Bed bugs are small, brown creatures that live on the blood of warm-blooded animals like humans. They’re known as “the hitchhiker’s friend” because they don’t bite people, In fact, they wait until their prey is asleep and then crawl onto it to feed. These insects typically infest places where people sleep, like couches, beds, or even luggage. But there’s no way to tell for sure if you have bed bugs in your home unless you see evidence of these critters.
You can consult pest control College Station experts for proper identification. These professionals are trained to distinguish bed bugs from other harmless insects and insects that look like bed bugs but aren’t. And if you suspect you have an infestation in your home, it’s important to call a professional for an inspection.
If you suspect your home has bed bugs, look for signs of infestation that include:
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Red and itchy spots all over your body
If you wake up with bites on your skin and the skin is red and itchy, it might be a sign you have bed bugs. Bed bugs can leave marks on their victims. The marks are usually in clusters or small lines, as opposed to a single bite. Since beds are where most of these insects live, they may also leave bite marks in areas like the back of your legs.
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Blood stains on your bed and pillow covers
If you see blood stains on your bedding and sheets, it could mean an insect is puncturing small blood vessels as it feeds, which is typical behavior for bed bugs. These blood stains are left on you as it feeds. If you see blood on your bedding, the first step is to find out where the bugs are hiding. You can do this by removing your sheets and inspecting all of your furniture, one by one.
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Rust-colored spots on your mattresses
Bed bugs leave behind rust-colored stains on the bed mattresses and other items. These insects use their saliva to make stains, which have a mildew-like odor and are slightly brown. Rust spots are often in clusters, as with bed bug bites.
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Old and discarded skin
When exterminators search for bed bugs, they look for shed skin. If you see skins or exoskeletons on your furniture, it could mean you have an infestation.
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Unpleasant odor
Bed bugs possess a musty odor, especially when they are present in large numbers. Consider this a warning sign of bed bug infestation.
