn't high enough to cause permanent structural damage to your home. However, it's important to remove all people, pets, plants, and heat-sensitive items from the heated area during treatment. Don't worry – your professional exterminator will advise you when it's safe to return and which items should be removed before heat treatment.
?What should be removed before heat treatment
Houseplants and pets
Alcohol, fresh food, and meltable foods (e.g., chocolate)
All medications
Any wax or plastic items that could melt
Pressurized items (e.g., deodorants, cosmetics, soft drink bottles/cans, wine bottles, etc.)
Flammable items and ammunition
Wooden musical instruments
Oil paintings
Phones, tablets, laptops, and other electronic devices
Before beginning heat treatment, discuss with your professional exterminator which items can remain in place throughout the process. Sensitive items can be placed in storage containers and kept outside during treatment. Inform your certified exterminator about these items, as they may need to be inspected and treated separately to prevent re-introducing bed bugs to your home.
