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Do You Have Bed Bugs in Your Home?

Bed bugs are unpleasant, to say the least, and while they are not usually harmful to human health, it is important to get rid of them once they have taken shelter in your home. To do that though, you first must be able to determine that you have bed bugs in your home. While spotting the bugs is an easy way to do this, they are not always visible. If you think you may have bed bugs but are not certain, below are ten signs that could indicate a problem.

Itchy and Red Spots on the Skin
One of the telltale signs of bed bugs is the red, itchy spots on the skin after bed bugs have bitten. Like mosquitoes, bed bugs require a warm-blooded host to live. They hide in the crevices of beds and couches and come out at night to feed. After feeding, they then return to their hiding places and you wake up with itchy, red spots. In most cases, these bites are nothing more than a nuisance. Some people though may experience an allergic reaction while others may not have any reaction at all to bed bug bites.

The Bites are All in a Row
Unlike mosquito bites and other pesky pests, the bites of bed bugs tend to appear in a single line. If you wake up with this distinctive pattern, you may have a bed bug problem.

There is a Musty Odor You Cannot Explain
Bed bugs release pheromones and when they congregate in large numbers, the smell of those pheromones is quite strong. If you smell a musty odor, particularly in the bedroom or around certain furniture, it may indicate the presence of bed bugs.

Your Sheets are Bloodstained
When bed bugs come out at night to feed, you may accidentally roll over onto them and kill them, which will leave a bloodstain on your sheets. In addition to your sheets, you may also find bloodstains on your skin or your pajamas.

Dark, Rusty-Colored Spots are Appearing on Your Mattress
Bed bugs are often found in large numbers and when that is the case, you may find spots on your mattress that are dark in color. While it is certainly unpleasant to think about, these spots are fecal stains left behind by bed bugs. These dark spots also often have an odor that is not pleasant, and the spots may smear if they are touched.

You have Dark Spots on Your Walls
People often think that bed bugs only stay in beds, but that is not true. Bed bugs will congregate anywhere there is a host nearby, which means they may hide behind loose wallpaper, or travel along the walls as they travel from one place to another. As bed bugs hide in these places, they will leave fecal matter behind, as well. Many people have suspected that they have a bed bug problem but cannot find them until they start checking the walls of their home.

You Find Shells
Bed bugs lay eggs that are white and husk-like. Sometimes, bed bugs will also leave a shell behind when they molt and grow, shedding their skin as they do. Just as these shells are often found in and around beds, you may also find them in sofa cushions and under furniture. Shells, like bed bugs, are most likely to be found in wooden or fabric furniture and not on metal or plastic surfaces.

You Find Small White Spots in the Seams of Furniture
Tiny white spots in the joints and seams of furniture is another sign you may have a bed bug problem. While many people think these are baby bed bugs, they are actually the small white eggs that are left behind after bed bugs hatch. These small white spots are very hard to find. If you suspect a bed bug problem, use a flashlight to see right into the seams and behind headboards. You may also want to remove staples or peel back the fabric of furniture to see if bed bugs or more eggs are found. This is especially important to do in all areas of your home if you have found eggs in another part of your home.

You Know People that Have had Bed Bugs
Many people do not realize that bed bugs are notorious hitchhikers and they will travel from person to person. If you visit a hotel or even a friend’s home and they have bed bugs, there is a good chance you will bring them back to your home. Remember that bed bugs can live in very clean conditions and bed bugs are not a sign that someone’s home is dirty. Bed bugs are also very small, about the size of an apple seed, so you may not notice that you bring them home with you.

You Purchased Second-Hand Furniture
One of the most common ways bed bugs enter a home is through second-hand furniture they purchase, or that they are gifted. Short of buying only new furniture, the only way to prevent bed bugs from entering the home this way is to fully inspect any second-hand furniture before bringing it into the home. Quarantining the furniture is not enough. Bed bugs can live between 20 and 400 days without food, so you really do have to thoroughly inspect it well using a flashlight and looking in all of the seams and joints of the furniture.

The Psychological Toll of Bed Bugs
Living with bed bugs does not only affect people physically, but it takes an emotional toll, too. The very act of dealing with a bed bug infestation is stressful and exhausting. It requires constantly packing and washing your belongings, and you may even have to leave your home for a few weeks. All of this is very overwhelming, but add to that the psychological effects, and it becomes even more difficult. When dealing with bed bugs, it is not uncommon to experience a number of harmful psychological effects, including:

  • Trouble sleeping: Knowing, or even just thinking, that bed bugs are going to come out and bite is extremely unsettling and can result in people having trouble sleeping.
  • Nightmares: Stress, exhaustion, and an inability to sleep can all contribute to nightmares, which results in a vicious cycle of not being able to sleep.
  • Social isolation: Bed bugs are known travelers and so, it is not uncommon for people to not want to visit a home that has an infestation. You may also not want to visit other people’s homes due to fear that you may bring the bugs with you. This social isolation only adds to the psychological and emotional toll of bed bugs.
  • Depression and anxiety: Sometimes, it seems as though once an infestation has settled in, it is never going to go away. Infestations are also very damaging to the self-image, even though the presence of bed bugs does not reflect the cleanliness of one’s home. When all of these factors are added together, it can lead to depression and anxiety.

Even once the bed bugs are gone, the psychological impacts may still remain. It is important that you monitor how you are feeling and if necessary, seek help for your symptoms.

Our Texas Pest Control Experts Can Help with Your Bed Bug Problem
It is critical to identify a bed bug problem early, so the situation does not become worse. If you have identified a problem, or think you have bed bugs in your home, our Austin pest control experts at Stride Pest Control can help you eliminate it. We know the solutions that work against bed bugs and will get rid of your problem once and for all. Call us today at 512-515-3635 or contact us online to schedule a free consultation and to learn more about how we can help with your infestation.