There is one fear common in every household: bed bugs. The last thing anyone wants in their home is pests, but bed bugs are on their own level. Other pests can be exterminated pretty quick and easy. Bed bugs, however, require more attention and the process is longer. If you find yourself asking whether or not you may have an infestation, there are a few tips how to know if you have bed bugs in Portland ME.

6 Tell Tale Signs of Bed Bugs

1.       Bed bug bites. The most common sign that you have a bed bug infestation is the appearance of bite marks on your body. To tell the difference between a bed bug bite and a bite from a different insect, look for: flat, red welts that are usually itchy and are in a cluster together. Usually they are found on the chest, neck, hands, feet, and face. Since the bite marks of bed bugs are very similar to other insects, these alone cannot be sure evidence of bed bugs.

2.       Bed bug blood stains. Easy to find on lighter colored sheets, these blood stains occur when you move around in your sleep and crush some of the bed bugs. The stains are a reddish, rusty color.

3.       Bed bug fecal matter. Like every insect, bed bugs leave behind traces of feces. The signs of fecal matter are dark, black stains that can resemble the tip of a felt pen against your bedsheets.

4.       Bed bug eggs. The eggs are almost a translucent white color and shaped like a grain of rice. They will mostly be found on fabric or other rough surfaces that the eggs can stick to.

5.       Bed bug shells. Bed bugs shed their skin about 5 times in their life cycle. when they shed, they leave behind this hard shell which resembles popcorn kernels.

6.       Bed Bug smell. All bed bugs give off alarm pheromones that are very musty in smell. You won’t be able to smell them if there are only a few, but if you’ve reached the point where you can smell them, you have a serious infestation problem.

Professionals Know if You Have Bed Bugs in Portland ME

If you are seeing these signs of bed bugs, but are still uncertain if you have an infestation, call Maine Bed Bugs and Pest Control. Our professional bed bug experts can tell if you have bed bugs in your Portland ME home. Give us a call today at (207) 650-8654.