Fact vs. Myths: Bed Bugs In Washington D.C.
01/20/2022
Bed bugs are small parasitic pests that often resemble an apple seed to the naked eye. They have a wingless, oval-shaped body with a reddish-brown ...
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While most homeowners can identify some pests in Washington D.C. right away, other pests are harder to tell apart. Bed bugs are one of the most challenging pests to identify, and they often are mistaken for other pests.
It’s easy to assume that ticks or fleas are bed bugs, but there are some ways to tell them apart and make sure what you’re dealing with is bed bugs. For one thing, the bites of bed bugs look different than tick or flea bites.
Bed bug bites usually show up in zigzag or line patterns on the skin, and they can occur anywhere that your skin is exposed while you sleep. This is because bed bugs come out at night when they sense how much carbon dioxide we emit to get a blood meal.
In this guide, you’ll learn all the signs of bed bugs, including what the actual bed bugs look like, as well as other signs of an infestation.
Identifying Bed Bugs At All Stages Of Their Lifecycle
Bed bugs are tiny, but they aren’t invisible to the human eye. They get to be about the size of an apple seed when fully grown, and while this still isn’t very large, you can see them if you know where to look. Also, bed bugs often congregate together around seams in mattresses or even in outlets in the walls, and it’s easier to notice them when they are in groups.
The adult bugs are oval-shaped, and they are usually flat. However, once they’ve gotten their meal, they will become bloated and become more rounded. The bed bug nymphs are similar in size and shape to the adults, although they are slightly smaller and lighter in color.
Lastly, the bedbug eggs are the smallest of them all. They are a cream color and only about one millimeter long. This means the bed bug eggs are the most difficult to identify, and this can be a problem because infestations can keep coming back unless the eggs are destroyed, as well as nymphs and adults.
Five More Signs Of Bed Bugs
While you might see the bugs themselves as the infestation grows, there are other signs of bed bug activity that you are likely to pick up on first. Keep in mind that bed bugs don’t just infest mattresses and bedding either. They can also live on other furniture or in holes in the walls.
Here are some indicators to watch for:
- Brown smear marks around the home that come from bed bug excrement
- Rusty stains that come from blood from the bed bugs bites
- Discarded eggshells around furniture and bedding, ranging in color from cream to dark brown
- Bed bug bites on your skin or the skin of other people in your home
- A strange and musty odor that wasn’t there before
What Should You Do If You Have Bed Bugs In Your Connecticut Home?
If you’ve taken stock of your home and have noticed any of the signs of bed bugs mentioned in this guide, the best way to remove them is with assistance from American Pest. Bed bugs are extremely difficult to remove on your own because every single bed bug and egg needs to be eradicated or the infestation will return.
Don’t waste your precious time and effort. Instead, let our trained technicians handle bed bugs and keep them from coming back. Contact us today to request a quote.
