Bed bugs are small, flat, oval, brownish parasitic insects that live solely on the blood of sleeping people and animals. Bed bugs are about the size of an apple seed, but become slightly larger after feeding. They can live several months without a meal, and reproduce rapidly. A female bed bug can lay hundreds of eggs in its lifetime.
Bites will appear on your arms, face, and shoulders, which are typically exposed as you sleep. These bites can sometimes take up to 14 days to appear.
Shortly after bed bugs feed, they will usually “burp,” leaving small rust spots in sheets and/or pillowcases.
When a bed bug problem becomes significant, there is normally a musty odor. This odor tends to smell like a wet towel that’s been left on the floor too long. If you find your otherwise clean room smelling like a gym locker, you may have bed bugs.
Thoroughly inspect your sheets, including the corners, for any rust-colored stains, bed bugs, or the exoskeletons of molted bed bugs. (Bed bugs molt like a snake and they shed their outer layer each time.)
Another favorite spot for bed bugs is along the edges of your mattress and box springs. Signs of bed bugs include rust-colored stains, black dots, live bed bugs, or their exoskeletons.
Look at cracks and screws, as bed bugs will hide in exceedingly small cracks and crevices.
Pull out the drawers and look underneath the drawers and at the internal construction. Focus your inspection on cracks and screws.
Inspect the wall and floor junction behind the bed. Bed bugs will hide in baseboards, or even under your carpet.
Remove and inspect picture frames on the wall close to your bed. Bed bugs like to hide behind these.
Remove all switch and outlet covers to inspect for signs of bed bugs.
Be sure to check the company’s reviews, as not all exterminators are good at treating bed bugs.
Most sprays can cause bed bugs to spread, and bed bugs are resistant to many of these products.
This will kill bed bugs without causing them to spread.
This is, in many cases, needed and a clever idea but... Throwing your bed out the window and into the yard may just cause bed bugs to take up residence in your yard and eventually back in your house. Before throwing out your mattress, make sure to:
Treat all live bed bugs on the mattress, box spring, and bed frame using isopropyl alcohol, or at least vacuum thoroughly.
Make sure everyone is aware of the bed bugs. Mark whatever is going to the dump with the words “Bed Bugs,” or render the item useless by damaging it beyond repair.
PO Box 1212, Lyndonville VT 05851