Once you’ve found a few
bedbugs in your home, you need to work quickly to find a solution to this potentially devastating problem. Even if you’ve found one or two
bedbugs, you need to take care of the problem swiftly.
Bedbugs rarely travel in small groups. Once you’ve found a few
bedbugs, you’re likely dealing with a full-blown infestation. Take steps to address this problem or you’ll regret your inaction.
Although you can try DIY methods, you likely shouldn’t. Some of these techniques can help, but they’re not going to wipe out the infestation. Instead, working with an exterminator is the best method. You should contact several exterminators in your area. Be sure to obtain and compare quotes. Doing so can help you get the best deal.
Risks & A Few Bed Bugs
You may ignore a few
bedbugs. You might suspect it is a small problem that is going to deal with itself in a few months. Unfortunately, this likely isn’t going to happen. Bedbugs don’t travel alone. Instead, they live in large communities with hundreds or thousands of other bedbugs. These pests usually do not live alone. Therefore, you should suspect that you’re dealing with a bigger infestation. If you have a few bedbugs in your home, there are likely more and they need to be eliminated swiftly.
Bedbugs pose numerous risks. They’ll prefer you from sleeping comfortably. Furthermore, they’re going to make it difficult to relax in your home. Female bedbugs can live for a relatively long period and lay up to 500 eggs during her life. If she enters your home when she is pregnant, the infestation is quickly going to worsen. When you’ve found a few bedbugs in your home, don’t delay rectifying the problem. Failing to tackle the problem will lead to bigger issues and a bigger infestation to deal with.
A female bedbug will have a round abdomen. As for male bedbugs, they have pointed abdomens. The only problem is that they’re 7mm in length so it is difficult to spot the difference.
Difficulty Of Spotting Bedbugs In A Dwelling
It won’t be easy to find bedbugs in your home. Even if you have a moderate infestation, you may not realize it. Instead, you’ll have to wait until the infestation severely worsens. Once it has, you’ll likely realize that you’re dealing with a major issue. Bedbugs don’t crawl on the floor in the open. Instead, they tend to remain hidden when people are home and awake. Plus, these pests often blend in with furniture and other items in your home. In general, bedbugs don’t come out and feed until night. If you sleep at night, they’ll eat at night.
However, they’ll adapt to your schedule. If you sleep during the day, they’ll eat during the daylight hours. Bites may lead to the development of small marks but not always. In some cases, it won’t cause any symptoms. If you do experience a response to the bite, you’ll develop a red welt on your body.
What Do Bedbugs Look Like?
You should never jump to conclusions until you’re positive you’ve found a bedbug in your home. With this in mind, it is best to find out what they look like. Once you’ve done that, you’ll know how to identify them. Just remember that bedbugs are tiny. They’re rarely 10mm since most of them only reach 7mm. They have six small legs and small antennas. Bedbugs are sometimes mistaken for carpet beetles, cockroach nymphs, and fleas.
Common Signs Of Bedbug Infestations
Once you suspect you have bedbugs, you need to know what to look for. If you find the common signs of bedbug infestations in your home, you have a problem. Check your home for the following signs.
Blood – If you suspect your home has bedbugs, you need to search your bed for bloodstains. When bedbugs eat, they’re going to hold blood in their bodies until it is digested. When they’re crushed before they digest the blood, they’ll leave a small bloodstain.
Skins – Bedbugs shed their skin at some point. When doing so, they’re going to leave exoskeletons around the homes they infest.
Eggs – You’ll also find eggs and egg casings around your home. They breed by laying eggs. In general, their eggs are roughly the size of a pinpoint.
Feces – Bedbugs are going to use the bathroom in your home. Their feces resembles a small ink spot.
Bites On Your Body – Check your body for bite marks. Bedbug bites sometimes lead to small, red welts developing on the victim’s body.
Odor – Finally, bedbugs can change the odor of the room. They’ll create a musty, sweet odor.
Searching For Bedbugs
It is pertinent to find out whether your home has bedbugs. Once you’ve confirmed you have a problem, you can begin working to fix the problem. Since most bedbugs are going to hide in your bedroom, it is best to begin there. More than 90% of the bedbugs in a home will be hiding on mattresses and box springs. Remove all of the covers and sheets from your beds so you can search the mattresses and box springs. Check the folds of fabrics. Check the top before flipping the mattress over and checking the other side too. Besides the mattress and box spring, you’ll also need to check your bed frame, sheets, pillowcases, and covers.
Once you’ve finished searching these items, it is time to move to the rest of the objects in your room. Grabs a flashlight and card so you can search your baseboards. Look closely in your electric outlets because bedbugs could be hiding in the slots. When searching your home for bedbugs, be sure to look for eggs, feces, and bloodstains. If you notice any of these things, don’t hesitate to phone an exterminator in your area.
Fixing The Problem
Once you’ve found bedbugs in your home, team up with a skilled exterminator in your area. It is pertinent to make sure that you work with a reputable exterminator who can deliver satisfactory results. However, you can kill some of the bedbugs on your own. Do so by throwing your clothes and sheets into your dryer. Flip it to the hottest temperature and turn it on. Once you’ve done this, the bedbugs in the dryer will die within 15 to 20 minutes. After that, a professional exterminator will help you get rid of the remaining bedbugs in your home.
A professional exterminator will help develop a plan to fix the problem promptly. Be sure to work with an exterminator that offers
eco-friendly solutions. Obtain multiple quotes so you can get the best price.
Questions You May Have
Does Your Home Have One Bedbug?
Your home might contain one bedbug. The pest might’ve entered from outside or in the used furniture you bought. However, there is a better chance that you’ve only seen one but there are many more.
Should I Ignore The Problem?
No. Do not ignore the problem.
Get in touch with an exterminator and fix the problem before it is too late.
How Many Bedbugs Are Required For An Infestation?
An infestation may contain any number of bedbugs. It could a few hundred or a few thousand. There isn’t a universal answer.
