Sure Signs Of A Bed Bug Infestation
If you're thinking to yourself, "How do I know if I have bed bugs?" wonder no more. Here are the signs of a bed bug infestation in Downingtown:
You have bed bug bites on your arms or legs. These bites will usually be a group of three or four, typically in a straight line or a tight grouping.
You smell a sweet, musty odor. Bed bugs use pheromones to communicate, and you'll begin to smell them when there are enough of them.
You see dark spots on your mattress, box spring, headboard, or walls. Those spots are where bed bugs have defecated after eating a blood meal.
You find blood spots on your bedding. Bed bugs feed on you, but the wounds they bite don't always close right away, so sometimes you'll bleed on your sheets and blankets.
You discover exoskeletons on your mattress or box spring. These are the shed skin that bed bugs outgrow as they mature.
You notice small, pearly white eggs. Bed bugs are only 1/16 inch long, but if you look carefully, you may find them in the seams of your mattress.
You see actual bed bugs. Bed bugs are brown, about ¼ inch long, oval, and very flat. Some people say they look like apple seeds. When they've recently fed, they become longer and thicker, and they take on a more red appearance.
Any of these signs of bed bugs is cause to call in the professionals without delay.
How Do Bed Bug Infestations Spread?
Female bed bugs lay between one and five eggs every day of their adult life, up to more than 540 eggs per year. They spread from your bed to your carpet, walls, electrical outlets, baseboards, furniture, clothing, and other belongings. However, they are absolutely not a sign that your house is dirty or that you're a lousy housekeeper. Bed bugs can live anywhere there are people to feed on. That's why it's so crucial that you know how to find bed bugs. Bed bugs spread through contact from one infested area to another.
All The Ways Bed Bugs Sneak Their Way Into Our Homes
To know how to prevent bed bugs in Downingtown, you need to know how they get into your home in the first place. Bed bugs are found anywhere people congregate, including:
Libraries
Churches
Hotels
Civic centers
Schools
Daycare centers
Public transportation
Taxis
Retail stores
Shopping centers
Laundromats
Bed bugs can't jump or fly, so they hitchhike to get into your home. They'll climb up onto your shoes, purse, briefcase, or clothing and ride all the way home with you, eventually making their way to the place where you spend the majority of your time at home: your bed.
Bed bugs can also come into your home if you buy second-hand furniture or mattresses. You should always inspect these carefully for bed bug activity before you purchase them. Bed bugs can hide in the tiniest seams or screw holes, so you need to be extra vigilant against them when bringing home new-to-you home furnishings.
If these Downingtown pests do get into your home, you should call professional bed bug control in Downingtown for help. You can't fight a bed bug infestation by yourself. It just grows too fast for DIY methods to work.
The Trick To Permanent Bed Bug Removal
The trick to knowing how to get rid of bed bugs in your Downingtown home is that you need professional bed bug control services. A survey of pest control professionals had 76% agreeing that bed bugs are the most difficult pest to eliminate.
At Budget Exterminating in Downingtown, we have nearly 30 years of experience fighting pests like bed bugs. We create Integrated Pest Management plans to meet your individual needs. Reach out to us today for immediate residential or commercial pest control services in Downingtown.