Bed bugs. They’re downright annoying, but that’s not all. Insects often carry disease, and bed bugs are no different. They can actually transmit some of the most dangerous parasites in America. That’s just not good! But what’s even more perplexing is that you can’t always tell when you’ve got an infestation of these little blighters.
Following we’ll briefly explore a few key signs that you may be dealing with an infestation of bed bugs. Here’s a WebMD slideshow to help you get your head around exactly what you’re looking for, and assist your recognition of common signs. Such signs can help you stop an infestation before it becomes so terrible you’ve got to take serious measures.
1. Signs Of Bed Bug Excreta
Bugs have digestive systems, too. They’ve also got fast little metabolisms. The end result is excreta in your bed. This will be harder to see if you’ve got colored bed sheets. There is an advantage in bed bug discovery through white sheets because they’ll reveal the minute excreta of these creatures.
Basically, the spots are dark, and they might have a rusty color to them. Look for tiny little spots that appear this way wherever you expect there’s been an infestation. Check the sheets, check your mattress, and generally examine the bed as extensively as you can. But don’t stop there. Closely examine your clothes and the walls as well.
Also, be sure you don’t forget to look for bloodstains. Granted, bed bugs are incredibly tiny, but sometimes they’ll bite you in the night and you’ll bleed a little. That ends up on pillowcases and sheets. If you’re seeing these little spots, that may very well indicate a bed bug infestation, if you don’t already have some existing skin condition.
2. Shed Skins And Egg Shells
Unlike human beings, bedbugs shed their exoskeletal shells as they grow. They’re messy little critters and will leave that shed “skin” wherever the event happened. However, it’s notable that shed bedbug skin tends to rest where the insects hide.
Since they’re primarily nocturnal, you can expect to find nests under sheets or inside the mattress. Additionally, look for eggshells. These are going to be hard to see without a magnifying glass of some variety.
3. A Strange, Unpleasant, Musty Smell
Have you ever encountered a “stink bug”? They give off effluvia that are strange, unpleasant, and unique. Well, bed bugs don’t smell quite the same, but they do give off an odor that has a similar quality to it. It’s a musty smell that’s immediately unlikable, and hard to pin down. This odor comes from their scent glands.
Strangely, you’re actually more likely to smell this musty bed bug scent than you are to smell their excreta. If you catch a whiff, that’s a clear sign you’ve got an infestation even if you can’t see any blood spots, excreta spots, spent skins or eggshells.
Eliminating Bed Bug
If you’ve determined there are bed bugs plaguing your household, it is fundamental that you get rid of them. Health issues, property value, and outright discomfort come from these pests. Check out the following link for more information on how to beat bed bugs.
A house full of bed bugs may require total fumigation, and that’s not healthy for anybody. However, there are ecologically friendly ways to get rid of bed bugs that don’t involve poisons. Steaming can kill them, as can freezing—though the latter tends to be a much greater undertaking.
Regardless of which way you go, if you notice bed bugs, you want to eliminate them. Watch for spots of blood or spots of excreta that have a rusty brown color. Look for skins and eggshells where they hide, and watch out for that strange musty smell. The good news is, getting rid of them is relatively straightforward.
