How Can I Tell if I Have Bed Bugs?
Bed bugs aren’t dangerous, but they are a nasty and inconvenient problem. You can get shivers up your spine just thinking about having those teeny tiny crawlers nesting in your home, but how can you tell if you have bed bugs in your home? The signs can be hard to detect if you don’t know what you’re looking for, but if you do know the signs, you will have no trouble finding out if your home has been invaded.
Signs That You Have Bed Bugs
Knowing the signs of a bed bug infestation can help you get rid of them before they multiply and become an even bigger problem. Here are some to look for:
● Red, itchy bites. Bed bug bites appear as red, flat welts in a cluster. While bed bugs don’t transmit disease to humans, the bites can still be irritating. Just going off bed bug bites is not enough to determine if you have an infestation because the bites can look like other bug bites.
● Blood stains. If you have darker sheets, this sign will be harder to see, but if you have lighter sheets, look for signs of blood stains. When you move during the night, you inadvertently crush bed bugs, causing their blood to smear on your sheets and pillowcases.
● Fecal matter. Just like every other living creature, bed bugs poop. If you have an infestation, you will see signs of bed bug fecal matter. Most often, it will appear on your sheets as if a black, felt-tipped marker has been rubbed against them. You should also look for signs of fecal matter on the seams of your mattress and in the corners of your box spring.
● Eggshells. Bed bugs reproduce and that will leave a sign. The eggshells are pearly white when first laid and they have a sticky residue to help them cling to surfaces for safekeeping until they are ready to be born. Eggshells are the shape of a grain of rice and very small, yet still visible to the naked eye. As bed bugs lay a lot of eggs, you will find them clumped together and on the softer surfaces of your mattress and box spring.
● Bed bugs themselves. Looking at your mattress and box spring, if you see a little critter scurrying around, you definitely have a bed bug infestation. Adult bed bugs are easily seen with the naked eye so you won’t miss them.
● Scent. Bed bugs give off a very distinctive musty odor. If the infestation is small, you probably won’t notice the smell. Once you notice the smell, the infestation has gotten bad and it’s time to call the exterminator.
Expert Exterminator
When you have bed bugs in your home, you’re in no danger, but you still want them out as soon as possible. If you’re finding any of the signs of bed bugs, call Maine Bed Bugs and Pest Control. We are expert bed bug exterminators and we will restore peace to your home quick. Call us today at (207) 650-8654.