At one point in your life, you likely saw a bed bug and didn’t even realize it. That is because bed bugs are small and may look like crumbs in your bed or seeds on your couch. Don’t let them fool you this time! This guide will help you know how to spot a bed bug as well as understand the problems that bed bugs cause in your home and create a plan of attack to get rid of them.
The Problem With Bed Bugs
Regardless of what DIY sites claim, you cannot get rid of bed bugs on your own. Treating bed bug infestations require professional attention and methods.
Bed bugs are excellent hiders, so they can infest your home before you see any signs of them. Bed bugs don’t have large nests like ants and other insects do, but they may live together in small groups throughout your home. At first, bed bugs will stick close to a food source, which happens to be your blood, so they tend to remain in couches, beds, and bedding.
It doesn’t take long for bed bugs to scatter to nearby furnishings and other rooms within your home, however. Bed bugs also enjoy traveling, and they can do so undetected. If you unknowingly transport bed bugs, they can spread to your workplace or school, a friend's home, hotels you visit, and other places.
What Does A Bed Bug Look Like?
Bed bugs are small bugs with flat, oval-shaped bodies. Bed bugs are usually a reddish-brown color. After a bed bug feeds, the body will swell and turn red in color because they feed on blood. Bed bugs don’t have wings, so they don’t fly; instead, they crawl.
As mentioned above, bed bugs are often mistaken for crumbs, apple seeds, and other small seeds. Even if you aren’t sure, if you think it may be bed bugs, clean it up and call the professionals for a thorough inspection.
Signs You Have Bed Bugs In Your Home
The signs of bed bugs in your home may not be as easy to spot. Some signs of bed bug activity include:
- Blood stains or small fecal stains on your sheets, bedding, curtains, walls, or furnishings
- Exoskeleton casings as nymphs shed their skin
- A musty odor in the home
If you don’t spot the bed bug or the signs they leave behind, take a look at your skin. Bed bug bites can reveal an infestation. Bed bug bites are localized to a specific area on the body, usually the back, upper back, and shoulders; however, bed bug bites can be anywhere on the body. Bed bug bites are small, red welts, often in a line. They are itchy and can resemble a rash.
Parkway Pest Services Finds Bed Bugs
If you are still unsure about the presence of bed bugs in your home, Parkway Pest Services can tell you for sure with a K-9 bed bug inspection. Bed bug treatment for NYC, Brooklyn, and the five boroughs involves multiple approaches to identify and exterminate bed bugs. Parkway Pest Services' bed bug control treatments include K-9 inspections, encasements, conventional and steam treatments, and year-round pest control and monitoring.
Call Parkway Pest Services today for bed bug solutions in NYC and surrounding areas that work!