Signs of bed bugs can be hard to detect at first, and even more complicated to treat once you do find them. They are disgusting insects and having them in your home can be extremely unpleasant. Knowing the signs of bed bugs can help stop an infestation from getting out of hand, or even occurring in the first place. One reason it may be difficult to know whether or not you have bed bugs is that their bites can easily be confused with other biting insects like mosquitoes or fleas.
Identification
Young bed bugs, called nymphs, shed their skin at least four or five times as they reach adulthood and they eat a meal of blood before each shedding. Bed bugs can fully develop in as little as a month and female bed bugs can lay hundreds of eggs, producing three or more generations per year. The size of a bed bug egg is about a speck of dust. Luckily, they do not transmit diseases.
Bed bugs are tiny insects about the size of an apple seed. They have brown and red flat, oval shaped bodies. They survive by feeding on the blood of animals or humans. After feeding, their bodies can turn to a reddish color and swell. Despite not being able to fly, they can move rapidly over floors, walls, ceilings and furniture.
Mattresses
The first sign of bed bugs is usually easy to spot as it’s typically in the bed. After bed bugs feed, they leave behind blood stains, similar to small rust spots. Usually, these blood spots can be found around the edges of the bed. Young bed bugs shed oval brown exoskeletons, so keep an eye out for the shells.
Inspect The Bedroom
After searching the bed, inspect the rest of the room. Inspect furniture like chairs, sofas, curtains and the edges of the carpet. Look behind dressers and desks and look out for their unique reddish-brown spots.
Inspect Closets
Bed bugs are attracted to fabric. Check closets and go through each clothing item. Put any article of clothing containing bed bugs in a bag and apply heat from a household dryer set at high heat for 30 minutes. This will kill the bed bugs and their eggs. Other items like bedding can also be heat dried.
Bed Bugs’ Weaknesses
Often times, bed bugs enter your home by hiding in suitcases and clothing. They use their flat bodies to fit into small spaces. Bed bugs do not nest like ants or bees, but instead live in groups in hiding places. They start out hiding in places like mattresses, bed frames, box springs, and headboards where they bite people during the night. Over time, however, they may leave the bedroom spread to nearby rooms or apartments.
Because bed bugs feed on blood, having them in your home is not a sign of filthiness. You are as likely to find them in spotless homes and hotel rooms as in dirty ones.
Musty Odor
Bed bugs leave behind a strong musty odor that is released by their pheromones. The smell is only detectable in large numbers, so if your bedroom starts smelling musty and there is no logical source for the smell, you should check your room for bed bugs.
Bed Bug Bites
At night, bed bugs bite people while they are sleeping. They pierce the skin and drink blood through a long beak. Bed bugs take up to 10 minutes to feed and most bedbug bites are painless. It’s not until later that they become itchy welts. Scratching the bites can lead to bleeding and infection. People who don’t realize they have a bedbug infestation often blame the itching and welts on mosquitoes and fleas.
GTA Toronto Pest Control
When it comes to bed bugs, the best solution is one that will eradicate the infestation completely. This is where GTA Toronto shines. We are the top Toronto bed bug exterminator and will give you the peace of mind of having a bed bug free home.
