Specifying the signs of bed bugs is crucial for controlling their spread in the battle against these crawling monsters. Bed bugs are adept hitchhikers, and the harder we make it for them to latch onto our belongings and clothing, the better our prospects of keeping them out of our homes. Here are six indicators of a bed bug infestation.
What’s in this blog?
Health Hazards Associated With Bed Bugs
Signs of Bed Bugs – An Insight
Signs of Bed Bugs: Interceptor Traps and Expert Advice
Stay Vigilant: Signs of Bed Bugs
Health Hazards Associated With Bed Bugs
Apart from early signs of bed bugs UK, another familiar question is whether bed bug bites can make you sick. Although reactions differ, knowing the health hazards bed bug infestations pose is crucial. Watch for allergic reactions, ranging from no signs to severe ones, among different individuals. Itching is the most common problem, often intense and relentless due to clustered bites. While bed bugs don’t spread infections instantly, severe itching can lead to open wounds, potentially causing secondary infections like impetigo and lymphangitis. Bites may also induce red spots or blisters, with itching and psychological distress staying even after the physical symptoms subside. Anxiety overbites can lead to insomnia, declining efficiency and increasing stress. Those with low immunity or conditions like asthma may risk anaphylactic shock from bites, necessitating prompt treatment. Although not documented in real-world cases, studies suggest bed bugs can disseminate Chagas disease and carry over 40 detrimental pathogens, posing additional risks if pathogens come into contact with open injuries.
Signs of Bed Bugs – An Insight
Identifying early signs of bed bugs is crucial to prevent their spread and mitigate health risks. Look for these tell-tale signs to ascertain what are signs of bed bugs promptly.
Bites on Your Body
Bed bug bites come in diverse shapes and sizes; having bites doesn’t necessarily ensure the sign of bed bugs. In the UK, three small creatures commonly bite humans: fleas, mosquitoes (in summer), and bed bugs. Fleas generally come from a host animal like a cat or dog, and in their scarcity, they bite humans, often targeting wrists and ankles. If your bites are in these areas, consider fleas as the reason rather than signs and symptoms of bed bug bites.
Mosquitoes in the UK are wrought for breeding in small water containers and pots in gardens, as their eggs are eaten in larger ponds. If you have such containers near an open bedroom window, drive them away and see if the bites stay.
Bed bugs might be the culprit if the bites are improbable from fleas or mosquitoes. Bed bugs are sometimes said to bite in a row of three, which can occur as they walk along the food source, searching for blood. They may endeavour to find a blood vessel, moving further each time until they succeed. This process results in numerous signs of bed bugs bites nearby, making your meal most unpleasant.
Spotting on the Bed Frame
A practical approach to detect bed bugs is by examining your bed frame and signs of bed bugs on mattress. Look for little black spots, approximately 1 millimetre in size, which appear in particular areas such as the headboard and slats. These spots are essentially dried bed bug excrement comprising your dried blood. A tip from pest controllers is to dampen your finger and attempt to smear the spots lightly – if they smear, they are likely blood spots, increasing the likelihood of a bed bug infestation.
Exoskeletons
Like humans (minus the blood-feeding part), bed bugs experience an unfinished lifecycle. They hatch from eggs and do not undergo pupation like butterflies do from caterpillars. Instead, bed bugs advance through stages known as instars, shedding their exoskeletons as they grow bigger. These dumped exoskeletons serve as a significant indicator of signs of bed bug infestation at your home.
Blood Spots on Your Bed Sheets
Spotting on bed sheets can sometimes deceive, so caution is essential. Furniture spotting, generally around a millimetre in size and smudging when touched with a wet finger, is a clear indicator. Yet, blood marks left by bed bugs might resemble those from a nominal cut, spreading to 4 millimetres in diameter on sheets. It’s easy to misinterpret these for scratches that cause remote bleeding during the night. For more reliable evidence, inspect spotting on the bed or look for discarded exoskeletons left behind by these undesirable guests.
Finding Bed Bugs in Your Home: Where to Search
Conducting a comprehensive bed bug inspection is crucial to identifying any issues and definitively planning for removal. Bed bugs prefer darkness and disguise in secluded spots. Begin by scanning your headboard, mainly if it’s fabric-covered, and inspect the connections to the bed frame where they often assemble.
Next, inspect the physical bed frame, mainly if it’s wooden with slats. Look for evidence along the slats and about any plastic clips attaching them to the bed, as this is a typical hiding place. If you have a divan-style bed, lift it to check around the wheels and inside any drawers, including the frame itself.
Please expand your search externally from the bed area, checking items like picture frames (vacate them from the walls) and bedside tables. Signs of bed bugs on furniture should become apparent during this process. If an infestation is found, we suggest professional heat treatment, which virtually targets all life stages of bed bugs in one day, including penetrating eggs. Chemical treatments may not pierce eggs, requiring additional applications as they hatch. For more facts on heat treatments, Fair Deal Pest Control offers further information on Bed Bug Control London.
Detecting Bed Bugs by Scent
Bed bugs eject a pheromone scent often likened to a locker room or a damp, musty towel smell. The power of this odour increases with the seriousness of the infestation.
Signs of Bed Bugs: Interceptor Traps and Expert Advice
If you need more clarification about bed bugs after following our domestic pest control tips for London homes, consider using bed bug interceptor traps on your bed legs. These entrapments help detect any bugs migrating from adjoining furniture. For more tips on common pests and their behaviour, check out our blog, “Common Household Pests in London“. Feel free to ask questions about bed bugs; we’re here to help. Sleep tight and stay bug-free!
Stay Vigilant: Signs of Bed Bugs
Stay aware of the early signs of bed bugs UK leave behind when you’re out and about. If you detect these signs, contact us to learn about our effective bed bug treatments. Life is more pleasing without bed bugs.