Nearly 97% of pest control professionals treat bed bugs in a year.
This proves how important identifying bed bugs is so you can check whether there’s an infestation in your home. Perhaps you’re not sure how they differentiate from other creepy crawlies like fleas and you want to expand your knowledge.
Sound familiar? If yes, you’ve come to the right place. Here’s everything you need to know.
What Do Bed Bugs Look Like?
Before jumping into how to identify bed bugs, we must know what makes them unique. Bed bugs are blood-feeding ectoparasites which is why we find them in our bedrooms as they’re looking for a host.
Bed bugs are tiny but they change sizes depending on where they are in the life cycle. If you want to learn more about it, check out this link: https://www.custombedbug.com/life-cycle/. This type of insect starts as a nymph, at around two to five millimeters, whereas adult bed bugs are a quarter of an inch long.
Although bed bugs don’t have wings, they scuttle quickly across floors, walls, and ceilings. Want to know how to identify bed bug eggs? Know that females can lay hundreds at a time and they look like a speck of dust.
You’ll notice fully grown bed bugs are flat, have an oval-shaped body, six legs, and two antennae. They’re translucent when young but turn dark brown as they age. Note that bed bugs are found all across the U.S but most prevalent in cities and large towns.
Signs of a Bed Bug Infestation
To help you identify bed bugs, it’s crucial to know what an infestation looks like. Luckily, there are telltale signs so even if you can’t physically see them, you’ll know of their presence. For instance, you’ll notice rust-colored stains on your bed sheets or mattresses which show they’ve been crushed.
Not sure how to identify bed bug droppings? Know that they are dark spots and look like an inkblot. Further, you may notice tiny yellow eggs or eggshells that nymphs have shed.
But a major sign is if you feel itchy when you wake up especially if it’s a new sensation. Start by identifying bed bugs on the mattress, removing the bedding, and check the surrounding area for signs of the bugs or their excrement.
Know the Common Hiding Spots
It’s important to note that bed bugs love warmth so take a hard, flat-edged object like a credit card to check your sheets, the seams in your mattress, any folds in the fabric. Bed bugs often hide where humans stay for extended periods which includes couches, reclines, and your office chair so check between seat cushions and where the fabric meets the legs.
You must also check less known areas like your nightstand, dressers, and curtains. Bed bugs may also hide behind loose wallpaper, outlet covers, and inside picture frames so it’s crucial to do a thorough search.
How to Treat Bugs
You’ve discovered you have a bed bug infestation but don’t panic! There are many easy ways to deal with this. For example:
Prepare the Room
You must prepare the room(s) where the bug bugs have been spotted along with the adjacent rooms. Put items that can’t be treated or ones that already have been treated in plastic bags before moving to another room. This is to prevent further infestation.
If your mattress is infested, cover it with a bed bug proof mattress cover before moving along with the box spring and its encasement. Too far gone? Then cover it with plastic before disposing of it to protect sanitation workers. You should also label it so they know what they’re dealing with.
Throw infested pillows, their covers, sheets, and anything with fabric in the washing machine and then in the dryer on a high heat as it’ll kill the bed bugs. Note that contaminated stuffed toys or books should be kept in an air-tight bin with vapor strips to eliminate the bugs.
Spray the Mattress
Get a bed bug treatment spray and spritz it over your mattress especially on the seams, tufts, and folds because that’s where the insects reside. Cover the entire area until it’s damp but wait for it to dry before putting a bed bug proof cover over it. Then you can remake the bed with fresh sheets.
Treat the Room With a Concentrated Insecticide
Once you’ve done the bed, take an insecticide for bed bugs, and mix it with water. Pour the mixture into a sprayer and spritz baseboards, around door or window frames, and under your furniture. Wait for the spray to dry and repeat if needed.
Another useful preventative measure is to apply bedbug dust, a powdered insecticide in cracks, behind furniture, and other hard-to-reach places.
Hire Pest Control Professionals
The most effective way to treat bed bugs is by hiring a pest control professional. Taking matters into your own hands may be dangerous because the chemicals are often toxic and you may use them incorrectly.
But experts know how to handle the treatment properly to keep you and your family are safe. Plus, hiring pest control is far more quickly and you’ll know that bed bug elimination is effective.
That’s Everything About Identifying Bed Bugs
Hopefully, you’ve learned about identifying bed bugs and how to eliminate them.
Those who notice itchy skin and red or dark marks on their bedding must take action to prevent further infestation. It’s important to check the common hiding spots and then start the treatment process starting with the mattress. But it’s wise to hire an expert because they have the tools and expertise to handle the problem safely. Good luck!
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