Even if you’ve found one or two bedbugs in your home, you may have a big problem. You’re right to be concerned about this issue. Bedbugs prefer hiding during the day so spotting one bedbug in your home may mean that you have a full-blown bedbug infestation.
Once you’ve spotted bedbugs, calling an exterminator and taking care of the issue is vital. You cannot afford to ignore this issue because it is going to worsen rapidly. Experienced pest extermination companies have years of experience and understand how to inspect and exterminate bedbugs. Although you’ll want to rush, you shouldn’t hide an exterminator until you’ve obtained several quotes.
The Risks Of A Few Bedbugs
There is a slim chance that you only have one or two bedbugs in your home. They might’ve traveled from a neighbor’s house or you might’ve brought them in when purchasing used clothes. The only problem is that there are likely more bedbugs nearby. These pests are not solitary so they live with lots of other bedbugs. You also have to worry about the reproductive abilities of female bedbugs. Once a female bedbug gets pregnant, it is only a matter of time before she begins laying eggs and reproducing nymphs. On average, a female bedbug can produce and lay 500 eggs during her life. Even if you’ve only found a few bedbugs, call a professional to take care of the problem. You can identify female bedbugs because they have round abdomens. Males have pointed abdomens so you should be able to tell the difference. However, most bedbugs are roughly 7mm so it may be hard to spot the difference.The Difficulty Of Spotting Bedbugs
Bedbugs are covert and stealthy. Their tiny size gives them the ability to hide exceptionally well. Plus, they’re reddish-brown so they’ll easily be able to hide in your bed and other furniture without being detected. You likely won’t find bedbugs scurrying on the ground. Another issue is that these pests feed at night. When you’re sleeping, they’re working and eating. As a result, you likely won’t be awake to know that you have a problem. Even if you’ve been bitten by a bedbug, you may not realize it. A lot of people will not experience any symptoms.Is It A Bedbug?
Although you’re concerned, you shouldn’t rush to conclusions. You need to make sure that you are indeed dealing with bedbugs. To do that, you should confirm it is a bedbug based on its size. These pests are oval, reddish-brown, and small. Most are less than 10mm in length. Furthermore, they have six legs and antennas. Some people mistake bedbugs for carpenter beetles, fleas, and baby cockroaches.Common Bedbug Infestation Signs
To determine whether you have bedbugs, you should look for the most common signs. Searching your home and check for the following.- Blood – When bedbugs consume blood, they retain it in their bodies. If you roll over on top of a bedbug, you’ll crush it and the bedbug will leave behind a bloodstain.
- Skins – Another thing to note is that bedbugs may shed their exoskeletons. They look the same as bedbugs, but they’re near translucent.
- Eggs – You’ll also want to search your home for eggs and egg casings. If you find egg casings in your home, it, unfortunately, means bedbugs have hatched there.
- Feces – When bedbugs eat, they’ll have to leave feces somewhere. Since they’re in your home, they’re going to leave dark spots on your furniture and sheets. If you find black spots that look like ink spots on your mattress, it could be bedbug feces.
- Bites – Bedbugs will likely bite you on your arms, neck, face, and hands. If you find red welts on these body parts, it could bedbug bites.
- Smelly – Finally, you should know that bedbugs will produce a musty, moldy odor. If your bedroom stinks, you may need to hire a bedbug exterminator.