Tips to Identify a Bed Bug Infestation
Bed bugs probably sound like a faraway nightmare to most. Yet, little do many American homeowners know that nearly one in five households are affected by bed bug infestations each year. Since bed bugs aren’t picky when choosing their environments, they can hitchhike long distances, and even the highest-rated hotels may be infested. Fortunately, signs of a bed bug infestation are evident when you know what to look for. Check out the six most common symptoms of a bed bug infestation here:
Red, itchy bug bites
It typically takes 24-48 hours before a bed bug bite appears. These blood-feasting creatures feed at night and usually leave small, red bites in a line. Therefore, you or a loved one may awake one morning with unexplainable itchy spots on your hands, arms, and legs. Though less than a third of bed bug situations result in bug bites, they are still a logical place to begin diagnosing your pest dilemma.
Blood and stains on bed linens
A homeowner should never ignore random bloodstains popping up on their sheets. Whether it be small smears or rust-colored splotches, bed bugs often leave evidence after every meal. Areas where it is common to find bloodstains are pillows and mattresses. In addition to blood, you may find tiny black or brown spots that resemble an ink stain from a pen. These spots are fecal matter and are often found in clusters on bedsheets.
Skin casings or shells
Bed bugs molt and shed their translucent skins during the process. Finding small yellowish or transparent casings in areas that might harbor bed bugs is a good sign you have them. The exoskeletons of bed bugs are pretty tiny. Be sure to contact a licensed bed bug control specialist if you happen to find them.
Eggs from a bed bug
Like the casings, you may find eggs from a bed bug infestation somewhere tucked near the nooks and crannies of a bed or mattress. Eggs are white and only about 1mm long.
A musty smell
If a musty smell suddenly arises in a bedroom, it may be a quick indicator of a bed bug problem. Though unusual smells can come from dirty laundry or old pipes, this isn’t the most tell-tale sign of pests. However, when combined with the other signs of an infestation, bed bug pheromones like dead bugs, skin casings, and droppings form a rather unpleasant scent. Moreover, the smell worsens as the infestation grows.
Actual bed bugs
Most people assume the most unambiguous indication of a bed bug infestation is spotting a live one. However, pest control professionals get calls about beetles, ticks, and other miniature insects parading as bed bugs every day. It may take a trained eye to know the presence of a bed bug, but this, along with all of the other signs above, is safe to say you have them.
Contact a licensed bed bug extermination company if you are still uncertain if you have bed bugs or if you know you have them and want them gone. Bed bugs are a nuisance and take as much toll on a home’s residents physically as they do mentally. You and your loved ones shouldn’t have to live in fear or worry of another bite or stain, nor do you need to solve this globally widespread problem alone.
Kinder Safe Pest Solutions offers 17 years experience in commercial and residential pest control serving Manatee, Sarasota, Charlotte, Hillsborough, and Pinellas Counties. Call (941)254-2180 today!