Bed bug infestation is on the rise. The surge in bed bug numbers are in part due to the ease of travel that comes with globalisation, and the resistance of bed bugs to chemicals that once killed them. With these little crawling insects being more widespread and common worldwide, let us learn how to check for their presence in our house and hotel rooms.
1 Check for blood stains
Bed bugs feed on blood from the host. They often leave behind blood stains, reddish brown and dark spots on sheets and mattresses where they are found infesting. Those spots are their body excrement. To check for bed bugs, check the bed sheets, pillow cases, and headboard of your bed. But most importantly, check the mattress under the bed sheets too. A dark spot that you may think is dirt, might turn out to be a sign that you are sharing your bed with an unwanted guest.
2 Check the folding and edges
Bed bugs are known to hide in small, tight places. They commonly hide in the edges and corners of the mattress under the bed sheet. Check around the stitches and in between flaps of fabric. You might find live bed bugs in hiding there, or some bed bug skins that they shed when they grow larger. You might even find some eggs. Bed bug cast skins are light brown to yellow in shade, while their eggs are whitish, elongated and tiny. If your bed has a headboard, or if your bed is placed next to some other fabric, such as curtains or side table, check them for these signs as well. If you found some weird gunk in between these tight spaces, and you’re not sure whether they are bed bugs cast skin or eggs, call a pest control company and request for a thorough inspection.
3 A weird smell
Bed bugs have scent glands that produce a weird, musty smell that many describes as coriander, sweet, or mouldy. If your bedroom starts having a weird, unexplainable odour that you can’t seem to get rid of, check your bed and your surroundings for physical signs of bed bugs infestation.
4 Bites and itches on your body
If you wake up with unexplainable bites, rashes or itches, you might want to check your bed for signs of bed bug infestations. Keep in mind though, that not everyone reacts to bed bug bites the same. Some people react strongly and are highly allergic to bed bug bites, while some people might show no visible symptoms at all. An allergic reaction might manifest itself through a rash or swollen welt that might burn or itch or appear bruised. Sometimes, bed bug bites might be mistaken for other insect bites such as mosquito bites. But be wary of weird symptoms on your body if you are sleeping on a foreign bed.
Now that you know how to check for signs of bed bug infestation, you can check your home and your hotel beds before you lay down to rest at night. If you find anything suspicious, don’t hesitate to call a pest control company for an inspection. It is always better to be safe than sorry when it comes to these blood-sucking insects!
Ikari is a well reknowned pest control company that has many years of experience and track record in the industry. Do contact them for pest, odour, fungi and bacteria control solutions : http://ikari.sg/
