Bed bugs are a common pest that infests homes and seek out human blood for feeding. Bed bugs don’t pose any major health threat however, their bite can be very itchy and they can exacerbate allergies. If bed bugs are not treated right away they can quickly infest your home, leaving behind dozens of bug bites every night on you and the rest of your household. To prevent bed bugs from getting out of hand it is important to seek professional help when signs of bed bugs first emerge. A Five Star Termite & Pest Control will share some of the classic bed bug signs.
What Does a Bedbug Bite Look Like & How Long Do Bites Last?
When bed bugs first invade they may give you no sign of their presence. One of the first signs a bed bug will give is bug bites. Bed bugs need to feed and they feed on blood, particularly human as our somewhat hairless skin makes feeding much easier than animals with thick fur. Bites normally look like small, flat or raised areas that may become inflamed, itchy, red or blistered. In most cases, bedbug bites get better within 1 to 2 weeks. Bug bites may not be enough of a sign to say that bed bugs are in your home, as there can be other insects that leave bug bites as well. However, bed bugs feed at night while people sleep. Additionally, bed bugs feed in small clusters or even straight lines or rows. If you are waking up with clusters or rows of bug bites or you have recurring bug bites, you most likely have bed bugs in your home.
Do Bed Bugs Leave Spots on Sheets?
As bed bugs are a nocturnal feeder, it can take some time before you ever find or see a bed bug. However, bed bugs will leave behind red or brownish rust spots where they feed or hide. These red or rusty colored spots that can be seen on sheets, mattresses, or even curtains are bed bug droppings. When spots begin to appear on your bed sheets or mattress, this is a sign that your bed bug infestation is beginning to get worse.
Seeing Bed Bugs
When you begin to find or see bed bugs, perhaps in the bed, inside your bedroom, or even on your furniture, this is a bad indicator that bed bug population is on the rise. This is especially true if you see adult, nymphs, or bed bugs eggs. Bed bugs are typically located near their food source such as in the bedroom and near the bed. However, for the couch-potatoes out there, bed bugs have been known to live in sofas and couches. Bed bugs are occasionally found in dog or cat beds, in curtains, or along the edges of carpets. As bed bugs breed and their population increases, you are more likely to see bed bugs, which is always bad news.
How Do You Sniff out Bed Bugs?
When an infestation has gotten out of hand, not only will you see bed bugs, you can begin to smell them. Bed bugs produce a musty odor into the air. It is said this odor helps bed bugs to locate each other or for basic communication such as advertising feeding or mating sites. This musty odor becomes stronger as bed bug population increases. Musty odors will be strong in rooms where bed bugs are heavily populated. When you begin to smell musty odors, seek out professional help right away.
Bed Bug Inspections, Exclusion, Control, Removal, Management & More in Canyon Lake, Spring Branch, Bulverde, Timberwood Park, Leon Valley, Alamo Heights, New Braunfels, Selma, Live Oak, Converse, Universal City, Cibolo, Seguin, New Berlin, St Hedwig, Adkins, La Vernia, Elmendorf, Losoya, Von Ormy, Macdona & San Antonio, Texas
If you have any of these classic signs of bed bugs, contact A Five Star Termite & Pest Control. We provide bed bug inspection and treatment as well as other pest control services.