Bed bugs are notorious for their ability to hide in the smallest of cracks and crevices, making them difficult to detect and eradicate. So when searching for bed bugs, it’s essential to check all potential hiding places.
Bed bugs are a nuisance and can also cause health issues, including allergic reactions and secondary infections from scratching. Their bites are often painless at first due to an anesthetic they inject into the skin, which allows them to feed undetected. This feeding process can last anywhere from three to ten minutes, after which they retreat to their hiding places.
So knowing their hiding spots can help you take preventive measures – such as encasing mattresses and box springs, reducing clutter, and calling in bed bug control experts.
Forest Pest Control knows how distressing of an experience it is to find bed bugs, which is why we’ve harnessed the knowledge and methods to effectively exterminate them.
Can You See Bed Bugs?
You can usually see bed bugs with the naked eye if you know where and when to look. They are often found in clusters in their hiding spots – so if you see one, there are likely more nearby.
Bed bugs are small, oval-shaped insects that are about the size of an apple seed when fully grown. Their color ranges from translucent white when they are young to reddish-brown as adults.
Despite their small size, bed bugs are visible to the naked eye, especially after feeding when their bodies swell and become more noticeable. These pests typically measure around five to seven mm in length as adults. Immature nymphs can be much smaller, making them harder to spot.
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How Can You Find Bed Bugs?
Finding bed bugs requires a thorough and systematic approach. If you have recently traveled or purchased used furniture, be extra vigilant, as these are common ways bed bugs are introduced into homes. You can find bed bugs by following this process:
- Start by inspecting common hiding places such as mattresses, box springs, bed frames, and headboards. Bed bugs are often found along the side seams of mattress.
- Look for live bugs, rusty or reddish stains on bed linens (which can be blood or bed bug excrement), tiny eggs, and shed skins.
- Use a flashlight and a magnifying glass to examine seams, folds, and crevices. Bed bugs can also be found in furniture, electrical outlets, and behind wallpaper.
- Pay special attention to areas where you spend a lot of time, such as your bed and couch. Bed bugs are attracted to the carbon dioxide and warmth you emit while sleeping or resting.
Pest control experts like Forest Pest Control use more advanced tools and techniques as a part of our bed bug treatments, such as interceptors and bed bug traps. Interceptors are placed under the legs of the bed and furniture to catch bed bugs as they move around. These traps can help confirm an infestation and give you an idea of the severity.
How Do Bed Bugs Find You?
Since bed bugs are attracted to the carbon dioxide we exhale and the warmth of our bodies, they find us where we sleep. They typically emerge at night when they sense a host is near, crawling toward the source of the carbon dioxide.
The time when you check into a hotel or head back home from a trip is the most crucial to look for bed bugs. In a hotel room, pull back the bed sheets and look over the mattress and box spring (especially at the head of the bed). Before heading home from traveling, check your luggage, especially in the stitching, zipper areas, and pockets for any signs of bed bugs mentioned above. Try not to leave your luggage on the floor or bed bugs will have an easier time finding their way in!
Bed bugs can travel several feet in search of a meal, so even if you don’t see them immediately, they could be lurking nearby. Once they sense a human presence, they crawl from their hiding spots in beds or luggage to feed.
Expert Bed Bug Control Treatment is Here
Dealing with a bed bug infestation requires professional expertise and thorough treatment – and Forest Pest Control specializes in effective bed bug eradication in Central Florida. We understand the importance of living without bed bugs and have been providing the highest level of service for 33 years.
Our trained technicians will conduct a comprehensive inspection, identify all infested areas, and create a customized treatment plan to eliminate bed bugs from your home. Forest Pest Control team will work with you to implement preventive measures and offer advice on how to avoid bed bug problems in the future. With our comprehensive approach, you can rest assured that you can sleep peacefully once again.
Don’t let bed bugs disrupt your peace of mind any longer! Contact us today to schedule a bed bug inspection and learn more about our comprehensive pest control services. Our friendly and knowledgeable staff is here to answer any questions you may have and guide you through the process of getting rid of bed bugs.
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