Bed bugs, we have all heard about them, but do you know what they are and how to check for them?
Bed bugs know how to get to you. Just the sound can make your skin crawl. Headlines come and go regarding their infestations which naturally results in increased bed bug pest control calls. Most just want a checkup just to make sure they are not seeing or feeling things and little peace of mind. There are something things you can do to check for bed bugs at home before On the Spot Pest Control comes out and performs an inspection.
What is a Bed Bug and How to Identify Them?
Bedbugs are small, oval, brownish insects whose food supply is the blood of animals or humans. Adult bedbugs are about the size of an apple seed with flat bodies. After feeding, their bodies swell and become a reddish color. Bedbugs do not fly; however, they can move quickly over floors, walls, and ceilings. Female bedbugs can lay hundreds of speck of dust sized eggs over a lifetime.
How to Check for Bed Bugs
- Perform a Bed Examination
First, check your bedding, mattress, box spring, and all around your bed. Strip your bedding from the mattress and box spring. Then use a flashlight to check both sides of the mattress and box spring. Look for bed bug feces, shed skins (clusters of dark dots), eggs, and blood stains. It’s helpful to run a credit card in these crevices too, to oust bug from their hiding spots.
- Check Around the House
Although the name suggests these bugs would only be found in a bed, they can actually be anywhere in your house. Use your flashlight and inspect the furniture in your room and work your way throughout the rest of your house. Thoroughly scan moldings, baseboards, furniture legs, upholstery crevices, cracks in the wall and other nooks and crannies that are harboring bed bugs. Swipe these areas with a credit card to uncover hiding bugs.
- Inspect for Bites.
Do a full-body scan to check for unexplained bumps, welts, and blisters for bites that showed up overnight. Pay special attention to your arms, face, neck, hands, and shoulders. The bites are usually raised, discolored skin with red dots in the center. They slightly resemble mosquito bites in look and feel, only they usually appear in pairs or groups of three.
If you have performed the above suggestions, and you have any signs of bed bugs, don’t procrastinate! Call On the Spot Pest Control today (908)350-8215. Getting rid of pests is our job!
