How Can I Tell If It's Bed Bugs Biting Me?
If you are finding bug bites on your body, they may be bed bug bites, which require intervention. The first step is to identify the source of the bites so that the infestation and your health can be properly addressed. Bed bugs are nocturnal creatures, so victims of bed bugs will often notice new bite marks upon waking up in the morning. Bed bug bites will often appear as itchy, red welts, and are clustered together. These clusters will form a zigzag pattern.
To ensure you don’t mistake bed bug bites for mosquito bites or a rash, it is important to know how to check for bed bugs and look for signs of them in the home, such as:
Seeing a bed bug - they are often found in mattress seams, on box springs, in the crevices of sheets, in bed frames, or in furniture and electronics that are close to the bed. They have even been found in carpet and beneath wallpaper.
Piles of shed bed-bug skins - these look like pale, yellow shells.
Bed bug eggs - bed bug eggs appear as small, white dots are often found in the nooks and crannies of your furniture.
Bed bug droppings - bed bug fecal matter appears as rust-colored or black spots on your furniture.
An odor - if an infestation is prolific enough, some may notice a sweet, musty odor that is secreted by the bed bugs in order to communicate with one another.
Bloodstains - specks of blood may be found on bedding and upholstered furniture. These blood specks happen during feedings and can be a telltale sign of a bed bug infestation.
Identifying that you have a pest problem is the first step. Now, it's time to think about how to get rid of bed bugs that are plaguing your home.
Is It Dangerous To Have Bed Bugs In My House?
Bed bugs in and of themselves are not particularly dangerous. They are not known to be great vectors of diseases to humans. However, bed bugs do attract other insect-eating pests, such as rodents and spiders that may pose a threat to your health. Furthermore, bed bug bites itch. Itching the bites can cause openings in the skin, which increases the likelihood of an infection. '
How Did Bed Bugs Find Their Way Into My Huntsville House?
Bed bugs are notorious little stowaways. People often unwittingly bring them home from hotels, cruise ships, and hospitals. They can latch onto clothing and luggage, or hide out in furniture. People also bring bed bugs into their homes from secondhand shops and yard sales. A single female bed bug can lay between 200 and 500 eggs in her lifetime. Additionally, bed bugs can live a whole year without a single meal. As such, it is easy for a few bed bugs accidentally brought home from vacation to turn into a full-blown infestation in your home. It is best practice to check yourself and your belongings when coming home from a new place or a place with a lot of foot traffic. Hotel rooms and seats on public transportation should be given a thorough look over before you make yourself comfortable.
How Do I Completely Get Rid Of Bed Bugs?
While all of this knowledge can help Huntsville residents stay one step ahead of a bed bug infestation, natural pest control for bed bugs will not stop an active problem. The only way to completely get rid of an active bed bug infestation is to reach out to bed bug control professionals. A professional pest control team, like Morton’s Pest Control, can have your home pest-free in no time. We have over 25 years of professional pest control experience and offer expert service. Give Morton’s Pest Control a call today to get rid of bed bugs once and for all.
