Bed Bugs

Waking up with bug bites and red bumps on your body is not a good way to start the morning. Neither is finding tiny blood spots on your sheets. If this sounds like something that is happening to you, then it is very likely your home has become infested by bed bugs.

Knowing the signs of a bed bug problem can help you detect an infestation and save you thousands of dollars.

What you Should Know about Bed Bugs 

The bed bug is considered a public health pest by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), as well as the Center for Disease Control (CDC) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). Unlike many insects that are considered pests, bed bugs do not fly. Instead, they infiltrate a home by climbing onto luggage and clothing. Typically, just 5 millimeters long, and as thin as a credit card, bed bugs can be very difficult to identify with the naked eye.

Despite their small size, they can be more obvious during an infestation. Their size also allows them to infiltrate hard to reach spaces — seams of mattresses, electrical receptacles and even the head of a screw! A bed bug’s diet consists of blood meals, which results in itchy sores on the humans and/or animals who become the unfortunate food sources. Adult females need blood to breed and produce eggs.

People dealing with a bed bug infestation will find bites on areas of the body that are exposed during sleep — such as hands, neck, face, shoulders, legs, and arms. People often develop allergic reactions to the bites. Other health risks from bed bugs include a secondary infection of the skin from the reaction to the bite. People who are living in bed bug infested areas also experience increased stress, which can manifest itself as anxiety, insomnia, or other reactions.

How to Recognize a Bed Bug Infestation 

How to Prevent a Bed Bug Infestation 

• Bed bug bites can appear as red, itchy welts on the skin, often in a pattern of several bites in a row or cluster. 
• Adult bed bugs are about the size of an apple seed, with a reddish-brown color. Check your mattress seams, bed frame, and nearby furniture for live bed bugs.
• Bed bugs can leave behind dark stains or spots on bedding, mattresses, or furniture. These stains could be their fecal matter or blood from crushed bed bugs.
• As bed bugs grow, they shed their exoskeletons. Look for translucent bed bug shells in areas where they hide, such as mattress seams or cracks in furniture.
• A strong, musty odor in your bedroom or other areas of your home could indicate a large bed bug infestation.
• Bed bug eggs are tiny (about 1mm) and pale white. Look for them in crevices and other hidden areas.
• Bed bugs can spread beyond the bedroom. Check other upholstered furniture, curtains, and even electrical outlets for signs of bed bugs.

• Avoid bringing in used furniture, mattresses, or other items into your home without thoroughly inspecting them for signs of bed bugs.
• Use bed bug-proof mattress and box spring encasements. These covers can help prevent bed bugs from getting into or out of your mattress and box spring.
• Keep your living space tidy and reduce clutter where bed bugs can hide. Regularly clean and declutter areas where bed bugs could potentially reside.
• Inspect hotel rooms or any other accommodation for signs of bed bugs before settling in. Keep luggage elevated and away from the bed and furniture.
• When returning from a trip, immediately wash and dry your clothing on high heat. This can kill any bed bugs that might have hitched a ride on your clothes.
• Seal up any cracks or crevices around baseboards, electrical outlets, and other potential entry points where bed bugs could hide.
• Routinely inspect areas where bed bugs are commonly found, such as around and under the bed, behind picture frames, and along baseboards.