Are bed bugs lurking in your mattress? Bed bugs are nasty parasites that literally lurk in your mattress waiting for the perfect moment to suck your blood. If you wake up with bites from mysterious bugs, then it is possible that you could be the host for these parasitic insects.
I have never had a bedbug infestation; however, I am one that likes to travel and it is a constant worry for me. This is one of the reasons I have decided to do some investigating. I want to do everything I can to prevent subjecting my family to these disgusting pests.
It is important to determine if what is biting you is actually a bed bug. Why is this so important? Different insects require different treatments. Fleas would not be treated the same as bed bugs or lice. While they are all definitely extremely hard pests to eliminate, they all require significantly unique treatments.
I have had fleas in my home before. Never lice; however, my son was with someone who did have them so I treated it anyways. Talk about annoying! I basically stripped my entire home and put him through the chemical treatment all for nothing. But I was determined to make sure there were not going to be any intruders attacking my son.
My point here is that you need to know exactly what type of insect you are dealing with if you are to truly win this battle! Treating for bed bugs when you really have fleas is not only going to be pointless, but it is also going to allow the fleas or whatever other type of bug that has invaded your home to multiply.
I was surprised to learn that you can actually see a bed bug. I always thought they were not visible to the naked eye. The truth is they can be seen; however, many times they arent seen because they hide in your mattress until just before dawn.
Therefore, you will not see them in your bed when you get into it. They then sneak to feed on you just before the sun rises only to run and hide when you awaken. So, if you cant see them then how are you ever going to prove you have them?
After the 6 steps is a video you can watch to show you in great detail. Dont forget to watch that after reading these 6 easy steps!
Heres how to tell if you have bed bugs:
Step 1 Examine the Bites
This is usually the first sign that you could have bedbugs. The bites are usually red and itchy and are generally found on the arms and/or shoulders. While this is the common characteristics of most bug bites, they do have a distinctive pattern. The bites tend to be in a straight row, rather than all over the place.
Step 2 Visually Inspect Bedding
If you wake up in the morning and find red stains or dark spots on your sheets, this is a sign they have been around. The red stains are your blood. The dark spots could be a few different things, which include:
You will not only want to inspect the top of your sheets, but you also need to carefully examine along the edges of the mattress piping and where the sheets are fitted around the mattress. If you do not find anything here, remove your mattress and inspect the box spring.
Make sure to pay close attention to the corners under the plastic corner guards, especially where the dust cover is stapled into the frame. Dont forget to check the headboard, including behind it. Inspect in between the wood joints. They are sneaky and like to hide in these areas.
Step 3 Catch them During Hunting Time
If you do not find evidence during a visual inspection, you can see them if you catch them during hunting time. I know that sounds just plain gross, but that is exactly what it is to them. They are hunting your blood. Yuck! The best time to catch them is about an hour before dawn.
You may need to set an alarm before you go to sleep. Have a flashlight next to you. Turn the light on and watch for movement on your sheets. Do not move. If you do, they will simply go back into hiding. It may take a few nights of doing this before you actually catch one. Why? If you do not have a huge infestation of them yet, they may only come out to feed once a week. So, do not assume you dont have them if you dont see them on the first few tries.
Step 4 Look Around your BedNot Just in it
I was actually surprised to learn that they could be found in the strangest places. Here is a checklist to help you thoroughly check your entire room. Look in the following places:
These are just a few areas to look in. I recommend starting from the door and working your way around and then inwards. Check all of your furniture. If you do not find any while doing a visual inspection in these areas, there are some other things you can try. Dont give up, especially if you see bites as described earlier.
Step 5 Stop them in their Tracks
It can be difficult trying to wake up in the middle of the night to catch a glimpse. Therefore, why not set a trap? There are interception devices on the market that are designed to detect low level bedbug infestations.
They are placed directly under or adjacent to the legs of your bed and/or sofa. When the bugs begin to move around, they will be trapped. I would first try the double-sided carpet tape trick first. Simply lay out strips on the side of your mattress and under your bed.
It is important to keep these traps out for a minimum of 2 to 4 weeks. Check them every few days at first and then weekly. It is possible that you do not have a bad infestation yet; however, they will multiply if you dont take care of the problem early on. Be patient and keep investigating!
Step 6 Install a Mattress and Box Spring Encasement
When I heard to do this, my first thought was that the bugs would just get stuck inside the encasement. Then I realized that is exactly where I would want them to be! They cannot bite through the encasement, and they would eventually die from starvation. Any that are outside of the encasement will be easily seen through a visual inspection.
It is recommended that you leave the encasement on for at least a year. I have to say this is probably my favorite and most recommended step. In fact, I believe all beds should have an encasement. This could go a long way in helping to prevent or at least reduce the size of your infestation. Video for Inspecting for Bed Bugs from the University of Maryland Home and Garden
If you suspect a bed bug infestation, I recommend following these steps to determine if you actually have bedbugs. Start with the pattern of the bites. Are they all over the place, or do they form a specific line? If they form a line, then I highly recommend investigating until you find the source of those bites. Be patient. They will eventually come out to play.or eat!
More:
6 Simple Steps on How to Tell if you Have Bed Bugs
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