Are you suspecting that you have become the victim of bed bugs? You could be right and the best way to know for sure is to hire a London bed bug exterminator. Bed bugs are tiny creatures that are often difficult to detect. They can quickly invade your living space and cause serious trouble without you even realizing you are dealing with a bed bug infestation. Hiring a professional can help you locate the problem and find a reasonable solution that will offer quick results.
But is there anything you can do to identify a bed bug infestation alone?
We’re here to help you by sharing some of the most common signs of bed bugs. By being aware of them, you can spot a bed bug infestation in its early stages and take measures to eliminate it. Otherwise, you risk allowing the situation to get out of hand. Female bed bugs can lay hundreds of eggs and each is as big as a speck of dust. Once the eggs hatch though, you’ll certainly have a problem.
How to tell if you have bed bugs at home
There are some vivid signs of a bed bug infestation but there are also indications that may not always be easy to identify. Although most people assume that they only attack the bedroom, this is not the case. They can also infest your living room, laundry room, bathrooms, and storage rooms. They live in groups and are commonly transferred via objects like bags, suitcases, appliances, clothes, and more.
Let’s look at the most popular signs of a bed bug problem.
Bloodstains
Have you ever wondered why these small, oval, brown creatures are called bed bugs? It’s because they strike at night while you are sleeping and feed off your blood. One of their favourite places to invade is your bed and its surroundings but they are certainly not limited to this area. However, when they make their way to your body during the night, they are often crushed as you turn in your sleep. If you notice small blood stains on your bedding, this may be the explanation.
Faecal spots
Another indicator of a bed bug infestation is faecal spots on your bedding. Once bed bugs are done feeding off your blood they excrete it once it’s processed. This happens a short time after the feeding process. It’s natural that other insects also leave behind such faecal spots but what differs is the location. Bed bugs will specifically leave behind these traces on your pillowcases, bed sheets, mattress, and other areas near or on your bed.
Bed bug eggs
You may even be able to see bed bug eggs or eggshells. Although they are small in size they could be seen by the naked eye. After certain life cycles that the bed bug goes through, it normally sheds its skin. This means that their outer shell is left behind for you to find. In addition, these pests grow in size after every meal they have. In order to grow, they must release their old outer shell in order to grow larger. This also happens when the bed bugs hatch, after which you can find eggshells on your property.
Skin irritation
Another common sign is skin irritation or skin bites. As bed bugs feed off your blood they penetrate your skin. This may cause a short-term skin problem accompanied by red marks and itching. Although this may mean a different type of pest infestation, if you notice some of the mentioned above symptoms, chances are that you’re dealing with a bed bug invasion.
It’s important that you act quickly and call a local pest control expert in your area the moment you notice a bed bug infestation or have doubts that you may be suffering from one. Bed bugs reproduce quickly and could become extremely difficult to exterminate once they’ve successfully spread across your property.