There are many pests in Pensacola, Florida that homeowners dread dealing with, but bed bugs might be one of the worst. These small pests are notorious for biting people while they sleep and leaving behind annoying itchy bites. There’s definitely something really gross about this, but luckily, there are no links to bed bugs causing illness.
However, bed bugs can cause secondary infections as people scratch at the bites, and severe bed bug cases can lead to anemia.
One of the other main issues with bed bugs is that they can be hard to notice. While they are possible to see with the human eye, they are only about the size of an apple seed. They can be identified by their reddish-brown coloration and their oval-shaped bodies, but the truth is that there are other more obvious signs of a bed bug infestation you can pick up on first if you know what to look for.
What You Need To Know About Bed Bug Bites
The first and most common sign that you’re dealing with a bed bug infestation is the bed bug bites themselves. You’re way more likely to notice the bite marks before you ever see one of the bugs, so it’s vital to know what these bites look like.
Bed bug bites usually appear in a zig-zag or line pattern, and they can show up anywhere that your skin is exposed while you sleep. The exact appearance of the site can vary, but they are usually small, reddish, and itchy.
While it might seem strange that bed bugs only seem to bite while we sleep, there’s actually an explanation for this. Bed bugs are able to sense how much carbon dioxide humans let off when they breathe. This allows them to pick up on when we are awake and when we are asleep based on differences in the carbon dioxide levels of our breathing. They know that the best time to get their blood meal is when we aren’t aware of what’s going on, so this biological strategy works perfectly for the bed bug.
Four More Signs Of Bed Bugs
Other than seeing the bugs themselves or noticing bites, there are a few other common indicators that you’re dealing with an infestation. These visual signs of bed bugs can help confirm whether or not you’re dealing with these nasty, invasive pests:
- Finding blood stains on your mattress or bedding
- Noticing brown smear marks on sheets, mattresses, and even curtains and walls
- Seeing discarded bed bug skins near beds or baseboards
- Finding cream-colored eggshells around the home
It’s important to remember that while bed bugs are most often found in mattresses, they can also hide in curtains, other upholstered furniture, and even in cracks in the walls.
You’ve Noticed Signs Of Bed Bugs -- Now What?
If you’ve found any of the indicators of bed bugs mentioned in this article, the best way to handle the problem is to contact the experts at EnSec right away. Bed bugs are a notoriously hard pest to remove, so DIY methods rarely work at eradicating the entire infestation.
Instead, let our skilled technicians handle the problem by removing every single bed bug and ensuring they don’t return. Request your free estimate, or learn more about our residential pest control options, by contacting us today.