Bed bugs are hard to see if you are not directly looking at them. They are typically flat, oval, and brownish or black in color. These tiny pests can quickly get out of hand and leave you scrambling.
Bed bugs are not known to spread disease, however become an annoyance. Their presence may cause itching and loss of sleep. Sometimes the itching can lead to excessive scratching that can sometimes increase the chance of a secondary skin infection.
Where are bed bugs found?
Bed bug infestations usually occur around or near the areas where people sleep. These areas include apartments, shelters, rooming houses, hotels, cruise ships, buses, trains, and dorm rooms. They hide during the day in places such as seams of mattresses, box springs, bed frames, headboards, dresser tables, inside cracks or crevices, behind wallpaper, or any other clutter or objects around a bed. Bed bugs have been shown to be able to travel over 100 feet in a night but tend to live within 8 feet of where people sleep.
Bed Bug Bites
Unlike fleas, which tend to bite you only around your feet and ankles, bed bugs bite you anywhere there is exposed skin. The bites are red but don’t have a red dot in the middle as a flea bite does.
Most people don’t know they have bed bugs. If they do have bites on their skin, they usually associate the bites with other insects like mosquitoes.
What are the signs and symptoms of a bed bug infestation?
One of the easiest ways to identify a bed bug infestation is by the tell-tale bite marks on the face, neck, arms, hands, or any other body parts while sleeping. However, these bite marks may take as long as 14 days to develop in some people so it is important to look for other clues when determining if bed bugs have infested an area. These signs include:
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Bed bugs’ exoskeletons after molting,
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Bed bugs in the fold of mattresses and sheets,
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Rusty–colored blood spots due to their blood-filled fecal material that they excrete on the mattress or nearby furniture, and
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A sweet musty odor
What are your health risks from bed bugs?
A bed bug bite affects each person differently. Bite responses can range from an absence of any physical signs of the bite to a small bite mark to a serious allergic reaction. Bed bugs are not considered to be dangerous; however, an allergic reaction to several bites may need medical attention.
Pest Control against Bed Bugs
Bed bugs are so small and can hide in tiny, hard-to-see areas. Getting rid of them for good requires a multi-step process;
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Do not treat or apply any pesticide to your linens and other clothing
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Wash/launder all the washable items from the infected area in hot water. The water should be about 120 degrees to kill the bed bugs or eggs on the linens and clothing.
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Have a professional pest control company fumigate your room
Pest Proof
Pest Proof Pest Management has professionally assisted many people in removing bed bug infestations. Pest Proof services the Manassas, VA and Alexandria, VA. Contact Pest Proof VA to have a professional assist you with removing bed bugs from your home.
