Finding a few
bedbugs in the home might not seem like a big deal, right? Just get rid of them and keep moving on. Unfortunately, this is not the right approach, and just spotting a few bugs in the home could spell big problems. This is especially true if those bugs are
bed bugs. Why?
Why A Few Bugs Spell Big Problems
A few bugs about the size of a couple of apple seeds might not seem like a big deal, right? It’s possible that just a few hitchhikers could have found their way into your home. Either way, it spells big problems. It spells even bigger problems if these bugs are
bed bugs and female. One of the reasons for this is because
bed bugs are not solitary creatures. They live together, work together, and thrive together. If you see just one or two bugs, there are likely hundreds around the corner somewhere.
If not, there will be in just a few months, given their prolific mating and breeding abilities. A single female bed bug possesses the ability to lay as many as 500 eggs in a single lifetime. While
bed bugs are hard to procure, you can usually distinguish the males from the female by looking at the abdomens. The females are more round, whereas the males are somewhat pointed.
What makes the situation even more troubling is, bed bugs go out of their way to avoid detection. They will change their entire living habits just to opposite that of yours. For instance, if you work at night and sleep during the day, the bugs will start sleeping when you are at work so they can feed on you when you are at home, asleep, and vulnerable.
Why Bed Bugs Are Hard To Spot
So, you know that these creatures go out of their way to avoid detection. If you are seeing them in and around the property, there is a reason for it. It could be that the population has grown so large that they pushing each other out in the open. It could be that you just got lucky. Another reason that the sighting of a bed bug is a reason to reach out to the pros is that they are extremely stealthy pests. They are already as slim as a credit card but possess the ability to squeeze their bodies into the tiniest openings and cracks.
Along with all of this, they are reddish-brown, allowing them to blend in with most of the everyday surroundings in a home. This with the fact they feed when you are asleep and it just makes everything all the more discouraging. You can clearly see the need to get the pros involved as soon as possible. Above all of this, not everyone reacts to bed bugs bites. One of the best ways to tell that you are dealing with bed bugs is by examining the bites. Unfortunately, this isn’t even possible if you don’t know you are getting bitten.
Some people don’t react to the bites. This is extremely rare, but it is possible. Just something you want to keep in the back of your mind.
Make Sure You Are Dealing With Bed Bugs By Learning The Signs
Going back to bites, just because you are waking up in the middle of the night or in the morning with bites, it doesn’t necessarily mean you are dealing with bed bugs. You could have a flea or mite problem on your hands. This is why you have to learn to confirm the infestation, as hard as it might be. This is just another reason to get the pros involved. A good professional can tell you right away what you are dealing with. They’ll utilize today’s available technology with tried and tested methods to deliver the most efficient and accurate determination possible.
Here are some things, you’ll want to look for when searching for bed bugs in and around the property. These are surefire signs that you could be dealing with a bed bug infestation:
Bloodstains- Bed bugs are parasites, meaning they feed on human blood. This is a process that can be bloody, especially if you inadvertently roll over and squash a bug during the process. This happens all the time. Regardless, it’s going to leave blood on your sheets.
Exoskeletons- Just like a snake, a bed bug will shed its skin. The skin will look just like the bed bug. The only difference is that it will be translucent.
Egg/Egg Casings- The last thing you want is to find eggs and egg casings in the home. This means there will be more bugs to deal with or will soon be more to deal with. They are only about the size of a pinpoint, but they are possible to spot if you know where to look.
Fecal Matter- It sounds disgusting and it is, but in an infestation, you’ll find fecal matter. Bugs have to feed and this is a process that will produce fecal matter. Look for black inkblots on your sheets.
Bite Marks- Not everyone reacts to bed bug bites, but chances are, you will, as 90 percent of the population does. Bed bug bites usually appear like
mosquito or
flea bites, but usually appear on the arms, legs, shins, face, neck areas, and hands.
Musty/Sweet Odors- You know that old familiar soda pop syrup smell? Well, a large bed bug infestation smells the same way. Keep your nostrils open!
Searching For Bed Bugs
While it is recommended to get the pros involved as soon as possible, there are things you can do to search for the bugs on your own. You’ll want to start by relocating the bed away from the wall. This will force what bugs have taken up residence in the mattress to travel up the legs of the bed to access you. You can then place traps under the legs, forcing bugs to travel through the traps before accessing you. With a good, well-placed trap you can trap the bugs in the process.
In addition to this, you can strip the bedding, vacuum the mattress and box spring, and wash the linens. Be sure to wash the linens and bedclothes in hot water and then dry them on the hottest heat settings possible. While this is an excellent tactic, you have to be careful about further spreading the infestation. And, this is the number one reason to get a pro involved. Just remember not to rush to judgment, as choosing the wrong pest management firm could have irreparable consequences. Take your time and choose one that’s willing to go above and beyond.
