That little saying “Good night, sleep tight, don’t let the bed bugs bite” that mom or dad used to say, making you giggle as you crawled into bed is no longer funny. Incorrectly considered a problem of just the poor or unclean, the problem of bed bugs in the United States also spans to affluent neighborhoods and top-rated facilities.
How can I tell if I have bed bugs?
Perhaps you saw a bug on your bed, crawling on furniture or on your wall. Maybe you discovered an itchy insect bite. Now you fear that you have bed bugs.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) indicates that bed bugs “are reddish-brown in color, wingless, range from 1mm to 7mm (roughly the size of Lincoln’s head on a penny), and can live several months without a blood meal.”
Detecting bed bugs early is key to controlling them. If you suspect you have bed bugs, look for signs such as:
- Tiny bugs on mattresses or box springs
- Dark reddish-brown spots on mattresses or furniture
- Blood stains on sheets or fabric-covered furniture
- Bites symptomatic of bed bugs
Where do bed bugs live?
Bed bugs thrive close to blood meal sources. While this usually means in bedding, they live in other furniture, behind wallpaper, in cracks and crevices in homes, hotels, even being carried unknowingly into businesses, onto busses or planes.
Is this a bed bug bite?
Bed bug bites resemble some other types of insect bites, appearing red, swollen and itchy. However, bed bugs often bite in a line, unlike mosquitoes or some other insects that may only bite once or twice. While the CDC points out that bed bugs feed on people while they sleep, that is not always true. While you watch TV or curl up on the sofa reading, bed bugs could bite you.
Bed bug bites may not itch until days after the initial bite since bed bugs inject an anesthetic as they bite their victim. You may suffer secondary infections, primarily due to scratching or numerous bites, leading to the need for medical care.
How do I get rid of bed bugs?
Some people buy insecticides, most of which do not kill bed bugs.
Most people prefer to leave determining whether they have bed bugs and eradicating them to professionals. Professional pest control companies can identify whether you have bed bugs and treat your home to get rid of them.