How to Check for Bed Bugs

Bed bugs have become a serious problem, not just in the United States, but in the world as well. In New Jersey, large cities, such as Trenton and Newark, have huge bed bug populations.

If you live in the Garden State, you may be wondering how do you detect bed bugs? Here are some ways to check for bed bugs and figure out whether you have them.

What Do Bed Bugs Look Like?

Can you see bed bugs with the naked eye? The answer is yes. This is especially true you are looking for them. First, you need to look for places that are normally dark and hidden. Examples of where bed bugs can hide include mattresses, box springs, and couches. Second, you need to look at the bed bugs themselves. If it’s an adult, the insect will be reddish-brown. If it has eaten recently, it will be about the size of an apple seed. If it has not eaten in a while, or it’s young, the insect is about the size of a poppy seed. The bed bug may also be flat if it has not eaten. Usually, bed bugs appear in groups.

You might also notice bed bug eggs and bed bug shells lying around. Bed bug eggs are very small. They are pearly-white and are always in clusters. Each egg is 1 millimeter long. The eggs can be difficult to see. However, if you look for a cluster of eggs, it is easier to spot them. You can also look for bed bug shells. Each time a bed bug grows, it sheds its skin. You may be able to spot the skins, or casings, scattered between your couch cushions.

Do I Have Bed Bugs?

There are ways you can check for bed bugs and figure out if you have them. First, you need to look for bed bugs in places where you sleep or nap. There should be signs of the insect in beds or furniture. There are other signs as well. One of the biggest signs you may have bed bugs is a sweet, musty odor. If you smell this when you enter a room, you may need to keep looking for other signs.

Look for specks of blood in the seams of your mattress and box spring. You also can look for specks of blood on your headboards and footboards. You may also find blood on your couch cushions or chair cushions. In addition to the specks of blood, you might also see black flecks or specks. This is bed bug excrement.

Other Signs of Bed Bugs

One of the most important signs of a bed bug infestation is a bed bug bite. Often, the first time you notice that you have bed bugs is when you receive a bite. Bites can show up on many areas of your body, so it is important to know what to look for. You should look for bites in areas that aren’t normally covered when you sleep. You might notice bites on your arms, legs, back, stomach, and chest. Also, bed bug bites cluster in groups in a zigzag pattern. The bites become itchier the more times a bed bug bites you. And, your reaction to the bites can become more severe.

It is very difficult to remove bed bugs on your own. Using a spray or a fogger does not normally work because bed bugs are immune to them. For this reason, it is essential to find the right company that uses the proper methods to get your bed bug problem under control.

While NJ Pest Control does not remove and control bed bugs we would be happy to help you with any other pest and wildlife control, removal and prevention services.

Contact NJ Pest Control today for any other pest control problems you may be having.

NJ Pest Control

1240 Sussex Turnpike, Randolph, NJ 07869
Randolph, NJ
877-4NJ-PEST (877-465-7378)