Anyone who’s lived through a bed bug infestation knows what a hellish experience it could be. And all those unfortunate people give you one common advice: Deal with bed bugs before it’s too late. Because once there is a full-blown infestation, it’s quite impossible to get a grip on it. So, you need to know how to check for bed bugs.
Some might think that waking up with bite marks on your body is how you become aware of infestation in your home. Well, it’s not that simple because many other insect bites can look and feel like bed bugs. Therefore, regular checking is the only way. Read on to find more.
How To Identify Bed Bugs
To conduct an inspection, you first need to know to identify bed bugs. Well, these are tiny insects with oval-shaped bodies. Full-grown bed bugs look brownish red in appearance. These insects are flat, but they swell up in size after a blood meal.
Eggs and Dwelling spots
A key identifying feature of bed bugs is that they don’t fly. Although, you will see them moving fast across surfaces. Their eggs look like dust particles and are a sign of severe infestation if found. One mother bug will lay hundreds of eggs like this in her lifetime.
Bed bugs thrive in moderate temperatures. They can also survive in relatively cold environments (as low as 70 C). However, the bugs will avoid areas where it’s hotter than 45oC. This temperature preference, plus their flat bodies, make the various cracks and crevices in your room ideal hiding spots for bed bugs.
Signs of Bed Bugs
Bites are the most obvious manifestation of a bed bug problem. They might painfully wake you up at night and leave nasty itchy spots on the skin the next day. However, some people have less reactive skin. So, they might not feel anything when the bug bites during their sleep. Although you will indeed find these well-known bed bug signs-
- Blood stains on your bed sheets or cushions, probably from squished bugs who just had a blood meal
- Brownish or rusty dark ink-like spots, which are bed bug excrement.
- Pale and dusty collections (consisting of eggs, eggshells, and skin sheds.)
Where To Inspect For Bed Bugs
As you can identify the bloodsuckers now, it’s time to learn how to check for bed bugs. Well, inspection for bed bugs, of course, starts with the bed. So, first, you should be checking bed bugs in mattress.
However, the best way to deal with the situation is to get the help of a professional bed bug inspection service. Click here to contact one the bed bug professionals.
Bed and Relevant Structures
Sometimes you might directly find bugs and eggs on your mattress. If not, check the other parts of the bed, too, such as the seams, mattress tags, and pipes. You should also check the cracks of your bed’s headboard and frame.
However, despite bite marks and other signs, you may not find any bugs in your bed. That’s because these insects can travel up to 20 feet from their hiding places to suck blood from a host. So, you have to inspect other areas of your room too.
Furniture
After the bed, the piece of furniture bed bugs seems to prefer the most is the couch. The cushions and seams of your sofa can provide the perfect abode for these insects. So, you want to inspect the couch and look for signs carefully.
Next, you should check any furniture that has drawers. Because bed bugs usually prefer the joints of drawers to hide during the daytime.
Walls and Curtains
If you still haven’t found the bed bugs, you will likely catch them on your room’s surfaces. For instance, loose wallpaper or hanging picture frames are ideal places for the bugs to reside. You might also want to check the curtain folds. The wall and ceiling/floor junctions are another essential spot to inspect.
Also, be sure to check the electrical outlets on your wall. These areas provide a suitable environment for the bugs to continue their life cycle. If there are other types of electrical appliances in the room, you should check them too.
Conclusion
It only takes a month for a nymph to mature into full-grown bed bugs. And in just one year, they can increase into three to four generations. In other words, they can spread like fire if you don’t deal with them at the right time. So, learn how to check for bed bugs and keep your home free from infestation.
Sources
https://www.webmd.com/skin-problems-and-treatments/guide/bedbugs-infestation
https://www.mandmpestcontrol.com/how-do-i-know-if-i-have-bed-bugs/
