Aside from mosquitoes, bed bugs are insects that suck the blood of warm blooded animals including humans. Generally, pests invade your home when they find a comfortable spot or attractive features.
If your home has been infested by pests like bed bugs, you can contact A&M Pest Control | Los Angeles California to get the job done.
Keep reading to learn about bed bugs and how to get rid of them.
What Are Bed Bugs?
Bed bugs are wingless flat shaped insects that feed on human blood and warm-blooded animals. Due to their small size, they can fit into cracks, and any opening close to your resting place.
Adult bed bugs can grow to 0.25 inches long before feeding but can look bigger after feeding on blood. They can be found in springs, mattresses, bed frames, clothing, and other furniture.
Signs You Might Have Bed Bugs
Identifying the signs that show you have bed bugs goes a long way in preventing a heavy infestation. Here are a few signs;
- Seeing Bloodstains
Bed bugs may not be noticed during the day, they are more active at night. After feeding on its host, its physiological state changes into a bloated form filled with blood.
While asleep you may accidentally crush or squeeze a bed bug, this may not kill them but it will cause the blood to leak out from their body. The bloodstain may be visible on your skin, bedsheet, pillow, or clothes.
This sign may not be justified for everyone, so to be sure it’s a bed bug, check your body for any cuts. If there’s none, it is a bed bug bite.
Have in mind that bed bug bites can also leave you bleeding lightly from the affected area. This is possible because their saliva contains a chemical that prevents blood from clothing when feeding.
- Offensive Odor
One common sign of bed bug infestation is a weird musty smell that irritates your sense of smell. Although such odor is also similar to that of dirty laundry, wet towels, or rust. If you do not have any of such in your room, it might be a bed bug infestation.
Biologically, bed bugs discharge an odor called pheromones, these pheromones smell musty and can be likened to that of almonds and raspberries. They emit this odor when threatened or disturbed.
Just like any other symptom, the odor emitted can be mistaken for something else, this is because the odor released by a few bugs cannot be perceived by everyone except pest experts.
At best, the odor is perceived when there is a heavy infestation in your home, still, it is a combination of the smell from dead bugs, excreta, and shed shell casing. At this stage, it becomes dangerous to your health.
- Eggs
Bed bugs are pearly white with an oval shape of about 1mm in length. They are visible but not easily identified, bed bugs and eggs can be spotted on surfaces like crevices and clothes.
Female bed bugs lay 1 – 7 eggs in a day which hatch after 7 – 10 days. The eggs have a flexible end which new bed bugs emerge from. The number of eggs from a female shows the impact of infestation if left unnoticed.
Heavy infestation is possible because female bed bugs move around when pregnant, hence, they easily attach their eggs to any surface they find.
What Can Cause Bed Bug Infestation?
Bed bug infestation could be caused by some factors ranging from the purchase of furniture which serves as their refuge. Used furniture or property can contain bugs without your notice. Be cautious when purchasing used furniture.
They could come into your space from other rooms within a building, and they can survive for over a month without food.
Bed bugs can cling to your clothes or luggage from a hotel or new apartment.
It is pertinent that you deal with any sign of bug infestation at its early stage, at best, contact a pest exterminator near you.