Bed bugs are nocturnal pests. They hide by day and hunt by night. That can make finding bed bugs a challenge. Not only are they small and stealthy, but they’re also smart enough to stay out of sight during the day. When we’re all fast asleep, tucked up warm in our beds, these blood-suckers come out to play.
So if bed bugs are only active when we’re asleep and the sun is down then how do we hunt them? Well, it can be tricky but we can provide some tips.
Can You See Bed Bugs During the Day?
While bed bugs are most active at night it’s not too difficult to spot evidence of their activity during the day. For example, you can often track down bed bugs by blood stains and fecal droppings. These typically appear as dark stains, or smears, on bed sheets and pillowcases where bed bugs have been feeding.
Bed bugs themselves are harder to spot during the day. They are stealthy predators and prefer to hide by day and come out to feed at night. That being said, there are some instances where you will see a stray bed bug or two during the day and that can be an indication of a greater problem.
For example:
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Stray bed bugs brought in to the home as hitchhikers. They may be spotted as they hunt for a meal or a hiding place
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If you live in an apartment bed bugs may migrate into your home from an adjacent dwelling. This often happens when a neighbor is self-treating
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When you return from a trip any bed bugs that have hidden away in your suitcase will be vulnerable to sightings as they explore their new environment searching for places to hide and available hosts
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Bed bugs hiding in a mattress may be disturbed and scatter when you change sheets or move the bed
It’s worth noting that bed bugs are not only active at night. While that is their preference, if they’re hungry enough they will come out during the day looking for a meal. Just because the sun is up that doesn’t mean that any and all bed bugs in your home will be dormant.
Hunting Bed Bugs by Day
Bed bugs prefer to hide in dark out of the way places. Anyone who has ever dealt with a bed bug infestation can attest to how difficult it can be to track down these pests. But there are some things you can do to track these blood-suckers down and begin the process of elimination.
We’ve put together a short list of things you can do to find bed bugs during the day:
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Closely examine the stitching and seams of your mattress and box spring. You need to inspect all sides of each piece. You will probably have to stand them up on end to make it easier to search for signs of bed bug activity.
Carefully inspect your mattress, using a flashlight and magnifying glass if necessary. When it comes to your box spring be sure to remove the stapled-on cover along the bottom so you can inspect the insides of the box spring. -
Inspect all of the bed frames in your home. You may have to stand them up on their side so you can thoroughly examine all the cracks and crevices. Bed bugs often hide underneath bed frames, or withing the joins and cracks.
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Closely examine headboards, mirrors and picture frames. These are common hiding places for bed bugs. Look for dark black ink-like marks, fecal stains or blood stains. If necessary, pick up a bed bug testing kit to determine if any stains on furnishing are bed bug fecal droppings.
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Place bed bug traps and monitors throughout your house or apartment. Be sure to use both active and passive monitors to ensure the best results. If you see any signs of bed bug activity (fecal matter, shed exoskeletons, etc) you may need to bring your problem to a professional extermination service.
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Finally, hire a bed bug sniffing dog to inspect your home. Professional bed bug inspection and removal services that use sniffer dogs to hunt down bed bugs are the best course of action for combating a growing infestation. If you suspect you have bed bugs in your home a sniffer dog is your best friend.
Call in Professional Help
If you suspect you have a growing bed bug problem in your home you should call in a professional bed bug inspection and removal service as soon as possible. Eliminating a bed bug infestation isn’t easy and requires an expert. Over-the-counter treatments often fail, and can actually end up making the infestation worse. The sooner you call in professional help the sooner your family can sleep soundly in their beds once again.
Published by Scott Palatnik
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