How can Black Light Help Me Spot Bed Bugs?

You may have heard that black lights are useful for studying insects and spotting scorpions. A black light emits UV light, which has a higher wavelength than visible light. Humans cannot see UV light; it appears purple. But when shined on bed bugs and other insects, the UV light makes them glow. As bed bugs are incredibly good at hiding, this can be a very handy tool for finding them. UV flashlights are inexpensive and available at most hardware stores. With them you can even detect bed bug skin shed on your carpet.

If you think you might have bed bugs, you can use a black light to help you find them. First, clean up the room you are inspecting. Take note that a lot of bed bugs have the ability to nest themselves inside the mattress. Bed bugs are attracted to dirty laundry, so any clothing that is lying around must be placed in sealable plastic bags. Curtains, bed linens, and clean clothing from any dressers or closets within the room should also be bagged to prevent the bugs from scattering. These items should then be washed at the highest allowable temperature. Bag up any other items like books or electrics that may have bed bugs for later treatment. Once the room is tidy, you can begin to inspect any potential hiding spots. If you need any reputable bed bug service to shine a light on your infestation, look no further than Bed Bug Exterminator Toronto.

Bed bugs hide during the daytime, in dark areas that are close to where people sleep. The cracks, crevices, and openings within mattress, bed frame, box spring, nightstand, dresser, table, and upholstered pieces of furniture are typical hiding spots. When looking for any signs of bed bugs, pay close attention to the air holes, edges, corners, seams, screw holes, staples, and joints of your furniture. Bed bugs may also be found in electrical outlets, baseboards, wallpaper, curtains, or artwork hanging on the wall. It is important to look underneath, inside, and behind every piece of furniture when looking for bed bugs.

While using the black light, look for the bed bugs and any debris they leave behind. Bed bugs look a lot like apple seeds. They are 5-7mm in length, oval in shape, and very flat. Under normal light, bed bugs are brown or reddish-brown in colour. If you find a bed bug, it is a good idea to trap it inside a Ziploc bag to show a technician who can confirm the issue. You may find small speckles of bed bug feces inside the hiding spots, as well as little white eggs and skins that have been molted. 

If you see any signs of bed bugs, it is best to call for professional treatment. Searching for bed bugs in this way could disturb the insects and encourage them to spread. It is also difficult to find all of them, even with the help of the black light. At Pest Control Toronto we use a combination of different treatments to eradicate the problem completely. Steam is used to eliminate the bed bugs and their eggs, while commercial-grade insecticides prevent any from coming back. If you have any questions about bed bugs, feel free to give us a call.