Detecting a bed bug problem in your home can be challenging. They are fast, tiny, nocturnal creatures that breed quickly. Their bites are often mistaken for other insects because they possess a special anticoagulant that allows them to feed on a person undetected. While a bed bug infestation doesn’t pose a huge threat to your home or health, it’s just downright stressful to even think about. Fortunately, armed with the following information, you can easily identify a bed bug problem and discover the best way to eliminate them from your Folsom home.
Are The Bed Bugs Biting?
Many people don’t realize they have bed bugs until a few bugs have turned into a full-blown infestation. This happens because bed bugs are often mistaken for other insects, not because they look similar, but because they are very good at playing hide and seek. They are very small and stay tucked away in soft furnishings waiting for a blood meal. Their bites are virtually painless, so it’s not uncommon to mistake a bed bug bite for a bite from another insect like a mosquito or flea.
What Do Bed Bugs Look Like?
Bed bugs are some of the smallest pests you’ll come across. They are oval-shaped and grow to less than 1/4 inch. Before feeding, the adult bed bugs are flat and a mahogany color, but after a meal, they become redder and swollen.
Adult bed bugs are able to be seen by the human eye within mattress seams and box springs. The tiny nymphs are more challenging to detect. Their small size and pale color make it easier for them to blend in and remain unseen. Bed bugs eggs are the most difficult to detect. In general, they are the size of a pinhead and pearl-white. Identifying the pest you’re dealing with is the first step in eliminating the problem.
How To Identify A Bed Bug Infestation
Identifying a bed bug infestation can be difficult. Oftentimes, the presence of bed bugs goes unnoticed until it’s a significant problem. An infestation is most easily identified by the reddish-brown fecal spots found on mattresses, upholstery, or walls. Infestations can also be recognized by sightings of the actual bed bug, shed skins, eggs, and empty eggshells.
Female bed bugs will lay one to five eggs per day. In less than a month, those eggs will become full-grown adult bed bugs, capable of continuing the reproductive cycle. A single female bed bug is capable of laying up to 541 eggs in its lifetime. These bugs will quickly spread throughout your home’s soft furnishings including your couches, chairs, and children’s stuffed toys. When it comes to bed bugs, early detection is very important because of how quickly they reproduce. The sooner you can begin treatment, the better for you and your home.
How To Eliminate Bed Bugs
Eliminating a bed bug infestation is not an easy feat. They are tiny, nocturnal, prolific creatures that are difficult to identify before they become a huge problem. Luckily, the professionals at Neighborly Pest Management have over 40 years of pest control experience and a specialized bed bug control program. We’ve been in the business long enough to know that no two bed bug infestations are exactly the same. This is why we begin by performing a free bed bug inspection so that we can customize a treatment plan for your unique needs. As a matter of fact, all of our pest control programs are tailored to meet the specific needs of our neighbors in Virginia.
Contact us today for more information or to schedule your free inspection!