They come at night, stealthily creeping out of the shadows. As you lay peacefully sleeping, they descend upon you, sinking their teeth into you and feasting on your blood. What are these terrifying creatures?
No, they’re not vampires, but they are the stuff of nightmares for Durham homeowners - bed bugs! These nasty little blood-suckers feed on human blood during the night and hide during the day, making them difficult to identify. If they aren’t caught promptly, they can quickly spread throughout a home and to new locations via their unsuspecting hosts.
Bed bugs are a problem for many Durham residents, and they can be almost anywhere. Knowing how to recognize the signs of a bed bug infestation will help prepare you against these parasitic pests. Let’s explore how to identify bed bugs, the telltale signs of an infestation, and what to do if you suspect that your home has a bed bug problem.
Identifying Bed Bugs
Bed bugs are small, oval-shaped insects measuring about ¼ of an inch in length. When unfed, they are flat and brown in color. After feeding, they become engorged with human blood and take on a reddish hue. Bed bug nymphs are smaller and nearly colorless, making them harder to see with the naked eye.
Bed bugs can be difficult to identify as they are extremely elusive pests. They stay hidden during the day, out of sight in crevices, baseboards, box springs, and even underneath wallpaper. They emerge at night, attracted to the carbon dioxide from our breath as we sleep.
They will typically feed on a human for 5 to 10 minutes, without waking their sleeping host. Once they’ve had a blood meal, they hide away again for several days to mate and lay eggs. This feeding pattern makes it easy for bed bugs to go undetected, as there are long breaks between the attacks.
Bed Bug Bites
Bed bug bites are often the first indication of a bed bug problem. Although the bites are initially painless, an allergic reaction to the bed bugs’ saliva causes the bites to become red, itchy, and swollen. These bumps are usually found in small clusters, a zig-zag pattern, or a line, which helps differentiate them from other insect bites. The bites will typically be found on areas of the body that are exposed while sleeping, such as the face, neck, hands, arms, and legs.
Telltale Signs Of Bed Bugs
Bites can be an early sign of a bed bug problem, but it may be difficult to pin down whether the bumps are, in fact, the work of bed bugs or some other insect or allergic reaction. Aside from waking up with itchy spots, there are several other signs of bed bugs you should keep in mind.
Here are some telltale signs that your home has become infested with bed bugs:
- Fecal staining - small dark spots on furniture, walls, or mattresses from bed bug droppings.
- Bed bug molt skins - yellowish skins that nymphs shed as they grow.
- Bed bug eggs & eggshells - tiny, pearly-white or translucent.
- Crushed bed bugs - reddish stains on mattresses or sheets.
- Odor - an unpleasant, musty smell produced by bed bug glands.
- Live bugs - brown or reddish in color, about the size and shape of an apple seed.
While bed bugs are best known for infesting sleeping areas, they can be found throughout your home. They can infest walls, furniture, and carpets in any room of your house. They have even been caught in unlikely places such as inside picture frames and behind electrical switch plates. If you notice signs of bed bugs anywhere in your home, be sure to call a professional pest control company as soon as possible.
Professional Pest Control In Durham - The Eco Man Pest Solutions
Bed bugs are not a DIY pest. In fact, 76% of pest control professionals agree that bed bugs are the most difficult pest to eliminate. When it comes to bed bugs, professional treatments are the only way to guarantee that they will be completely wiped out. For safe and effective bed bug control in Durham, look no further than The Eco Man Pest Solutions.
The Eco Man Pest Solutions is dedicated to providing Durham with safe, effective, and eco-friendly pest control. We offer three different types of bed bug control: heat treatment, steam treatment, and eco-friendly treatment, and we can help you choose which method is right for your particular situation. All of our bed bug services include a complimentary follow-up visit two weeks after the initial treatment, to reinspect your home and re-treat if necessary.
We will thoroughly eliminate the bed bugs from your home so that you won’t lose any more sleep over these biting pests. For quality bed bug and pest control in Durham, contact The Eco Man Pest Solutions today.
Customer Reviews
Eco Man Pest are the best to work with that I've had in the Triangle since moving here 20 years ago and using at least 5 other companies thus far. The Technician was so nice, knowledgeable and efficient. Thanks again Tim...
