What are the Tell-tale Signs of A Bed Bug Infestation?

Often the strong signs of an infestation are there before actually observing the bugs themselves.  Because these bugs are nocturnal and hide incracks and crevices during the day, direct observation often does not happen until the population is well entrenched.  Be on the lookout for signs of bed bug infestations.  If bed bugs are suspected, contact a pest control professional who is trained in bed bug detection and who may have access to scent-detection dogs that have the ability to provide extensive assistance in the location of the bugs.   

Signs of a bed bug infestation include:

• Blood stains from crushed bugs or by rusty (sometimes dark) spots of excrement on sheets, mattresses, and night clothing (pajamas).  These small dark stains from blood or excrement often appear as though someone sprinkled pepper on your sheets or other items.  These are small insects; don’t expect large blotches on your sheets.
• Fecal spots, eggshells, dead bugs, and shed skins may be found in or near their hiding 
• An offensive, sweet musty odor is often noticed with severe bed bug infestations
• Bite sights may be either clustered or in rows on exposed skin of the human host

How do bed bugs get inside my home?

Bed bugs come in as stowaways in luggage, furniture, clothing, boxes and more when items are moved between dwellings.  Also, bed bugs may have hitched a ride on your person as you or your belongings accidently brushed against someone or something giving the bed bug an opportunity to “jump ship.”  Moving out won’t solve the problem since some of the bed bugs will likely come with you.  In fact, when dealing with bed bugs, many suggest that it’s best not to sleep away from home under the notion that it is better to contain your enemy and fight them where they are.  Because bed bugs can survive for months without food, moving into a new house or clean vacant apartment is no guarantee that the structure is bed-bug free.

In today’s world, there is rapid, constant movement of people and goods within and between countries, regions, cities, and communities.  And Bed Bugs are adept at their ability to “hitchhike” on people and their personal effects.

Hotels, motels, hostels, resorts, movie theaters, sports complexes and arenas, schools, office buildings, houses of worship, health clubs, medical offices, restaurants, airports and train stations, crowded subway platforms, any mode of transportations from taxis, passenger trains, jets, subways and cruise ships, close living arrangements including apartments, university dormitories, army barracks, nursing homes, and hospitals all provide great opportunities to be exposed and transfer bed bugs.

Let us not forget places where we share clothing such as dressing rooms in department stores, laundromats, dry cleaners, and consignment shops.  And what about the furniture that comes into our homes?  Used furniture outlets and private sales of used furniture, moving and delivery vans that commingle furnishings from different households or remove old furniture or mattresses present a risk of bed bug entry. 

The important lesson is that there is always a risk of a possible infestation when accepting pre-owned mattresses, furniture or clothing.  Such items being brought into your home must be thoroughly inspected and in the case of clothing, be immediately washed.  It is best to avoid used furniture and items left for free pick-up on the curb.

Where are bed bugs hiding inside my home?

Most stay near where people sleep, hiding near the bed, a couch or armchair if that is where you may take a nap.  Cribs and playpens are not immune from an infestation.  The bed bugs’ flat body allows them to hide in cracks and crevices the thickness of a credit card.  Hiding sites include mattress seams, bed frames, nearby furniture, or baseboards.  Clutter offers more places to hid and makes it harder to get rid of them. 

Bed bugs can be found along but more often congregate in groups.  They’re not social insects and don’t build nests.  That is why pest control professionals view them as difficult to eradicate.  Common household pests such as ants are social creatures that colonize and groom themselves.  With a colony, insects traveling back to the colony spread the residue amongst the colony.  The absence of a colony to locate and eliminate makes eradication more challenging.  Add to that their size, stealth, and ability to maneuver themselves into the tightest cracks and crevices and pest control operators find themselves against a formidable adversary.

You can read more about us and about our company history. See why you should choose Cowley's.  We offer customers help with residential pest control, commercial pest control, residential termite management, and offer other additional services.  We help customers exterminate bed bugs, termites, wood destroying insects, beetles, carpenter bees, ants, rodents, ticks, stinkbugs, and offer bird control and nuisance wildlife services.