Bed bugs are tiny and a nuisance. They are known to be very hardy and can travel between houses in the fold of clothes, suitcases, and other items. Once they arrive at your home they will find a suitable place to hide.
These small brownish insects have flat bodies and are about the same size as an apple seed. They feed on human blood but don’t like the light, preferring to tuck into their meal at night while you sleep.
Because they are so small you will probably not feel them biting you. However, you will be aware that you have a bed bug issue because they leave the following clues:
Small bloodstains on your sheets
The bloodstains are usually from where you have rolled during the night and squashed a bed bug or two. In other words, the blood is predominantly yours.
Rusty marks on your bed sheets
Bed bugs leave a rusty mark when they excrete waste products. These tiny marks on your bedsheets are a clue that they have been visiting you overnight.
Welts on your body
Perhaps the most obvious sign of a bed bug infestation is the red welts that will appear on your body. They will be plentiful and are likely to be very itchy.
A musty odor
Bed bugs secrete a musty odor to keep other insects away. They are likely to have excreted while in your bed and you’ll notice it when you wake.
If you think you have a bed bug problem then you should contact your local pest control company. They can handle it properly for you and make sure that all the bed bugs are killed, it is not as easy as it sounds.
Ignoring The Issue
In general, it is not possible to ignore the issue as your body will be increasingly covered in red welts which are itchy and annoying.
In fact, bed bugs multiply quickly. Ignoring their presence simply means they will multiply and there will be more and more of them. Not only will this increase the number of bites you get, but it will also increase the likelihood of them heading to another room in your home or to different houses. Is that really something you want to pass on to your friends?
Bed bugs are very tough. The only effective way to eliminate them is to wash and dry your soft furnishings at a high temperature. You’ll also need an effective pesticide to fumigate your room or even your house. If you’ve allowed them to spread through your home you may find it’s not bearable to live there until they are completely eliminated. Considering the number of dark places they can hide this becomes a very difficult job. It is much easier to deal with it in one room.
Although you can pick up pest control sprays at your local store, it is advisable to use a professional. If you don’t eliminate all the bed bugs they will simply rebuild and return to eating you at night.