Bed bugs are round, brownish little insects that feed on animal or human blood. The size of an adult bedbug will be like an apple seed and have flat body. However, after feeding, their bodies enlarge and turn a crimson tint. You will want to know the early signs of bed bugs because they can be a real nuisance.
Bed bugs tend to concentrate around feeding spots, so check for them in places where they congregate, such as along mattress seams, in bed frames or headboards, behind baseboards, and under carpet edges. You can find bed bugs hiding under portraits, door and window casings, loose wallpaper, and gaps.
Bed bugs that feed on human blood are known to exist in two species. Cimex lectularius and Cimex hemipterus are their scientific names.
Newborn bed bugs, known as hatchlings or nymphs, are roughly the size of a poppy seed and are tiny but visible. When not feeding, adults reach a length of around 0.25 inches and have an oval, flattened form. They can double in size after eating.
The naked eye can see nymphs, eggs, and adults. Because a healthy female bed bug may lay up to 500 eggs in her lifespan, you could have a major infestation in just a few weeks.
These insects spend the day hiding and only come out to feed at night.
How Does a Bed Bug Look?
A bed bug has two antennas on its head and is oval. It’s got six legs. The skin hue is brown, and the body hair is golden. Bed bugs cannot fly.
What Are the Early Signs of Bed Bugs?
Irritation of the skin
Bed bugs are more prone to attack the upper body, where your skin is naturally exposed when sleeping.
This skin irritation can range from minor discomfort to severe aggravation, occasionally resulting in a burning feeling.
Reddish and rusty stains on bed sheets caused by crushed bed bugs
Bloodstains can also occur if bed bugs are accidentally crushed due to being walked on or if you step on them.
In your sleep, roll over onto a bed bug that has been engorged from a recent meal.
Glued hatched eggshells or unhatched pearl white eggs
Look for bugs or eggs in bed linen, as well as the seams and tufts of mattresses and box springs. The eggs will have the appearance of small, light poppy seeds.
Adult bed bugs that are active
Bed bugs are visible. If you monitor closely, you might see several tiny creatures moving around on your mattresses or pillowcases.
Dark brown dots
Keep an eye out for bedbug droppings that are dark brown or rust-colored and discolor fabric and mattresses. Bedbug excrement is a liquid that might be light brown or black, and it normally beads up or is absorbed by the material surrounding it.
Musty odor
The musty odor produced by the bugs’ scent glands indicates that your home is plagued with bed bugs. People frequently describe the odor as a cross between old locker room and coriander.
7 Easy Ways to Get Rid of Bed Bug Problem
Making use of protective covers
Some people use a protective cover to enclose both the mattress and the box spring for allergy relief. Some pest control companies, as well as several retail locations, sell them. Any bedbug trapped within and prevented from feeding will eventually die. Some individuals retain their new beds encased because they keep bugs out of the mattress’s crevices and make it easy to keep the surface clean and bug-free.
Heat and dryer treatment
You can use a high-heat clothes dryer. You can also use plastic bags in a heated, closed vehicle in the sun, but your climate and other conditions will determine your success. Do-it-yourself heat treatments may not be effective.
Professionals have access to more extensive and time-tested methods to heat entire dwellings. A portable heat chamber, which is typically highly effective, can also be purchased.
To accomplish this, use hot water and the highest dryer settings to clean all beds, linens, and other items that may be contaminated.
Freeze your clothing or bedding.
Because bedbugs cannot survive in extreme cold, you can try freezing your clothes or bedding for a few days or leave them outside when the temperature falls below freezing.
Clean and declutter your home, especially your bedroom.
Next, eliminate bedbug hiding areas. Pick up any books, magazines, clothes, or other items that are lying on your floor or under your bed. Throw out whatever you can. When you try to move items from an infested room into a cleaner one may spread the bugs.
Before cleaning, scour mattress seams with a firm brush to eliminate bedbugs and eggs.
Check each place thoroughly with a flashlight. Examine the area for tiny black or rust-colored droppings, live bedbugs, or little pale-yellow eggs.
Reposition your bed away from any walls or furnishings.
Seal cracks and crevices and any places where pipes or cables enter the house.
Any gaps should be filled. Glue any loose wallpaper down. Fill all cracks in furniture and around baseboards with caulk. Tape up any exposed electrical outlets. Then Finally, move your bed at least 6-7 inches away from the wall to prevent bedbugs from climbing on it.
Make use of a desiccant.
Desiccants are chemicals which destroys insects by dissolving their protective layer. Without this coating, the bugs will dry out and perish. Silica aerogel and diatomaceous earth are two popular desiccants. Bed bugs are not resistant to desiccants.
Hire a professional pest control company
If you find bedbugs in your home, contact a specialist.
While cleaning up contaminated areas might help reduce bedbugs, getting rid of them usually necessitates chemical treatments.
Bedbugs can spread from room to room on clothing and attempting to remove them yourself can often aggravate the situation. Hiring an expert pest control technician is generally the safest and most effective option.
Conclusion
Bedbugs are naturally upsetting, but there are several things you can do to get rid of them.
It will take time and determination to get rid of bed bugs and the participation of landlords, neighbors, and others in some circumstances. This is both physically and emotionally draining.
When pest control firms are called in, it can also be costly. Remember that bed bugs are more of a nuisance than a health risk and that with caution, you can avoid or deal with infestations.
Each day, try one or more preventative techniques to reduce the risk of exposure. Even though you have an infestation, a few home remedies or a quick, professional service can stop them from bothering your family in the future. And with this thorough guide, we hope that now you have a better understanding of the early signs of bed bugs and ways to get rid of them easily.
References
https://www.bbc.com/news/av/science-environment-48314791
https://edition.cnn.com/2017/04/11/health/gallery/bedbug-signs-bites-symptoms/index.html
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