If you are like many people, the thought of having bed bugs is enough to make you freak out. But if you wake up with itchy bites or see stains on the mattress, you may have bed bugs at home. But you do not have to panic. Barrier Pest Control can inform you about the major signs of a bed bug infestation. So, if you are not getting enough sleep and scratching your skin regularly due to bugs, find these signs of bed bugs first:
Staining
Bed bugs can leave behind stands on your bedding and curtains. Pay attention to bed stains as they indicate the presence of bed bugs. These include blood stains, black spots, and rust stains. If you find these stains, read up on how to get rid of them.
Bed Bug Remnants
If there is a bed bug infestation in your home, you can find remnants of these bugs in the form of eggs, molted skin, or a musty odor.
- Shed skin cells. Bed bugs shed their skin 5 times before they reach full maturity. Thus, they leave behind skin traces from molting. Before molting, the bugs require a full blood meal; however, it takes 24 hours for them to digest such a meal. As a result, they stay stationary as they do so.
- Eggs. As the eggs of bed bugs are sticky, they are laid on almost any surface such as ceilings and walls. When crushed, these eggs leave behind small yellow stains.
- Musty odor. When bed bugs are crushed, they smell musty, rotten, sweet, or woody. This smell lingers, particularly if they come from the bed bug stain on the fabric. If there is a bed infestation, you will constantly smell this scent. Keep in mind that bed bugs do not just stay in beds. So, if you smell a strange smell near your fabrics, furniture, or sheets, check for these bugs immediately.
Bites
You can get bites from bed bugs confused with other insect bites such as mosquitoes and fleas. Bed bug bites can be found on any area of your skin exposed when you sleep. They are red small bumps that range in features like a clear center, swollen exterior, dark center, and zigzag pattern. These bites are quite itchy and can get worse after one or two days.
If you are sure that you have bed bugs in your house or have seen the signs of an infestation, contact a pest control expert right away. Although you can try to eliminate bed bugs by yourself, it is not easy since these pests breed quickly and you won’t be able to see the nymphs.