WHAT SIGNS DO BED BUGS LEAVE BEHIND?

CAN YOU SEE BED BUGS?

Yes, This is because they’re not enough small to become invisible and they need to walk around to reach anywhere.

WHY DO YOU NEED SIGNS?

As I told you before, you can see them with the naked eye. So, you can ask this question: If I can see them, then why should I go after signs?

There are 2 main reasons for this:

• Bed bugs prefer to feed at night
• They secrete a chemical while biting you which doesn’t let you feel the pain

Because of this in most cases, when you get up in the morning, you have a lot of red itchy bite points on your body which you have no idea about where they came from. This is the time to search for its reason.

BED BUG SIGNS

In many cases, it’s not true to limit signs of any possible bugs at home. They can occur in many ways. But these are common signs of bed bugs:

• Black feces everywhere
• Blood stains around
• Shed skins
• Smell of them
• Tiny eggs
• Bites on your body

I know some of these signs aren’t so clear, but let me take a close look at these signs.

BED BUG FECES

Do bed bugs have feces? Yes, they do just like other bugs. After a bed bug is fed enough, it will drop feces around.

This bed bug feces will become partially digested blood. When bed bugs drop feces, it will be red and after a while, it will get darker.

Feces will usually be near their nest. You test those feces you found by spraying hydrogen peroxide on it or even water and if it turns a rust red color, that means it’s feces.

BED BUG BLOOD STAINS

Because bed bugs feed by sucking blood, it’s very normal to see blood stains around. But how are those blood stains?

Blood stains that bed bugs leave behind are small and a lot of those stains will usually be together. If bed bugs feed on you while you are sleeping, then you will see blood stains on your mattress or pillow.

 

BED BUG SHED SKINS

Bedbugs do shed their exoskeleton. Their shed skins will be almost the same as a live bed bug. Of course, this shed body will be empty and it can’t move around.

Bed bugs will molt until they become an adult. Before they become adults, they have 2 other stages in their lives: Egg and nymph.

Once a bed bug becomes an adult, then it won’t molt anymore. This means that if you find shed bed-bug skins around, you might have a bed bug infestation in your house.

BED BUG SMELL

However, bed bugs have a specific smell, most people define that smell differently from each other. People define it as irony, musty, woody, or something else.

BED BUG EGGS

Bed bugs multiply by laying. Bed bug eggs are yellow-white. They stand together and are glued to the surface, usually in cracks. The most distinguishing feature of those eggs from the other bug eggs is “glue”:

BED BUG BITES

The natural result of having bed bugs is to be bitten by them. Because bed bugs are blood-fed creatures and they will be after you for feeding by sucking your blood.

Bed bug bites will not hurt you just while you’re bitten because of a chemical they secrete into your blood:

So, when you get up in the morning and realize some red itchy bites on your body, that will be the biggest sign that you have.

Behavioral signs of bed bugs

Apart from physical signs, bed bugs also leave behind behavioral signs that can indicate their presence. These include:

Musty odor

Bed bugs release pheromones that give off a musty odor. If you notice an unusual, sweet, or musty odor in your bedroom, it’s time to inspect for bed bugs.

Visible bed bug skins and eggs

As bed bugs grow and molt, they shed their skins and leave behind their eggshells. These skins and eggs are tiny and hard to spot, but if you inspect your bedding materials, you may find them.

Bed bug trails and nests

If you have a severe bed bug infestation, you may notice bed bug trails and nests around your home. These trails may appear as dark, rusty spots along baseboards, walls, and ceilings. Bed bug nests may also be found in crevices and cracks in your furniture, walls, and flooring.

Common misconceptions about bed bugs

There are many common misconceptions about bed bugs that can make it difficult to identify and manage their infestations. Some of these misconceptions include:

Bed bugs only infest dirty environments

Bed bugs do not discriminate based on cleanliness. They can infest any home, regardless of its level of cleanliness

Bed bugs only bite at night

While bed bugs are nocturnal and are more active at night, they can still bite during the day. Therefore, it’s essential to be vigilant and check for bed bugs at any time of the day.

Bed bug infestations are easily treated

Bed bug infestations are challenging to treat and may require multiple treatments to eliminate them. DIY treatments are often ineffective and can even make the infestation worse.

 

BED BUG SIGNS FACT

You must remember that when you once have bed bugs at home and have a treatment, even if you can’t see any signs of them and you will still be paranoid about their existence.

Because in some cases, bed bugs will be still there even if they don’t move anywhere but their nest. They are tough creatures and they can prefer to keep hiding until they have to feed again.

Here are some comments about bed bugs signs made by real people on social media so, you can understand better how to approach this issue:

“Every time I lay in my bed, I get bitten. No signs of bb. I have sprayed, bombed, boric acid, used vinegar, and exterminated. I am still getting bitten. Any suggestions as to what it could be? Remedies?”

“I am super paranoid and think I am still getting bit. They disappear faster than bb bites though. I haven’t seen anything in over a month and I do look.”

“We had an inspector come out and tell us he sees no signs of bugs…. I have 5 new bites that popped up after we threw our headboard out and washed everything. And some black markings on the bedding that weren’t there before. He said we could move forward with treatment if we want to.”

“My last treatment was 3 weeks ago. We did a DIY chemical treatment 3 times for safe measures. There have been no signs of any bed bugs on the beds or furniture. There have been no more bites to anyone. We added interceptors to the beds. Nothing in them. What else should I do to keep monitoring for signs?”

“I did everything I was told, no signs of anything but for some reason, I itch or feel like something is crawling on me but when I’m not home I feel nothing. I thought it might be that d earth stuff but I’ve cleaned up most of it. So why am I feeling tickle spots or itches?”

Prevention and management of bed bugs

Prevention is the best way to manage bed bugs. Here are some prevention tips:

Prevention tips

• Inspect second-hand furniture before bringing it into your home
• Vacuum regularly to remove any bed bugs and their eggs
• Seal any cracks and crevices in your home to prevent bed bugs from hiding
• Use mattress and box spring encasements to prevent bed bugs from entering or escaping

Treatment options

If you have a bed bug infestation, you should seek professional help. A pest control professional can use a combination of treatments, such as chemical sprays, heat treatments, and steam treatments, to eliminate bed bugs from your home.

Conclusion

Not a single sign will make you sure about bed bugs. All those signs should be considered all together to get a result.

For example, when you see blood stains around, maybe it’s not certain evidence to have bed bugs. But if you find some eggs in addition, you can say that you have them in your house.

The most important thing about bed bug signs is that you must take every single of them seriously. When you come across a little sign, you should keep your eyes open and start to search for bed bugs.

FAQs

Can I get rid of bed bugs without professional help?

DIY treatments are often ineffective and can make the infestation worse. Therefore, it’s best to seek professional help to eliminate bed bugs from your home.

How long does it take to treat a bed bug infestation?

The length of time it takes to treat a bed bug infestation depends on the severity of the infestation and the treatment methods used. In most cases, multiple treatments are required to eliminate bed bugs from your home.