Bed bugs (Cimex lectularius) can become a real headache, as it is a plague that can invade an entire room in the blink of an eye if the necessary measures are not taken.
To save yourself this problem and prevent your home from becoming a source of infections, from UNCOMO we recommend you learn to detect these parasites early. Next we answer your question of how to tell if there are bed bugs in my bed. Follow these simple steps and tips and eradicate bed bugs from your home in time.
Know the characteristics of the plague
The first step is to know identify these parasites well (as well as bed bug eggs) so you don’t miss any. Bed bugs are extremely small insects; that is why its oval shape and its brown or reddish color are difficult to notice even in adulthood. A bed bug can measure, at most, 4 or 6 millimeters.
You should also know that females lay 4 eggs a day on average and that the insect takes about 10 days to reach its adult stage. This means that you must act fast and also remove the bed bug eggs to cut down on the infestation quickly.
Bed bugs live in hiding during the day but come out to feed at night. Their main source of food is the blood of humans and animals, so they produce small bites to obtain it. If you wonder how to know if i have bed bugs in my bodyYou will only have to look for the trace of bites on your skin, as they leave marks and rashes that can become infected if scratched.
Stings generally occur in bunches grouped in the same areaAlso, bed bugs often stain sheets and mattresses when shedding or after eating. In the same way, they tend to secrete a deep and unpleasant stench when the pest reproduces significantly.
Check the head of the bed
To discover how to tell if there are bed bugs in my bed, the first thing you should check is the headboard of this. Bed bugs often hide in spaces close to their victims’ resting place, so the headboard is a good hiding place.
To be sure, remove the mattress from the bed and check with a flashlight the entire structure of this. Due to their color, bed bug eggs will be difficult to see with the naked eye, but adult bed bugs will be more noticeable as they are clustered in heaps.
Carefully check the bed sheets, as well as any cracks and grooves. Also, do not forget to look under the legs of the headboard, as there could be active nests there. If there are, do not hesitate to read this article on How to eliminate bed bugs with home remedies.
Flip your mattress
The mattress is another of the main hiding places for bed bugs, since we do not usually change the sheets every day. Check the corners, folds and edges of the mattress, as the infestation breaks the fabric and takes refuge within the fibers to camouflage themselves.
Check the entire mattress carefully for stains and odors. If you can not see the insects, use a steamer to make the bed bugs go away and you will get rid of doubts, since this pest does not withstand extreme heat.
Check the condition of your sheets, covers and cushions
If you are wondering how to get rid of bed bugs, you should thoroughly check all your bedspreads. Sheets, bedspreads, covers, pillows and cushions. Remove the linings of the latter and check, in each fabric, if there are stains or holes that give away the pest.
In the same way, the characteristic smell of bed bugs will be easily perceptible when checking the condition of your bedspreads. As with the mattress, a steamer on cushions and pillows will be ideal to rule out the presence of this unpleasant pest in your bed.
Identify the bites on your skin
As we mentioned above, bites are one of the main signs that you have bed bugs in your bed. However, the bites it may take a couple of days for them to leave their trace and when they do, they can be mistaken for mosquitoes.
To find out if the bites on your skin are bed bug or not, check the characteristics of the marks in front of the mirror. If there are bulging, reddish bumps, they cause you a lot of itching and you have several bites in a row in the same area of the body, indeed you have bed bugs in your bed.
Bed bugs bite several times in the same area, absorbing up to 10 times their weight in blood. They also attack the victim for an average period of 10 minutes. However, the insect secretes an anesthetic liquid that prevents the victim from feeling the bite during the attack. In this other oneHOWTO article we explain how to avoid bed bug bites.
Inspect corners, cracks, baseboards, and frames
Bed bugs hide easily in other parts of your room, too. Any crack in the floor, in the wall or even in the ceiling serves as a den for this nasty pest. Thus, you must carefully inspect the baseboards, edges and frames of doors and windows, as well as the ceiling.
You can use a flashlight to do a more thorough inspection to spot stains and odors that may betray the presence of bed bug eggs. Although the eggs are almost imperceptible, the skins shed by the insects remain watered, as well as the dark spots of sucked blood.
Check the closet and other furniture in your room
In addition to checking the floors, ceiling, and walls, you should also check all the furniture of your room. Cabinets, drawers, tables, chairs … any piece of furniture can be a good hiding place for bed bugs, so don’t hesitate to empty your room if doubts persist.
In the same way, check your clothes and, mainly, your suitcases, since each trip represents a potential risk of infecting your bed with bed bugs from hotels and residences.
How to avoid bed bugs – tips
Next, we explain how to avoid bed bugs if you want to prevent the appearance of these pests in your room. Take note:
- When you travel, thoroughly check all your luggage, including suitcases and bags.
- Clean your room daily, mainly under the furniture and under the bed.
- Periodically change and wash all your bedding, including sheets, bedspreads, and cushions.
- Check the condition of your mattress frequently, cleaning it at least a couple of times a month.
This way you can keep your room clean and free of pests. Remember that daily hygiene can make all the difference. Also, from UNCOMO we recommend that you visit this other article on How to eliminate bed bugs quickly.