No one likes it when pests invade your home; however, there's a big difference between a pest that's a mere nuisance and one that makes your life miserable. One such pest that crosses that line is the bed bug.
Bed bugs are small, round, and dark-colored, similar to an apple seed in appearance. Despite their small size, this pest is troublesome and causes plenty of problems for homeowners. And they don't just hide in beds, as their name implies, which means they are difficult to detect if you don't know the signs of an infestation.
Before exploring the signs of a bed bug infestation, it's important to understand that a bed bug infestation actually starts outside of the home. Considered "hitchhiking" pests, bed bugs cling onto items like clothing, laptop cases, purses, seats, and other similar materials in order to gain access to your home.
Protecting Yourself From A Hitchhiking Pest
Since bed bugs hitchhike to get inside your home, the first step in preventing an infestation is trying to keep them out of your home in the first place. It's important to carefully inspect your luggage, purse, carrying cases, secondhand furniture, and anything else that is coming from outside into your home. Keep in mind that any spot as small as the thickness of a credit card is fair game when it comes to bed bug hiding spots.
At this point, you may feel like it's not worth the effort to hunt them down since they're so small. Don't fall into this line of thinking. Bed bugs reproduce rapidly, have been known to cause health problems for homeowners, and are immune to some standard treatments, so a small amount of prevention can save you a big headache later on.
If you have a bed bug infestation on your hands, then nothing short of professional intervention is required to reclaim control of your home. To know when it's time to call in a professional team, it's important you understand the actual signs of an infestation.
Spotting The Signs Of Infestation
So, you think bed bugs have made it into your home, making things miserable for you and everyone else in the house. If you're still unsure if it's a bed bug or a different pest, then pay close attention for the following signs:
- Seeing bed bugs: This is an often overlooked sign, but in truth, if you actually see a bed bug, then you have an infestation. It's never just one bed bug by the time you acquire a visual on this pest.
- Itchy spots: Similar to other pests that dine on your blood, itchy welts are left behind after bed bugs finish feeding. The trick is to look for a cluster or line of them that are red and in locations that were bare during sleep.
- Bloodstains: A bite from a bed bug will bleed for a while thanks to the anticoagulant they release with their bite. This prolonged bleeding often results in bloodstains on the bedding when you wake up, which is a very good sign you have an infestation.
- Evidence: Materials like eggshells, fecal spots, shed skins, and other similar pieces of evidence are left behind by bed bugs. If you see any of these signs, call in the professionals to confirm the infestation.
- Musty odor: As the population of bed bugs grows, the stronger the musty odor they emit becomes. If you smell this odor, it's likely you have a bed bug infestation. Bed bugs release a musty odor from their scent glands, which becomes more noticeable as their population grows.
Eliminate Bed Bugs With Big Blue Bug Solutions
True bed bug control isn't possible without a fully comprehensive approach. At Big Blue Bug Solutions, we have honed our process over more than 80 years to deliver the best bed bug control for Worcester residents.
Don't wait to find out if it's a bed bug infestation or something else. Our team is trained to address all manner of pests so that you can reclaim your home and peace of mind. Call Big Blue Bug Solutions for the latest in bed bug control services.