Bed bug infestations are notoriously difficult to control. If you don’t know how to hire the right bed bug extermination company in Elmont, NY, you could very well end up wasting money and time, and still have an infestation in your home. Knowing a few crucial pieces of information will ensure that you hire a company that will get the job done right.
Ask the Right Questions
Because the resurgence of bed bugs in the United States is a relatively new predicament, many pest control professionals are not familiar with the necessary protocols. With that said, more and more pest control professionals are gaining the necessary experience and education to deal with bed bugs. You will want to know how to tell the difference between someone who knows what they’re doing and someone who does not have the necessary specialized knowledge. In order to find out the depth of an extermination company’s knowledge, you need to ask the right questions. How long have they been in the business? Do they have any specific education, certification, or training? They should answer ‘yes’ to these questions and they should readily provide their pest control operator license and their membership credentials to a local, state, or national pest management association. What is their success rate? Can they provide you with references? Ideally, you should be able to verify the information provided to you with a couple of past clients.
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Expect a Thorough Inspection
Any worthwhile bed bug exterminator will diagnose the extent of the infestation. No treatments, not a single drop of pesticide, should be applied without an efficient inspection. An inspection will take longer than a few minutes. A bed bug exterminator will pay careful attention to harborages, or bed bug hideouts, and search each room of your house. Most importantly, your exterminator will show you the evidence that has led to the given diagnosis. This means your exterminator will show you proof of live bed bugs. Evidence of bed bug activity, such as empty bed bug egg shells, molted skin ‘husks’ that they periodically shed, and dried waste matter is prove a current or past infestation. Signs of a current bed bug infestation include bed bug eggs that have not hatched, fresh waste matter, and live bed bug nymphs and adults.
Know What to Expect of a Treatment Protocol
Because bed bug infestations are so notoriously difficult to combat, an integrative pest management approach is a must. This means that several different techniques will be utilized. The killing of live bed bugs is only part of the treatment. A good exterminator will clearly communicate why he or she is choosing a specific treatment in regards to your particular space and infestation. Your exterminator should share how many treatments they expect to administer before the infestation is completely eradicated. It is common to need one or several follow-up treatments. Names of chemicals should be given to you. Ideally an MSDS sheet will be provided. Safety precautions should be communicated before starting any treatment, with special attention paid to the safety of pets, children, and pregnant women. Lastly, your exterminator should explain how to monitor the effectiveness of each treatment.
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