HOW DO I KNOW IF I HAVE BED BUGS?

Let’s be clear from the start: a simple sting is not enough to identify the culprit.

Remaining skins and molting eggs are just two of the signs that could indicate a bed bug problem.

This article can be a kind of shock therapy if you are one of the hundreds or even thousands of people who think they have a bed bug problem simply because they woke up one night after being bitten on the body.

And here’s another slap in the face: even a doctor may not be able to accurately identify the origin of a puncture just by looking at it.

Physicians and exterminator technicians must consider all the evidence found and put bites in context. You must investigate thoroughly to find the culprit.

HOW TO CHECK FOR BED BUGS

There are a number of common pieces of evidence you should look for to confirm the presence of bed bugs in your bedroom.

This process should be followed if you are inspecting your own room or the room of a 5 star luxury hotel. Remember, bed bugs can go anywhere with anyone.

Here are the 3 key questions:

CAN YOU SEE THEM?

Although they are very small (usually 4 to 5 mm), it is possible to see bed bugs with the naked eye. You might even see nymphs and eggs if you are well trained. People often confuse them with dust mites.

The body of bed bugs is very thin and allows them to penetrate through very narrow cracks and crevices. The best way to picture the size of bed bugs is to think of a credit card. Any place you can insert a card is an area where a bed bug can take refuge.

WHERE CAN BED BUGS HIDE?

• In the whole structure of the bed, especially in the headboard
• Mattress seams
• On carpets and curtain seams
• On the baseboards
• Inside the holes where a screw is inserted
• Between the boards of the floor or platform
• Power outlet and electronic devices
• In cracked or broken plaster
• Behind the wallpaper
• Inside cabinets, watch out for drawers!
• Bedside tables

However, it can still be difficult to find real evidence of live insects unless you are dealing with a very severe infestation. In severe situations, it is said that the “wallpaper seemed to move” due to the number of bed bugs that were inside. Have you noticed any itching?

WHAT COLOR ARE THE BED BUGS?

They are usually brown and darker as they develop and turn red when fed.

LOOKING FOR EVIDENCE OF INFESTATION

You need to know 2 things to do a thorough inspection:

1. How to look for evidence?
2. What are the signs of a typical infestation?

• Bed bug eggs – they are very small, oval and whitish. Where is it? They are usually found in groups in cracks and crevices or attached to furniture or fixtures. The seams of the mattress are another place to inspect for your research.
• Bed bug droppings – can be identified as small black dots. Where is it? They are often found in mattresses. The excrement consists of your dried blood. Bed bugs usually defecate shortly after feeding. Although these droppings are very small (less than 1 mm) individually, their accumulation over time can produce a very obvious dark spot.
• Molting bed bugs must shed their skin in order to move on to the next stage of their life cycle. They have 5 molts until they become adults. Where is it? Remains of skins can be found behind headboards, along baseboards and in mattress seams.
• Sweet smell – in very severe infestations, a very characteristic and unpleasant odor may occur and make you feel nauseous.

If you find any of the above evidence, you are dealing with a bed bug infestation.

WHAT TO DO IF YOU FIND THIS EVIDENCE?

Don’t hesitate for a moment, call an expert. Grandma’s remedies don’t work here. It’s not that we want to sell our services, but it’s the hard facts. Only an expert company can put an end to the problem.

Consider these 3 aspects:

1. Bed bugs can spread very easily from one room to another. They will use cracks in walls or ducts to disperse into their facilities.
2. You will continue to suffer until the problem is completely eliminated. While some people have no allergic reaction to bites, others may experience itching and a rash.
3. A female bed bug can lay between 200 and 500 eggs in just 2 months. An egg can develop into an adult in only 45 days (if the environment is favorable). The eggs are not affected by the insecticide.

Would you be able to stop it by yourself?