Bedbugs are small, brown, oval insects that feed on the blood of humans and animals. The body of an adult bedbug is the size of an apple seed. When they feed, their bodies increase in size and become a reddish colour.
Bedbugs move quickly over walls, floors and ceilings, but they can’t fly. Female bedbugs may lay at least 500 eggs over a lifetime, each the size of a dust speckle.
Where Do Bed Bugs Hide?
Bedbugs are avid travellers and may enter your home undetected through clothing, luggage and used furniture. Their tiny bodies make it possible to fit into even the smallest crevice or crack. While bedbugs don’t have nests like bees or ants, they do like to live in large groups. Initially, they hide in mattresses, headboards, bed frames and box springs where they have easy access to your body at night.
But, over time, they may move and spread throughout your bedroom or even nearby rooms where they will hide in a protected location such as wall cracks or baseboard crevices. Having bedbugs in your home isn’t a sign of a dirty house. They solely live on blood. You are as likely to find them in luxury hotel rooms and clean homes as in filthy ones.
Signs of a Bedbug Infestation
If you wake up with itchy bite marks on your skin that you didn’t have before you went to bed, you may have bedbugs. Especially if you have a pre-loved bed or used furniture around the time the bites started. Other signs of a bedbug infestation include:
- Bloodstains on your pillowcases or sheets
- Bedbug faecal spots, skin sheds or eggshells in areas where bedbugs hide
- Dark spots of bedbug excrement on bed linen, mattresses, curtains and walls
- A musty odour released by the bedbugs’ scent glands
If you suspect a bedbug infestation, remove bed linen en check it and your mattress for any of the signs mentioned above. Also, inspect the box springs by removing the dust cover and peeling back the fabric where it’s stapled to the frame.
You may also want to examine the area around the bed, including carpets, electrical outlets and inside books. Because bedbugs can attach to clothing, it’s a good idea to check your closet too. If you’re not sure about what to do, get in touch with a pest specialist. They will know exactly what to do.
Get Rid of Bedbugs with the Help of Professionals
While getting rid of clutter and cleaning up infested areas might help manage a bedbug infestation, getting rid of them permanently usually requires the use of insecticides. The fastest and safest way to get rid of bedbugs is to hire experienced pest control professionals for your bedbug treatment.
For more information about bedbugs or if you have an infestation on your hands that needs prompt attention, get in touch with the team at Pest Control Pros today.