Nobody wants to discover that they have any pests in their home, but it’s also true that some are worse than others. Living with ants can be frustrating, but they’re not overly disruptive.
Bed bugs, however, are not like that. Even though they’re generally harmless, the sheer thought of going to sleep when you know that there are bed bugs around can be extremely unpleasant. It’s enough to have you considering moving somewhere else and never looking back.
With cases of bed bugs on the rise, more homeowners than ever are having to deal with the issue. That’s the bad news. The good news is that, though they’re trickier than other types of pests, treating bed bugs is relatively straightforward with professional help.
In this post, we’re going to take a closer look at the bed bugs issue, outlining everything homeowners need to know, including where they come from, signs of an infestation, what to do, and how to prevent bed bugs from impacting your mental well-being.
You Can Get Them From Anywhere
People who have bed bug infestations tend to be embarrassed about the situation, but it’s important to keep in mind that, unlike cockroaches, bed bugs aren’t drawn to dirty environments.
They’re drawn to food — which, unfortunately, is human blood.
Even people with spotless homes can get bed bugs, and that’s because they’re excellent hitchhikers. You can get them from a trip to the cinema, a hotel, on the bus, or from a friend’s place.
This is important to know, since it can prevent you from blaming yourself. Oftentimes, there’s simply nothing you can do — it’s just bad luck.
Early Intervention Is Key
As with most things, it’s easier to treat a bed bug infestation when it’s still in its earliest stages, rather than waiting until it’s become severe. That’s why it’s so important to be aware of the signs of bed bugs, since it’ll allow you to take action early. We’ll run through those below.
If you suspect you have a bed bug infestation, then take action early. Even if you haven’t yet had a confirmed sighting of a bed bug, it’s usually best to call pest control services if you’ve noticed other signs that they may be present in your home. Bed bugs are extremely good at hiding, so you’ll often only see them once the infestation is more pronounced. Luckily, there are plenty of other telltale signs that they’re in a home.
Early intervention helps to reduce the extent of the treatment that’s required, but can also go a long way towards keeping your mental health in check. Even though it’s not nice to live with any bed bugs, it’s more manageable if you know that there are only a few in your bedroom, rather than hundreds. Plus, bed bugs reproduce quickly, so even waiting a couple of months before calling in the experts can be a much different proposition compared with if you’d called them earlier!
Common Signs of Bed Bugs
As we mentioned above, bed bugs are great hiders. Still, they’re not invisible. They’ll leave behind signs at some point or another. Being aware of the common signs will allow you to be vigilant against infestation.
Bite Marks
This is often the first symptom that people notice. If you’re waking up with unexplained bites, then that’s worthy of your attention, especially if there are multiple bites (three is common) clustered together.
Important to note: many people don’t react to bed bug bites, so having no bites doesn’t necessarily mean there are no bed bugs. It’s worth investigating if there are other bed bug signs present. Conversely, bites alone don’t mean there are bugs in your bed, especially in the summer when mosquitoes could be present.
Rust Coloured Marks On Sheets
Bed bugs often leave behind blood marks on the bedsheet. This happens when they drop excess blood or when they’re crushed (for example, if you roll over while they’re feeding).
If you suspect that you have bed bugs, then look for fresh, red blood marks on the sheets. They’ll turn rust coloured within a few days/weeks, but if you have old sheets that you’ve never looked at closely before, then you might find a lot of small rust marks on the bed that are simply from old wounds/scratches/etc.
Fecal Spots
Bed bugs leave fecal spots near where they’re hiding. These appear as small black dots, usually in clusters. This is one of the better signs that bed bugs are present, since they never move and there’s rarely any other explanation. Fecal spots in and around your bed will be easy to miss in the early stages of an infestation, but will be hard to miss by the time the infestation has become more pronounced, typically around 6 – 10 weeks.
Ekoskeletons
Ekoskeletons are tiny, hollowed-out bed bug shells that the insect leaves behind as it becomes an adult. They essentially look like bed bugs, just with the insides missing. You’ll find them near the bed bugs’ hiding spaces. By that stage, you’ll be dealing with a more severe infestation — but don’t worry, even extensive infestations can be successfully treated!
Live Bed Bugs
Unusually, live bed bugs are usually the last sign that people notice. They’re small and hide well. Still, they’re not invisible, and you can even see the bugs during the early stages of an infestation if you know where to look. Checking the seams of the mattress closely with a torch, along with around the bed area and electrical sockets, can sometimes uncover a live bug early on. By the time the infestation is more pronounced, you may find bugs in all corners of the room.
Staying Calm
Living with bed bugs is awful, but it’s also not the end of the world. They can’t hurt you. If you discover an infestation, then take action immediately by calling in pest control — you’ll feel a lot better knowing that you’re doing something to remedy the issue, and that you’re taking back control of your property.
Feature image by Engin Akhurt on Pexels.
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