How to Know If You Have Bed Bugs

When a bed bug infestation starts, it can be very subtle. So subtle that you probably won't even notice the bed bug infestation has taken root! In this article, we're going to reveal how bed bug infestations start, how to know if you have bed bugs, and how to get rid of a bed bug infestation.

How Do Bed Bug Infestations Start?

Bed bug infestations can start the second you enter or leave your home. How? Bed bugs are hitchhiking pests. When they first come into your home, they're almost always latched onto something or someone.

They may hide inside a sleeping bag, suitcase, or purse. They may hitch a ride in a duffle bag, backpack, or other luggage items. And if you have bed bugs in your belongings, they aren't going to make it easy for you to find them.

When bed bugs get into your items, they're extremely difficult to detect. They hide in seams, creases, pockets, and other hiding places in order to infiltrate your home undetected. Once inside your home, bed bugs will eventually emerge in search of food - your blood.

Safely tucked away in their hiding place and filled with a blood meal, the invading bed bugs will begin laying eggs. When these eggs hatch, immature bed bug nymphs will emerge. Those initial bed bug bites are often shrugged off as bites from spiders, mosquitoes, or fleas... but it's important to catch these initial warning bites to be able to seize your bed bug infestation before it gets out of hand.

How to Identify Bed Bug Babies

These immature nymphs are tiny and are a different color than adult bed bugs. They're a pale color when they hatch and then slowly become more of a tan color as they mature. Since they don't look like the adult bed bugs people see on the news, many people don’t even realize that they have bed bugs, even if they actually see them. Don't let that be the case with you! If you see six-legged, pale insects crawling around in your house, take notice. It could be a bed bug!

Bed bugs are difficult to remove on your own and are hazardous to your health. That's why we recommend our professional and discreet bed bug extermination services.

How to Know if You Have Bed Bugs

Bed bugs are a nuisance and can be difficult to identify at first. If you suspect you have a bed bug infestation, look for these common signs:

Bed Bug Bites

The first and most obvious way to know if you have bed bugs is to look for their bites. Bed bug bites are either flat or raised red bumps that are incredibly itchy. They are easily identified by red spots that often show up in a zigzag or cluster. They'll most commonly appear on the chest, back, neck, feet, face, and hands.

Bites from bed bugs are somewhat unique because they will bite more than once, often three times. These bites are often arranged in clusters or trails on the skin. Mosquito bites are arranged more randomly because mosquitoes typically only bite once. The same thing applies to flea bites. And spiders aren't prone to bite, so you're not likely to have multiple spider bites. So if you’re seeing clusters of red bumps or paths or bug bites trailing up your skin, you’re most likely dealing with bed bugs.

Inspect Your Belongings for Bed Bugs

At night, bed bugs will come out of hiding to bite you and feed on your blood. So, once the sun sets and you suspect these critters to be hunting for your blood, it's time to turn the tables and flip the bed. Use a flashlight and look in common hiding places in order to find them. If you have bed bugs in your belongings, you'll see small rusty brown-colored insects (adults), tiny pale or tan-colored insects (nymphs), or tiny white bed bug eggs.

Common Bed Bug Hiding Places:

• Mattresses
• Sheets
• Pillows
• Couches
• Carpets
• Bags & suitcases
• Clothing

When to Contact an Exterminator

If you are noticing suspicious bites that you can't seem to get rid of, you should contact an exterminator. We often receive calls after the bed bug babies have matured into adults and laid their own eggs - and by then, it's a serious problem. And though not every infestation works exactly like this, you can use this as a simplified guide to how bed bugs may get into your home. If you see warning signs, or bed bugs themselves in your home, give us a call at A-1 Pest Control! Our exterminators use industry-leading methods and technologies to track down bed bugs and completely eliminate them. We also provide discreet bed bug extermination services so your nosy neighbors won't know what's going on.
 
If you haven't seen warning signs yet, but you want to find out if you have bed bugs in your home, we can help with that too! Our pest control service team is one of the best in the business. Our exterminators have the training and experience needed to locate bed bugs, even when they are in hard-to-reach places such as wall voids, crown molding, and beneath carpets. Reach out to us at A-1 Pest Control today for immediate assistance with bed bug control!