Waking up with bed bugs is a real-life nightmare.
The good news is bed bugs are not deadly and do not transmit infectious diseases. But while they are relatively harmless, no one wants to share a bed with unwanted pests.
But most Americans fail to identify bed bug signs in their home. In 2018, 84% of pest control professionals were contacted to treat another problem, only to discover bed bugs instead.
Do you know the common signs you have bed bugs? Can you spot a bedbug infestation? If the answer is no, you’re at the right place.
Let’s explore some of the most common signs your home has bed bugs.
1. You Wake up With Red and Itchy Bites
Bed bugs leave their mark. They feed on exposed skin while you sleep at night. One of the biggest bed bug infestation signs is waking up with welts around your arms and shoulders.
Keep in mind that bites around your ankles and legs could be a sign of fleas or chiggers.
Bed bugs bite people through an elongated beak. They tend to feed for three to ten minutes before crawling away.
Bed bugs leave flat, red welts in a person’s skin. The bites can be made in straight rows, zigzag lines, or small clusters.
The bites may itch and become irritated. While bed bugs are not poisonous, scratching their bites can lead to bleeding and infections.
Bed bugs may be living within your home for a few days before you notice their bites. The bugs create a tiny anesthetic before feeding, delaying the symptoms of a bed bug bite for several days.
You may also notice the bites do not appear every day. Bed bugs commonly go periods without eating. But the longer it takes to realize you have an infestation, the larger the bed bug colony grows.
2. Blood and Excrement Stains in Your Bed
Bed bugs bite people because they feed on human blood, similar to mosquitos. Bed bugs are sloppy and get blood everywhere. If you wake up to find bloodstains in your sheets or pillowcase, your home might be infested with bed bugs.
You may also find bed bug feces within your sheets and around your mattress. The fecal matter is dark-colored and resembles rust spots. You can find bed bug feces in your sheets, between your mattress, in your clothes, and on your walls.
3. Unusual Odors in the Bedroom
Sometimes you can smell bed bugs before you see them. The pests create a musty and unpleasant odor that smells like a wet towel.
Bed bugs, like many pesky insects, release pheromones from their scent glands. A lone bed bug may not create a noticeable scent, but a large colony of bugs can generate a strong smell that overpowers a room.
If you notice a putrid or stale odor in your bedroom despite cleaning it often, you may have a bed bug infestation. Follow the smell and look for visual signs of bed bugs. The odor may be strongest around your mattress or in your closet.
4. Your Pets Are Frequently Scratching
Bed bugs are not picky about who they feed on. Signs of bed bug infestations can come from your family cat or dog.
Pets with bed bugs will vigorously scratch themselves. They may lick or gnaw at their wounds. Many pet owners confuse the signs of bed bugs in pets with fleas.
If there is a bed bug infestation, your cat or dog may have inflammation and skin rashes throughout its body.
The bugs may also leave behind excrement trails, blood, and eggs on the animal’s skin and fur. These particles can also be found in pet bedding or places where your pet frequently lays, like Fido’s favorite spot on the couch.
If you notice bed bugs on your pet, it’s likely your whole home is infested or will be infested shortly. Seek immediate professional help to eliminate the pests from your home.
You can reduce the risk of bed bugs on your pets by regularly cleaning and inspecting pet products. Place bigger items, like large pet beds, in the dryer on high heat to kill any hiding bugs.
5. You Find Live Bed Bugs or Their Eggs
The most obvious sign of a bed bug infestation is finding a real-life bed bug in your home. This is rare, as the critters are excellent at hiding where humans can’t find them. However, it’s good to know what to look for.
Bed Bugs are small, oval, and brown. Adults have flat bodies and are about the size of an apple seed. After drinking blood, the bugs may look swollen and have a reddish tint.
Bed bugs do not fly. They scurry between cushions, under floors, and within walls. Young bedbugs, called nymphs, shed their skin five times before they mature. You may find the shredded skin in your bedding, closet, or clothing.
If you’re looking for bedbugs, they are most commonly found in luggage, clothing, bedding, and couches. They like to hide in tiny spaces and are usually in groups.
Instead of a live bedbug, you may find their eggs. Females lay hundreds of eggs at a time, with most females laying 200 to 250 eggs throughout their whole lives. The eggs are white, oval-shaped, and 1/16 of an inch long.
Do You See Signs You Have Bed Bugs? We Can Help!
There can be many signs you have bed bugs. If you notice anything unusual in your home, don’t wait. The longer you put off professional help, the worse the infestation can become.
Our team eliminates bed bugs in homes. We focus on environmentally-friendly treatment options. Our certified technicians effectively eradicate and prevent the return of bed bugs in your home.
If you’re worried about bed bugs, let the professionals help. Click here to get a free quote for our effective bed bug treatments.
