Are you worried you might have bed bugs? Unfortunately, these pests have become an increasingly bad problem over the last few years.
Bed bugs most commonly occur where many people sleep and can happen in even the most luxurious of places. This means you can unknowingly bring them home with you after traveling.
So how do you check for bed bugs? Keep reading to learn more.
Table of Contents
Searching for Signs
If you think you might have a bed bug infestation, you should start by looking for physical signs of their presence. When you are cleaning your bedroom and changing the bedding, you should look to see if there are any reddish stains on your sheets or the mattress. These stains are caused by the pests getting crushed.
If you see any dark spots about the size of a pencil tip, this is bed bug excrement, and it will bleed out onto your bedding. You might also find eggs or eggshells that are very tiny or the live bed bugs themselves. If you are uncertain about what you are looking for, you or your landlord should hire a professional inspector.
Check for Hiding Spots
You should also check for bed bugs in places other than your mattress. When they are not out looking to feed, they will hide in the cracks of your bed frame or headboard.
They have also been known to infest couches, chairs, and even the folds in your curtains. These little pests also like to hide in your dresser drawers, under any loose wallpaper, and inside electrical receptacles.
Learn Their Behavior
You can avoid an infestation before it starts by knowing about the common bed bug’s behavior and life cycle. This will help you get rid of them before they have a chance to establish themselves in your home.
They are primarily active during the night and feed on humans, dogs, cats, and even birds. They will travel out of their hiding spots and up to 20 feet to find a host before heading back to their home.
You will generally find their feces on bedsheets because they will relieve themselves while they are feeding. They need at least one feeding before they can mature into their next stage of life, with six stages total.
Each female can lay between 1-3 eggs a day and up to 500 eggs in their short, six-month lifespan. This is why you must catch them early to end their chances at starting an infestation.
How Do You Check for Bed Bugs?: Learning More
If you have traveled recently and are wondering how do you check for bed bugs, then these tips should help you get started. Start by checking your bedding for any reddish or small black stains on your mattress. You should also see if you can find any of the actual bugs hiding along the mattress seams or inside the bed frame or headboard.
Check your dresser drawers, couches, and chairs to see if you have a full infestation. If not, you should be able to get rid of them before they are able to completely take hold by hiring a professional pest control company.
If you would like more information on keeping a home in top shape, be sure to visit our website daily!