Bed bugs can sneakily live in and around your home for quite a while without you even noticing. An off brown colour and around 4.5mm in length, these critters don’t always leave their mark and can be a nuisance to find.
This is why it’s crucial to know the most prominent signs of bed bugs so you can spot and stop the infestation early on.
Female bed bugs have an extremely fast reproduction rate and can lay up to around 200 eggs in their lifetime. If you leave it too long, they will be feeding on your whole family before you know it!
Below I have mentioned the top 5 major signs of bed bugs so you can spot them early on and avoid a bed bug infestation:
1. Check Your Bed covers
The bed sheets are always the first place to look if you suspect a bed bug infestation. These nasty creatures usually leave small dark brown stains – most easily seen on white bedding.
Although only small, they can certainly make a mess by leaving small stains on pillowcases, bedsheets and bedding. After identifying the stains, it’s a case of looking for the bed bugs themselves or their eggs.
2. Is there a strange smell?
Are you noticing an unusual, musty smell around the house? This is certainly an indication that there may be bed bugs in your home. Without going into too much detail, bed bugs can cause a smell as they begin to release pheromones. The more bed bugs in your home, the more prominent the smell will become.
One bug may not cause much of an odour but a large group of them will definitely create an unpleasant stench.
3. You Wake up With Red Bite Marks
Bed bugs feed on human skin while we sleep at night and one of the biggest giveaways that you have an infestation is waking up with red and itchy bite marks, usually on your arms.
These bites are often flat and red, in rows or zigzag lines and usually appear in clusters. Although really itchy and annoying, these bites are not poisonous, however I don’t recommended scratching them as it can potentially lead to infections.
4. Know Where They Hide
Surprising, and contrary to their name, the bedroom isn’t the only place that Bed bugs like to hide. If you have recently travelled, you run the risk of bringing these nasty critters home with you too.
As well as thoroughly checking your bedding, mattress and bedroom cupboards, Bed bugs might also hide:
- On your armchair and cushions
- In drawers
- Inside plugs sockets
- Inside wall cracks
5. You Find Live Bed Bug Eggs
The most obvious sign of a bed bug infestation is actually finding them yourself. These critters are excellent at hiding so this is rare, but it’s good to know what you are looking for.
Bed Bugs are small, usually oval shaped creatures. Adults are around 0.45mm in length and after swallowing blood they may become slightly swollen and bloated. They cannot fly and therefore crawl between cushions, walls and obviously, bedding. You may come across bed bug skin as your hunt continues, as they shred often and leave this as remains.
There are definitely more warning signs that you have bed bugs but above is the most usual 5.
If you notice any of the above in your home, do not wait. The longer you leave it, the more bed bugs will gather, and it increases the difficulty of eliminating them.
I will use certified techniques to safely get rid of your bed bug infestation and make your home a much more comfortable place to sleep. Contact me if you need my help getting rid of these pests in the correct way.