Topeka exterminators talk bed bug problems

TOPEKA (KSNT) – You might be feeling itchy by the time you finish reading this story.

Bed bugs are a pest nobody wants to deal with in their home or business. Unfortunately for some local Topekans, they might be becoming a larger and more frequent nuisance to deal with.

KSNT 27 News spoke with Corey Cripps with Cripps Pest Control and Guy Cumpton with Ozark Integrated Pest Services about local bed bug problems. Cripps, who has 20 years of experience in the industry, said he’s seeing more cases of bed bugs lately.

“It’s, in my opinion, become a pretty big issue,” Cripps said.

Cumpton weighed in as well, saying bed bugs aren’t an issue unique to Topeka but can be found just about anywhere. He said his office gets around six to 10 calls per week regarding the pests and worked around 400 treatments over the course of 2023.

Cripps said he frequently receives calls about bed bugs for three types of buildings in Topeka: apartments, retirement homes and low-income housing areas.

“Unfortunately, bed bugs and roaches alike, they really hit low-income areas hard,” Cripps said. “That is because those areas, they just don’t have the funds to pay for proper treatments, especially with bed bugs. Bed bug treatments can get pretty pricy with the bigger companies.”

Retirement homes are “a huge issue right now,” according to Cripps. He said having lots of older adults not moving around a whole lot can provide bed bugs with lots of feeding opportunities.

“Bed bugs are non-discriminatory,” Cumpton said. “However, most of our calls are to lower-income facilities. We get called out to various types of clients ranging from doctors’ offices, hospitals, individual homes, churches, and apartments.”

Bed bug bites can result in red bumps appearing on the body. (Photo Courtesy/Getty Images)

“Apartment complexes are really tricky,” Cripps said. “Once one apartment gets them, if you’re attached to that apartment, you’re gonna have a bit of an issue. I’ve treated whole apartment complexes where every unit had bed bugs.”

As far as costs go, Cripps said a typical treatment for bed bugs can run anywhere from $500 to $1,000 depending on how serious the infestation is. This can be an unexpected cost for people in Topeka, especially when considering a recent survey from Bankrate found that a $1,000 emergency could spell financial ruin for more than half of all Americans.

“The difficulty of getting rid of them… they’re masters of hiding in areas, tight spots and they can live up to 12 months without a feeding,” Cripps said. “That becomes an issue.”

Cripps said the key to dealing with a bed bug infestation is speed. The faster you contact an exterminator after spotting signs of bed bugs, the better off you’ll be in the long run.

“Call a reputable, local pest control company that has experience in bed bugs,” Cripps said. “The sooner you get on top of it, the easier and less expensive it’ll be. Once they get established and start laying eggs, that’s when it becomes a much bigger fight. Getting on top of it quickly is the best thing to do.”

“My advice to people currently dealing with bed bugs is that they must call a pest professional to have any success in treating them,” Cumpton said. “There are a ton of over-the-counter products available however, most of them do not work and are a waste of money. If by chance you could purchase the correct products, it is crucial to know where to apply those products to be successful.”

Cripps has responded to around 50 homes over the last year in the Topeka area for bed bugs. He encourages people to learn what the signs of bed bugs are and regularly check furniture like mattresses and couches along with luggage after traveling.

“It used to be cockroaches that were the hardest thing to get rid of, but now it’s bed bugs with cockroaches coming in a close second,” Cripps said.

If you think you’ve been exposed to bed bugs, Cumpton said you should remove your clothes immediately when you get home while in the garage or laundry room. Put your clothes in a dryer on high heat for at least 45 minutes as this will kill any bugs hitching a ride on your clothes.

“It is also recommended to thoroughly inspect your mattresses once a week if you feel like you were exposed to bed bugs,” Cumpton said. “Again, it is always a good idea to call a professional for a proper inspection if you feel you have been exposed to bed bugs.”

What are bed bugs?

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says on its website that bed bugs are small, flat insects that survive by feeding on the blood of animals and people while they sleep. This parasitic behavior leads to itching and loss of sleep for people who live in an infested location. However, the bugs pose little real health risks unless you are allergic to their bites since the insects do not spread diseases.

A close-up of a Common Bed Bug found in Connecticut. (Photo Courtesy/Getty Images)

The CDC says several signs could indicate a local bed bug infestation:

Bite marks on the face, neck, arms, hands or any other body parts while sleeping (Some bite marks may take up to 14 days to develop).

Bed bug exoskeletons after they molt.

Bed bugs in the fold of mattresses and sheets.

Rusty-colored blood spots due to the blood-filled fecal matter they leave on furniture.

A sweet, musty odor.

When bed bugs bite people, they inject an anesthetic and anticoagulant that prevents victims from realizing they are being bitten, according to the CDC. Some people won’t know they’ve been bitten until days after the initial bite.

The bite marks are similar to that of a mosquito or a flea. Bed bug bites affect people differently as some may not develop any signs of being bitten while those with an allergic reaction may display enlarged bite marks, painful swellings and other symptoms.

Bed bugs are great at hiding as their slim bodies allow them to squeeze into narrow spaces and remain hidden for a long period without feeding, according to the CDC. Bed bugs are usually transported from one place to another in the seams and folds of luggage, overnight bags, folded clothes, bedding, furniture and other items that present them with hiding places. Many people do not realize they are transporting bed bugs.

For more information on bed bugs and how to treat them, check out these links below:

CDC

Kansas Department of Health and Environment

Shawnee County Health Department

Environmental Protection Agency

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