Bed bugs are tiny insects that consume both human and animal blood as food. Despite being everywhere, you can find them in homes, hotels, and apartments. Bed bugs are challenging to detect because they hide in seams or cracks of mattresses, bed frames, and more, where they collect their food source.
How to spot a bed bug infestation
Check for live bed bugs. You can detect bed bugs by their presence, but they must be alive to be seen. If you find a bug that’s dead, there are other things you should check out first before assuming it was just slow and not infested with bed bugs.
- Look for signs of bed bug activity: Bed bugs will leave clues about where they’ve been—like blood spots on sheets or furniture or even tiny black dots on mattresses. If you see any signs like these, contact your exterminator immediately so they can come and help identify what type of infestation this could be so that it doesn’t spread further into your home!
Bed bug symptoms
Bed bug symptoms include:
- Dark spots on the mattress, box spring, or frame. You can find dark spots at the head of your bed and can be seen from a foot away.
- Crawling around in search of food or shelter. They may move slowly due to their small size, but once they spot something to eat or drink, they’ll run mad!
- Blood stains on sheets or clothing (especially if you sleep with those items). This could be from an old injury from getting bit repeatedly by bugs and their saliva leaking into the skin during feeding time!
Myths and facts about bed bugs
Bed bugs are not just a sign of uncleanliness or poverty. They can be found in any part of the world, and they’re attracted to warmth and carbon dioxide. Bed Bugs survive for several months without feeding on blood, so they’ll probably be gone before you even notice them. If their bite causes an allergic reaction or other symptoms (like red welts), you must see a doctor right away so they can check whether your symptoms are due to bedbug bites.
Bed bug heat treatment
The best way to get rid of bed bugs is with thermal treatment. Additionally, it eliminates infestations and is secure for everyone in your house. Bed bug heat treatment is cost-effective, too!
Bed bug thermal treatment can be done by turning on a portable electric heater or using a space heater with an attached fan. You’ll want to keep this machine at least six inches away from where you’re sleeping, so it doesn’t damage your mattress or pillows.
Signs of an infestation
- Look for minor reddish-brown stains on the bedding, mattress, and box spring. These stains usually result from a blood meal the bed bugs have consumed.
- Look for tiny black or brown spots on sheets and pillowcases. These are eggs that hatch into lice nymphs (baby bed bugs).
- Check your mattress closely. You may notice small clusters of red bumps near seams or where the fabric meets the frame of your mattress; these are often referred to as “bed bug fecal spots” and indicate an active infestation nearby. Look closely at any cracks or crevices in your walls, floorboards, etc., because they can hide these insects from view while they feed on you!
Take action if you suspect an infestation.
If you suspect an infestation, take action. Call a professional pest control service and get your home’s inspection and treatment plan. If bed bugs are in the walls or ceiling, consider hiring an exterminator to remove them. Once the pests have been removed from your home, wash all clothing and bedding thoroughly before wearing them again.
Find out where you picked up the bed bugs.
Do visually inspect your belongings, luggage, and other personal items. Look for proof of bed bugs on your clothing, bags, and other personal items. If you have noticed bed bugs in the house or apartment where this is happening, bring them to a pest control professional so they can be treated adequately. Professionals can get rid of bed bugs without further contaminating the environment with residual pesticide spray residue.
Call a professional if you see evidence of an infestation (see below for more details). You should also contact your landlord about this issue as soon as possible.
Seal off areas where you see bed bugs
The first step to dealing with bed bugs is sealing off areas where you see them. This is crucial because it prevents the bugs from dispersing and infecting other areas of your home.
To seal off an area, use duct tape or another material that can be easily removed. Use enough material to cover all surfaces in the affected area, ensuring no gaps for the bugs to enter through. You should also seal up any cracks in walls or floors by covering them with strips of masking tape. This will help prevent more eggs from being laid elsewhere in your home! To prevent eggs from hatching into adults, which might spread more contagious bites throughout their new habitat, ensure no openings around your mattress. The simplest way to do this is using plastic wrap (or even electrical tape) as a barrier between mattresses and frames.
Call a professional pest control service.
If you think you have a bed bug infestation, you must call a professional pest control service. A professional can help prevent the spreading of the problem and will be able to identify the source of your infestation.
If left alone, bed bugs can quickly spread throughout your home or apartment and cause severe damage to your property. They also carry disease-causing organisms like bacteria, viruses, and fungi that can make you sick if you come into contact with their bodily fluids like saliva or blood loss from bites on exposed skin areas (such as the face).
The first call you need to make
The first thing you should do is call a professional pest control service. A bed bug infestation can be tough to eliminate, and you mustn’t try to treat the problem yourself. If possible, avoid using pesticides or other chemicals because they can be dangerous for humans and pets.
It’s also important not to throw out any items that have come into contact with an infestation: mattress covers, pillows, mattresses, and boxsprings are all susceptible to harboring these pests. It’s best only to use those materials again once they’ve been appropriately cleaned, so they do not become another source of irritation when transported somewhere else (such as moving).
If there has been an infestation recently, then move out immediately! This may mean leaving town temporarily until things calm down; however, if this isn’t possible due to work commitments or other reasons, consider renting an apartment closer than usual.
Bed bugs are a common problem that you can quickly treat, but they’re not one you want to take on yourself.