Due to bed bug infestation, your home can become unbearable and unfit to stay in, especially at night. Bed Bugs are small, oval, brownish insects that feed on human and animal blood. These pests are hard to find and even get rid of them. You need to be cautious and look for signs to know that your home is infested with bedbugs. They can be a nuisance and affect your pets and children, leading to stress and ruining their peace of mind. One way to eliminate them is to note them on the early signs. This article will explore signs to look for if you are worried you might have a bedbug infestation.
Where do Bed Bugs Hide
The bed bugs are tiny and can hide just anywhere. You need to know where to look when inspecting how many infestations they have caused. Most bed bugs look for a hiding place and tend to stick to it. Some of the common places they hide include:
- The walls, which include baseboards, door frames, curtains, pictures, electrical outlets, and windows
- The bed is the place they hide. You can find them on pillows, seams, headboards, bed springs, and bed frames.
- Next to the Bed in the stands, dressers, storage boxes, and rugs
- The furniture they will hide in the couches, bookshelves, desks, tables, pet beds, and chairs
Early Signs of Bed Bugs
Since they are small, it can be hard to identify them sometimes. However, consider looking for trustworthy pest control near me to get a team to help you inspect the rate of infestation and help you get rid of bed bugs and any other pest that might have infested your home. Eliminating the bedbugs from the source will ensure you have a good and stress-free time around your home.
However, there are signs you can consider checking to know if bed bugs infest your home. Please don’t ignore any signs you see to ensure you eliminate them before they grow.
The Odor
When bed bugs infest your home, you will smell an unusual musty odor for no apparent reason. The smell will feel like wet towels, moldy laundry, or rust when the infestation is great. If you have cleaned your house but still feel such smells, it might indicate that bed bugs infest your house. When bed bugs feel threatened or bothered, they often emit pheromones that produce odors that might smell slightly musty and sweet. Most people who have experienced it often compare the smell to that of almonds, cilantro, coriander, or berries. It’s often impossible to notice such smells as it’s often faint. However, as the bed bugs grow in number, they tend to emit unpleasant smells as a result of the mixture of dead bed bugs and bed bug cerement. When you notice any unusual smells, inspect your bed and other places.
Bites
Bed bugs will often feed on human blood. Most times, you will be attacked at night when sleeping by bedbugs. When they bite, they cause small red itchy bumps. Most often, they will bite the hands, legs, or any part of the body that is exposed. After the bite, the bedbug can tend to disappear mysteriously. It’s important to note that not all people have skin reactions due to bed bug bites. You need to inspect your bed if you wake up with an itch bump. The bites may appear as a single bite or in random patterns. The bites are usually not dangerous and don’t transmit any disease.
However, you might experience an allergic reaction due to certain chemicals in the bed bug’s saliva. You need to seek medical attention if you are experiencing severe itchiness, painful swelling, blisters, fever, or flu-like symptoms after being bitten.
Bloodstains
Bed bugs are often tiny and flat, but after feeding on your blood, their appearance will change to a round, bloated form. You might inadvertently crush a bed bug that just finished feeding when you shift position immediately after a bit. This will lead to leakage of some blood they just fed, creating noticeable red stains. You can check if there are any blood stains on your sheets, clothes, or pillow. If you don’t have a cut or scar, it might be the blood left behind by the bed bug. Further, the saliva of the bed bug contains an anticoagulant that prevents your blood from clotting when they are feeding. This can continue even after they have finished feeding, hence the blood strains.
Bottom Line
Bed bugs multiply by laying eggs that can be visible during your inspection. It’s important to take note of everything when doing the inspection or when you doubt bed bugs might infest your home. Look at the above signs in your home. Look for pest control solutions before the bed bugs grow more.
