When bed bugs infest Louisville homes, they can be difficult to detect at first. Today, we're going to take a look at a few reasons why and offer up some tips to help you recognize a bed bug problem as quickly as possible so these tormenting little pests don't have a chance to make your life a misery.
Initial Bites May Be Slight
If you bring something into your home that has bed bug eggs in it, those eggs can hatch and immature nymphs could be the first bed bugs to bite you. Newly hatched, immature nymphs are about 1/5 the size of adult bed bugs so they don't inject as much anticoagulant as they feed. It is this blood-thinning anticoagulant bed bugs administer that causes the reaction that makes bed bug bites swell. If you're bit by baby bed bugs, you may not realize it.
Tip 1: Be aware that bites may only be tiny, raised bumps on your skin.
One Bed Bug, Three Bites
If one female bed bug hitchhikes into your home, you could get three bites at first. Bed bugs often bite three times, and they do this during the night. If you find three bites on your skin that are in a line or a slight zig-zag pattern, they could be bites from one bed bug. If they are bed bug bites, they're likely to be in areas of your body that are exposed during sleep, such as your head, neck, arms, or feet. They will most likely be near your head, as bed bugs are attracted to carbon dioxide emissions.
Tip 2: Consider the pattern and location of the bites.
Many Bed Bugs, Many Bites
If one or more female bed bugs laid eggs in an item you brought back from a vacation, or you've purchased a used item and brought it into your home with bed bug eggs hidden inside, you could have many immature nymphs hatch in your home all at once. If so, the first bites you'll see might look like a rash. One bed bug is likely to bite three times, so five bed bugs could leave fifteen bites on your skin. Since immature nymphs leave slight bites, it may look like you have a rash. You may be able to tell the difference between a rash and bed bug bites by considering the pattern. The bumps of a rash will be random. The bumps of bed bugs will look like they follow a pathway across your skin.
Tip 3: Be on the lookout for rashes that follow a path on your skin.
Some Bites Take Time
You might think that you'll wake up with bed bug bites if you have bed bugs, but this is not necessarily the case. It can take hours, or even days, for bed bug bites to become rashy bumps on your skin. This can make it difficult to connect your bites with an infestation in your home. As an example, imagine that you wake up with no bites and then head out to the beach for the day. If you come back with bites on your skin, you may think the bites are from mosquitoes, gnats, or some other outside pest. But they could be bed bug bites.
Tip 4: If you're finding bites on your skin, and you're not sure you're getting them during the night, once again, consider the pattern. A mosquito or a gnat will bite you once. This will cause their bites to be random.
Bed Bugs Are Tiny Bugs That Hide
It can be difficult to detect bed bugs in your home because they're small insects that like to hide in tight spaces. Bed bugs range from 1mm to 4.5mm in length and there can be dozens of them in the seam of a mattress. This is why some people think bed bugs are microscopic. We assure you, they're not. If you go looking for bed bugs and expose them, you'll see them.
Tip 5: Learn how to do a quick bed bug inspection.
Quick Bed Bug Inspection
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Search seams, cracks, and crevices with a debit card or some other thin tool. This will help to dislodge shed skins, tiny white eggs, black fecal matter, or the bed bugs themselves.
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Search between your mattresses and box spring. Look closely because a dozen bed bugs can be in a spot the size of your thumbnail, and they may be hiding underneath a slight piece of fabric.
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Inspect your bedding and sheets for black or brown stains. Bed bugs sometimes excrete feces and blood.
What To Do When You Have A Bed Bug Infestation
If you have bites, and this leads you to find stains, shed skins, white eggs, or bed bugs hiding in your home, the next step is to take action and contact Action. An early and decisive response can make your bed bug experience short and help you avoid the ongoing misery these bugs can cause. Reach out to us today for assistance.
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