Bed Bug Information: Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions About Bed Bugs in NYC, NY, NJ, and CT

Wondering how to tell if you have bed bugs or how to treat bed bugs in your home or office? Let the experts at Bed Environmental answer all your bed bug detection and bed bug control questions. By the time you see one bed bug it may be too late— you may already have a bed bug infestation. Read through these important bed bug FAQs to be on the offense, not defense.

🛏️ Bed Bug FAQs – What You Need to Know

What are bed bugs, and how do they live?

Bed bugs are small, flat insects (about the size of an apple seed) that feed on human blood. They’re reddish-brown, wingless, and very good at hiding in tight cracks and seams. Bed bugs don’t fly or jump—but they crawl quickly and spread fast.

They go through five life stages before becoming adults. Bed bugs hatch from tiny white eggs, about the size of a pinhead. After hatching, they must feed on blood to grow and molt. This process takes a few weeks under warm conditions. Adult females can lay hundreds of eggs in their lifetime, often hidden in seams, cracks, or soft furnishings.

These bugs are nocturnal and typically bite at night, which is why many people notice itchy red marks in the morning.

Call Bell Environmental at 877-376-1775 or visit our Contact Us page to schedule an expert bed bug inspection.

How can I tell if I have bed bugs?

Signs of bed bugs aren’t always obvious, but there are clues. Look for:

Red, itchy bites (often in a line or cluster)
Tiny rust-colored stains or dark specks on sheets and mattresses
Shed skins or translucent bug shells
Live bugs (often hiding along seams or edges of mattresses)

You may not feel bites right away—some people don’t react at all. Bed bugs often hide during the day in cracks, headboards, box springs, couches, and even behind picture frames.

If you suspect bed bugs, don’t wait—they spread quickly.

For fast help in NY, NJ, or CT, call Bell Environmental at 877-376-1775 or visit https://bell-environmental.com/contact-bell-and-roscoe/ today.

Can I see bed bugs with my own eyes?

Yes! Adult bed bugs are about the size of a lentil and can be seen without a microscope. However, eggs and young nymphs are much smaller and harder to spot. Eggs look like tiny grains of rice and are often stuck to surfaces in hard-to-see places.

Because they hide in tight, dark spaces, a flashlight and magnifying glass can help. But keep in mind—even trained pros sometimes have trouble spotting them with the naked eye.

To be sure, call Bell Environmental and let Roscoe the Bed Bug Dog sniff them out—877-376-1775 or visit our Contact Us page today.

Where do bed bugs hide in my home or office?

Bed bugs are excellent at hiding. You’ll often find them in:

Mattress seams and box springs
Bed frames and headboards
Couch cushions and seams
Behind wall outlets or baseboards
Inside cracks, crevices, and even behind wallpaper

In offices and public spaces, they can be found in chairs, cubicles, coat closets, and carpet edges.

They can travel between rooms and apartments by crawling through electrical conduits, baseboards, or shared walls. That’s why full inspections and wide-area treatments are needed—not just treating where you see them.

Need a comprehensive bed bug check? Call Bell Environmental at 877-376-1775 or visit our Contact Us page today.

Why can’t I just spray the spot where I saw a bug?

Spot spraying only treats what you can see—and that’s not enough. Bed bugs hide deep in cracks and crevices and lay eggs in hard-to-reach areas. Killing one bug won’t stop an infestation. In fact, when disturbed, they may scatter and hide even deeper.

Effective treatment requires inspecting and treating all potential hiding spots, not just one area. Eggs and nymphs need different approaches, and each treatment must be thorough.

Don’t waste time chasing them with a spray bottle. Call Bell Environmental for professional bed bug removal: 877-376-1775 or visit our Contact Us page today.

Do store-bought sprays kill bed bugs?

Most over-the-counter sprays are not effective. Bed bugs have developed resistance to many pesticides. Worse, sprays can push them deeper into walls, furniture, or other rooms. We often see bedbugs flee to places like on bathroom ceilings where they wouldn’t normally live, that’s because the victim sprayed a product that aggravated the insects, but didn’t kill them.

Some sprays give a false sense of control. Meanwhile, the infestation grows and the bugs come back in greater numbers. Plus, chemical residues can be harmful to people and pets—especially when used in bedrooms or healthcare settings.

Skip the sprays. Call Bell Environmental and ask about safe, chemical-free bed bug solutions: 877-376-1775 or visit our Contact Us page today.

Why are bed bugs so hard to kill with pesticides now?

Over time, bed bugs have evolved resistance to many common insecticides. It’s nature’s version of trial and error: the bugs that survive chemical treatments pass on their stronger traits to the next generation.

This resistance means that many standard sprays just don’t work anymore—especially when used improperly or in small amounts. And bed bugs reproduce quickly, making it even harder to catch up.

That’s why Bell Environmental uses non-chemical treatments like InstantFreeze, which kill bugs instantly without relying on chemicals. Call 877-376-1775 or visit our Contact Us page today.

What’s the best way to find hidden bed bugs?

The most reliable methods combine trained human inspection and canine scent detection. Human techs can visually inspect mattresses, furniture, and crevices, but bed bugs are very good at hiding.

Certified bed bug detection dogs like Roscoe can smell live bugs and eggs—even inside walls or behind baseboards. This allows us to find infestations early, before they spread.

Want the nose that knows? Schedule Roscoe the Bed Bug Dog and a Bell technician: 877-376-1775 or visit our Contact Us page today.

Who is Roscoe the Bed Bug Dog?

Roscoe is a trained scent detection dog who can sniff out live bed bugs and eggs with incredible accuracy. He works with his handler to inspect beds, furniture, offices, and even hospital rooms without disturbing the space.

Roscoe’s nose is specially trained to detect the unique scent of bed bugs—even behind walls, under carpets, or inside electronics. He helps us find the exact location of bugs so we can treat only the affected areas and avoid guesswork.

Request an inspection with Roscoe at 877-376-1775 or visit our Contact Us page today.

How does Bell Environmental’s InstantFreeze CO2 treatment work?

InstantFreeze is a non-toxic bed bug treatment that uses carbon dioxide (CO2) snow to instantly freeze and kill bed bugs and their eggs on contact. There’s no chemical residue, no odor, and no damage to furniture or electronics.

The treatment reaches into cracks and crevices where bugs hide—without moisture, so it won’t damage fabric or wood. Unlike steam, which can cause mold or staining, or heat, which carries fire risk, InstantFreeze is clean, precise, and safe for sensitive environments.

Call Bell Environmental to ask about InstantFreeze: 877-376-1775 or visit our Contact Us page today.

Do you treat more than just beds and mattresses?

Absolutely. Bed bugs can hide in couches, nightstands, chairs, baseboards, curtain seams, dressers—even electrical outlets. That’s why our team treats all areas where bed bugs live and lay eggs, not just the bed.

Spot treating only one area won’t solve the problem. Bed bug treatments must reach every surface, seam, and crack that bugs could use.

Need a thorough treatment in your home, apartment, or office? Call Bell Environmental at 877-376-1775 or visit our Contact Us page today.

Can you treat offices and commercial spaces too?

Yes. Bed bugs don’t just live in homes—they’re found in office chairs, cubicles, break rooms, waiting areas, and more. They can hitchhike in on employees’ bags or jackets and spread from desk to desk.

We provide discreet, after-hours service to avoid disruption and protect your company’s reputation. No harsh chemicals or downtime needed—especially with InstantFreeze.

To protect your workplace, contact Bell Environmental at 877-376-1775 or visit our Contact Us page today.

Is bed bug treatment safe for hospitals or assisted living?

Yes. Bell Environmental specializes in treating healthcare and senior living environments. We use chemical-free treatments like InstantFreeze that are safe for patients, residents, and sensitive medical equipment.

We understand infection control and follow all necessary precautions to prevent contamination. Bed bugs in hospitals or care facilities can shut down rooms or wings—so fast, effective service is critical.

If you manage a healthcare facility, call Bell Environmental at 877-376-1775 or visit our Contact Us page today.

How much does a bed bug treatment cost?

Every home and office is different and our prices vary depending on the size of the space, the level of infestation, how much furniture is involved, and other factors. Bed bug jobs require detailed work—treating all cracks and crevices in every piece of furniture where bugs may hide.

Bell Environmental provides expert inspections and honest estimates based on what your property needs—not flat fees or cookie-cutter solutions. Our prices are competitive with for the work needed to solve bed bug issues in your home and office.

For an estimate, call 877-376-1775 or visit our Contact Us page today.

Why is bed bug treatment priced differently than regular pest control?

Bed bug work takes more time and precision. Unlike other pests, bed bugs require crack-and-crevice treatments in every room where they might be hiding. It’s not just about spraying—it’s about deep inspections, careful application, and knowing where they nest.

Every job is custom. Our trained technicians inspect, detect, and treat every surface that might harbor bed bugs or eggs. This detailed process is why pricing is different—and why shortcuts don’t work.

Trust the pros at Bell Environmental—call 877-376-1775 or visit our Contact Us page today.

❌ Why isn’t steam a good way to get rid of bed bugs?

Steam may sound like a natural option for killing bed bugs, but it has serious drawbacks.

Steam can only treat bugs that are directly hit by the hot vapor—and bed bugs are great at hiding in deep cracks, behind walls, and inside furniture seams. If the steam doesn’t reach them, it won’t kill them. Even worse, steam is full of moisture. That wet heat can soak into mattresses, upholstery, wood, or electronics—and lead to water damage, mold, and warping.

Because of those risks, steam treatments can’t be used everywhere in your home, office, or healthcare facility. They’re limited, messy, and often ineffective for large or hidden infestations.

Bell Environmental uses InstantFreeze CO₂ treatment instead—a dry, precise, chemical-free method that kills bed bugs and eggs instantly without damaging your furniture. Call us at 877-376-1775 or visit our Contact Us page today.

🔥 Isn’t dry heat an effective bed bug treatment?

Dry heat can kill bed bugs—but it’s not as safe or practical as it sounds.

Whole-room heat treatments raise indoor temperatures to over 120°F for hours. That means every room has to be emptied of anything that can melt, warp, or catch fire—including electronics, candles, art, medications, personal items. Preparation is a significant job. And even with all that work, bed bugs can sense heat and crawl into cool hiding spots—inside walls, deep inside furniture or under floors—then come right back after the treatment ends.

There’s also real fire risk during and after heat treatments. Fire suppression systems need to be capped. We’ve seen melted outlets, warped floors, and damaged furniture. Rooms are dehydrated and left in a vulnerable state. For hospitals, offices, and homes with vulnerable people or equipment, that risk is too high.

That’s why Bell Environmental uses InstantFreeze—a dry, non-toxic CO₂ snow that freezes bed bugs and eggs on contact with zero fire risk. Call 877-376-1775 or visit our Contact Us page to learn more.

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