Are you concerned about bed bugs in your household? Bed bugs are notoriously difficult to detect and even more difficult to remove, especially in heavily populated areas. Despite their cleverness, a diligent homeowner or apartment renter can detect the early indicators of a bed bug infestation.
Finding and exterminating these tiny, blood-sucking parasites early on – before they can reproduce and spread – is one of the greatest ways to protect yourself and your family against them. Talk to an expert today if you want to find out how to eliminate them more efficiently.
Early signs of bed bugs
If you fear that bed bugs have infiltrated your house, it is well worth your while to understand and become acquainted with the following early warning signs:
- Musty odors
Our sense of smell can sometimes provide the first indication that something is wrong. If you smell a strange, musty odor in your bedroom that does not appear to be coming from anywhere obvious, it could be an early indicator of bed bugs. As a reaction to being irritated or threatened, bed bugs produce “alarm” pheromones. These pheromones emit scents that can be mildly sweet or musty. Those who have experienced it describe the smell as similar to coriander, raspberries, almonds, or cilantro.
- Bites
Waking up with itchy red spots on your body might be a frightening initial sign of bed bugs. Bed bugs are ectoparasites that prey on the blood of humans as they sleep. They like to bite areas of the body where bare flesh is exposed at night, such as the arms, hands, and legs. However, bites alone are insufficient to detect a bed bug infestation. Since different people react differently to bed bug bites, there is no definite way to differentiate them from other insect bites. A stunning 30% of people have no skin reactions to bed bug bites.
- Bloodstains
Even if we do not notice bed bugs when they are feeding on us, they do not always make it out alive. When a bed bug becomes bloated with blood, its original flat, seed-like look transforms into something resembling a little football. If you move or twist your body unexpectedly while sleeping, you may accidentally squash a bed bug that has just finished eating. While it normally does not kill them, it causes some of the blood they recently fed on to flow out and leave a visible red or rust-colored stain.
Talk to an expert today for more information on bed bugs and how to exterminate them.
