Bed bugs are bad news. Like many unwelcome pests, bed bugs are good at moving in and bad at moving out. Getting rid of a bed bug infestation is easiest when the visitors are still relatively new; give them time to breed and you’ll find it’s a lot harder to kick them out. Spotting bed bugs before the infestation takes over your home is all about knowing what to look for. Our Vegas pest control experts have got the inside information on how to spot bed bugs.
What’s So Bad About Bed Bugs?
You may ask yourself: what’s so bad about bed bugs? Bed bugs aren’t known to transmit diseases to humans. Their goal in life is vampiric; they just want your blood. Fully grown adult bed bugs are about the size of an apple seed and a dark brown color before eating. They feed on human or animal blood and swell up after a meal, turning a reddish color. Female bed bugs are capable of laying 100 eggs at a time. Spotting eggs with the naked eye is nearly impossible, as each one is about the size of a speck of dust. With how quickly they reproduce you can understand how easy it is for an infestation to get out of hand. Not only is it gross to have hundreds of bugs sharing a bed with you, but you’ll find yourself waking up covered in bites once they inhabit the home. Once they settle in professional pest control is necessary to get them out.
Bed Bug Living Situations: Where to Find Them
Bed bugs are so named because their preferred hiding spot is in your bed. Anywhere they can get easy access to humans is a good spot for a bed bug. Unlike ants, bed bugs don’t have a single colony. They instead prefer to spread out over concentrated areas, such as in your bed springs. Bed bugs are creative in their hiding spaces, squeezing into any undisturbed area wide enough for a credit card to pass through. Once an infestation is allowed to grow you can expect to find them spread throughout the room. Rather than just being in the bed, bed bugs will settle into electrical outlets, screw joints, and drawer slots. They’re not shy about traveling for their meals, either! Bed bugs have been known to travel 20 feet at each mealtime for a taste of your blood.
Signs You May Have Bed Bugs
While bed bugs love to nibble on you, bites aren’t the best indication of an infestation. Bed bug bites can often be mistaken as mosquito or ant bites. Some people don’t even react to bed bug bites! Our advice is to rely on physical evidence instead of speculating on bites. Look for reddish stains on the bed. Instances of small red stains can indicate bugs being crushed or their bowel movements. Dark spots the size of a ballpoint pen tip are excrement. The natural composition of bed bug excrement lets it bleed, similar to how a marker would. It can be pretty noticeable! While they are tiny, eggshells can be visible as small yellow shells. Fragments of those are found in areas such as bed frames, headboards, or even nearby books where the bed bugs felt comfortable enough to leave their young. As the bugs grow, they shed skin that can be spotted with a careful eye. Look for yellow casings scattered around their hiding spots. Remember that early infestations are the easiest to treat but the hardest to spot. If you suspect any bed bug activity, don’t hesitate to call a trusted local pest control company. For more tips on how to spot bed bugs and other pest related please contact Dr. Death Pest Control.
