When bed bugs are found, the first reaction for many is to reach for a can of pesticide spray, bed bug spray or to call a local pest control company or bed bug exterminator. Unfortunately, without careful planning the approach of spraying is not effective in getting rid of bed bugs and can also pose unnecessary health risks.

Fortunately, we have a better approach to successfully eliminate bed bugs in Las Vegas.As does the National Pest Management Association (NPMA), we recommend Integrated Pest Management, also known as IPM.IPM uses all possible control methods (heat, steam, chemicals, encasements, monitoring, etc.) in a systematical and logical approach to minimize the risk of pesticide exposure, safeguard your environment and maximize effectiveness to eliminate 100% of the bed bug infestation.

Pesticide use or spraying is just one possible component of bed bug extermination and it is never done first.Many critical steps need to take place before or if any pesticides are ever applied.In the case of a bed bug infestation, this is easy for K-9 Sweeps! Our goal is to get rid of all bed bugs.

So how do you truly know which rooms require bed bug treatment?
The first step is to have a bed bug expert carefully conduct either visual or bed bug dog inspection.

K-9 Sweeps is a bed bug inspection company an also a correspondent on The Canine Insect Detection Division of the National Pest Management Association to provides guidance to members of NPMA who own or are interested in using canines to detect insects. Historically used to detect termites in structures, canines are now being used to detect bed bugs. The Steering Committee of this division is solely composed of pest management professionals and is advised by trainers and university researchers. Started in 2009, this Division acts as the source of credible information for active members.

The next step is to correctly identify the pest. You’ll want 100% confirmation of the pest or bugs that are found to confirm that it is actually bed bugs you are dealing with.

Once confirmation is made only then can a bed bug treatment plan be recommended.Treatment isn’t just the application of pesticides. There are bed bug treatment options and the right treatment should be used for your particular situation.Treatment will also often involve cleaning up and de-cluttering, among other bed bug preparation that will be needed.  These steps (as well as a few others which should be detailed out for you by your pest control company) need to take place before any type of bed bug extermination can start.

When choosing a pest management professional, always seek out someone who uses a proven IPM approach.

Once you have done your part and the recommended treatment is completed, no matter what treatment method was used (pesticides, chemical, heat treatment, steam, fumigation, cryonite or a combination, monitoring,u-boat replica etc.) you should continue to stay vigilant, inspect and look for any signs of bed bugs.  Monthly pest control is not a requirement for bed bug extermination but you can ask the pest control company to follow up if necessary.

Education is key when dealing with bed bugs.The more you know about bed bugs, their habits and what it truly takes to eliminate them, the better off you will be.

You also might want to review these DO's and DONT's if you have bed bugs.

For information on how to prevent, find or correctly treat bed bugs in Las Vegas, visit www.K-9Sweeps.com or call 702-586-5179.