Bed bugs are small, elusive and invasive creatures. These pests can cause significant discomfort and distress when they invade a home. Their ability to hide in the smallest of spaces, not to mention their rapid rate of reproduction, make infestations difficult to detect before they become severe.
The first step in the battle against these invaders is knowing how to spot the enemy. Here are five tell-tale signs that you may have a growing bed bug problem.
1 – Unexplained Bites on Your Skin
Perhaps the most common sign of a bed bug infestation is the appearance of red itchy bites on exposed areas of your body. These bites often appear in clusters on your arms, legs, neck or face. Unlike mosquito or flea bites, bed bug bites are typically painless at first but soon become itchy and inflamed after several hours.
Bed bugs are nocturnal creatures. They feed on their human hosts while we sleep. To avoid disturbing the host they inject an anesthetic, as well as an anticoagulant, to prevent detection while feeding. This is why people rarely feel bed bug bites immediately.
2 – Small Blood Stains on Sheets and Bed Linen
If you notice small rust-colored stains on your bed sheets, pillowcases or blankets bed bugs may be the culprit. These stains are typically the result of bed bugs being crushed while feeding.
Blood stains are most often found near the edges or corners of a mattress. This is where bed bugs tend to gather. If you repeatedly find such stains without an other obvious cause it’s likely a sign of a growing bed bug problem. It is important to investigate the situation further to determine if you are dealing with an infestation.
3 – Fecal Stains
Another sign of a bed bug infestation is the appearance of tiny, dark brown or black stains on bed linen, mattresses, or furniture. These spots are bed bug fecal matter. They consist of digested blood, and will appear as small dots or smears that can sometimes be mistaken for dirt or ink stains.
Fecal stains are commonly found along mattress seams and on box springs. They will also sometimes be found along headboards or behind furniture. If you think you have bed bugs and you notice these spots try wiping the stains with a wet cloth. If they smear it’s probably bed bug excrement. If you begin noticing a lot of these stains you may be looking at a large scale infestation that will require immediate action to eliminate.
4 – Shed Skins
Bed bugs pass through a number of growth stages as the go from nymph to adult. As they mature they shed their exoskeletons. These discarded skins are light brown, translucent, and retain the shape of a live bed bug. If you begin to notice shed exoskeletons in your mattress, bed frame or other furnishings it’s a strong sign of an infestation.
5 – Eggshells
Bed bugs reproduce at an alarming rate. An adult female can lay up to seven eggs a day. Bed bug eggs are tiny – about the size of a pin head – and are pearl white in color. They will most often be found in mattress seams, cracks in furniture, and along baseboards. Since female bed bugs can lay up to 500 eggs in her lifetime early detection is essential to preventing the spread of an infestation.
6 – Musty Sweet Odors
Finally, when an infestation is severe you may begin to notice a distinct musty odor in rooms will the bed bug activity is most concentrated. The odor most closely resembles the smell of coriander or moldy clothing. This scent is caused by the pheromones bed bugs release to communicate with each other. While a single bed bug isn’t likely to produce enough pheromones to leave a noticeable scent, a large number of active bed bugs can create an unmistakably unpleasant odor.
If you begin to notice an unusual musty smell in a bedroom or living area it may be an indication of bed bugs. It’s worth keeping in mind, however, that similar scents may indicate the presence of other household pests, so it’s important to conduct a thorough examination before jumping to any unnecessary conclusions.
What to Do If You Think You Have Bed Bugs
If you begin to notice any of these tell-tale signs of bed bug activity it’s important to act quickly. The sooner you confirm and address the infestation the better.
Here’s what you can do if you suspect you have bed bugs:
- Inspect Your Bedding and Furniture – Check mattress seams, headboards, and other furnishings for live bed bugs, eggs and exoskeletons, or fecal and blood stains.
- Wash Affected Items – Wash all bedding, clothing, and curtains in hot water and dry on high heat for at least 30 minutes to kill bed bugs and their eggs.
- Use Encasements – Encase your mattress and box spring in bed bug-proof coverings to trap any remaining bed bugs and to prevent them from spreading.
- Seek Professional Help – Call in a professional bed bug inspection and removal service as soon as possible. Bed bugs are notoriously hard to eliminate and the longer you delay the greater the risk of the infestation spreading and getting out of hand.
Bed bugs are persistent pests that can cause significant stress and discomfort. If you suspect you have a growing bed bug infestation do not ignore the signs. The sooner you act the easier it will be to eradicate the infestation so you can sleep soundly once again in a bed bug free home.
Published by Scott Palatnik
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