Bed bug calls to Murray Pest Control have been increasing in Stillwater and throughout central Oklahoma — driven by increased travel, expanding secondhand furniture markets, and greater awareness of what bed bug signs actually look like. Here’s what Oklahoma homeowners most need to understand about this challenging pest.
Do Bed Bugs Transmit Disease?
Unlike mosquitoes and ticks, bed bugs are not known to transmit diseases to humans through their bites. However, this doesn’t mean they’re harmless. Bed bug bites cause itchy, red welts that can become infected from scratching. More significantly, bed bug infestations cause documented psychological effects — anxiety, insomnia, and the persistent stress of knowing insects are feeding on you while you sleep. Studies have linked severe infestations to significant quality of life impacts. The absence of disease transmission doesn’t make bed bugs a minor problem.
How Bed Bugs Are Spreading in Oklahoma
Bed bug populations are rising nationally and locally for several reasons. Post-pandemic travel has increased — hotels, Airbnbs, and other accommodation are common transmission sources. The secondhand furniture market has grown significantly, and upholstered furniture is one of the most common ways bed bugs enter Oklahoma homes. University housing in Stillwater and college towns throughout Oklahoma are high-transmission environments where students can unknowingly bring bed bugs home during breaks.
How to Check for Bed Bugs in Oklahoma Hotels
Before settling into any hotel or rental accommodation: pull back the sheets and check mattress seams for rust-colored blood stains, dark fecal spots (about the size of a felt pen dot), shed skins, or live bugs (reddish-brown, flat, apple-seed size). Check the headboard and bed frame as well. Use the luggage rack — kept away from walls — rather than placing luggage on the bed or floor. When you return home from travel, inspect luggage before bringing it inside and immediately wash and heat-dry all clothing.
Why Professional Treatment Is Required
Bed bugs are exceptionally difficult to eliminate without professional treatment. They hide in wall voids, inside electrical outlets, behind picture frames, inside electronics, in book spines, and throughout room furniture — well beyond where any consumer product can reach. Bug bombs (foggers) are actively counterproductive — they scatter bed bugs to untreated areas, turning a localized infestation into a whole-room or whole-home problem. Murray Pest Control’s bed bug treatment begins with a thorough inspection to map all infested areas, followed by professional-grade treatment targeting all life stages, and a follow-up inspection to verify complete elimination.
Murray Pest Control’s Approach in Central Oklahoma
We serve Stillwater, Edmond, Norman, and central Oklahoma with professional bed bug inspection and treatment. We provide a preparation checklist so you know exactly what to do before our visit, walk you through the treatment process, and schedule a follow-up to confirm elimination. If bed bugs return after our treatment during the warranty period, we retreat at no additional charge. Call 405-377-7777 for a free bed bug inspection.
Have a pest problem in Oklahoma? We can help.
Jake Murray is the owner of Murray Pest Control in Stillwater, Oklahoma, and holds a B.S. in Entomology from Oklahoma State University.