When most people find a few bugs in the home, they simply write the occurrence off as mere or slight. I mean, it’s just a few bugs, what could be the big deal, right? Well, you’d be surprised. This is especially true if those bugs happen to be
bed bugs. Just spotting one bug in the home is a surefire indication that you need to get the pros involved as soon as possible. Many don’t see how a speck of a pest can be such a big deal, but this is the wrong way to look at the situation. Reputable pest management companies from New York City have experience dealing with these specific situations. They’ll know how to attack the situation with the utmost efficiency and precision, which is what the situation is going to call for.
Why Are Just A Few Bugs A Big Problem?
Finding a few pests in the home might not seem like a big deal, whether they be
bed bugs or not. That might be an okay assumption when dealing with some insects, but it is the wrong way to approach a
bed bug problem. This is because the critters are social. This means where there is one, there will be more right around the corner. They travel, live, and work in large groups.
There’s even a bigger cause for concern if those bugs happen to be female. This is because these pests are prolific breeders. With the ability to lay one to seven eggs per day after feeding, the female
bed bug can produce quite the population in just a short amount of time. She can lay nearly 500 eggs in a lifetime, making the entire situation all that much worse. In addition to all this, these bugs go out of their way to avoid detection. They try to go unseen and usually only come out when you are sleeping.
If you are seeing the bugs in the home, it’s because the population has gotten so big they are pushing each other out into the open. Not a good situation, as you can imagine. While bugs are hard to procure or even spot, you can differentiate the female from the male by examining the abdomens. The female will have more of a rounded abdomen, while the males will be pointed.
Bed bugs are only 7 millimeters long, at the most.
Why Are Bed Bugs Hard To Spot?
With the above information in mind, it is probably pretty obvious as to why these bugs are hard to spot. With their slim and credit card slender profiles, they can squeeze into some of the tiniest cracks and crevices. They also have reddish-brown coats that afford them the ability to easily blend in with most natural surroundings. They don’t fly, which means they’ll only be traveling by crawling, making them even harder to spot.
It doesn’t help that they only feed when you are sleeping. They are so adamant about this that they will change their entire living habits to match that of their hosts. For instance, if you sleep during the day and work at night, the bugs start feeding during the day and sleeping at night. If you sleep during the day and work at night, they’ll do the same so they can feed while you are sleeping. Pretty smart when you think about it.
Along with all this, most of them only grow to be anywhere 7 to 10 millimeters long. They can also be easily mixed up with cockroach nymphs, carpet beetles, and fleas. This is why it is imperative to early to detect the early warning signs so you can jump on the infestation immediately.
Early Warning Signs Of Bed Bugs
Learning to spot the signs and symptoms of a bed bug infestation will be key to hitting the situation as early as possible. The earlier you attack the problem, the much better off you will be. You’ll save yourself some money and a whole lot of hassle. Here are some things to look for:
Bloodstains: Look for rusty red stains on your sheets. This is likely dried blood from squashed bugs or previous feedings.
Exoskeletons: Just like snakes, bed bugs shed their skin. It’s a delicate, molted, near-translucent skin that resembles a live bug right down to the finest detail. The only difference is the color.
Egg/Egg Casing: Eggs and eggs casings are the last things you want to spot. They are only about the size of a pinpoint, but they mean big problems, as it means there has been a recent birth. Simply put, it means more numbers.
Fecal Matter: No one wants to think about insects defecating in their beds, but this is a real possibility when dealing with an infestation. These spots will usually appear black and look similar to that of inkblots.
Bite Marks: Bed bug bites can be tricky for two reasons. One: they usually look like mosquito and flea bites. In addition to this, they appear in the same areas most of the time. Two: Some people don’t even react to the bites, meaning they could be getting bitten and not even know it,
Musty, Sweet Odors: In larger infestations, you’ll likely smell sweet smells. These will resemble that of soda pop syrup and they are secreted from the scent glands of the bugs.
Start Your Search
It should be clear by now, any time you spot a bug in the home you want to call in the pros. Not doing so could only result in further spreading the infestation to other parts of the property. However, that doesn’t mean there aren’t things you can’t do. Attacking the situation in the right manner will only increase your overall chances of successful elimination.
You’ll want to start by moving the bed and furniture away from the walls and placing traps under the feet of the furniture. Doing this will force the bugs to travel through the traps and up the legs to feed on their hosts. This will only work for the bugs that aren’t already embedded in the mattress. Other things you can do are strip the bedding, vacuum the mattress, and wash the bedclothes in hot water, while also drying them on high
heat.
