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There is a common misconception about bed bugs that has been around for a very long time, and many still believe it. The idea is that bed bugs are attracted to dirty homes and dirty businesses. This is not the case at all. Bed bugs don't decide where they're going to live. They move passively from one location to the next. A bed bug crawls in a bag and the bag is moved from a hotel to a home. It can be as simple as that. Once the bed bug arrives in the new location, it does what it did in the last. It hides in tight spaces and dark voids and it feeds on human blood to survive and procreate. When it hides, it can hide in objects that can be transported. This can cause the bed bug to move again. It has nothing to do with cleanliness. But you can prevent bed bugs from moving into your Phoenix home with you if you understand a few important facts about them.
What You Should Know: Bed Bug Aren't Invisible
Why you should know it: Because seeing and identifying a bed bug can help you prevent them from hitching a ride home with you.
Bed bugs are small, but not so small that you can't see them. When they first hatch, they are only about 1mm long. An adult bed bug can be as large as 4.5mm. If you do a search for bed bugs, you will see them if you uncover them.
What Do Bed Bugs Look Like?
- Bed bug eggs are about 1mm long and pale white. They may be in a small group.
- Newly hatched nymphs are pale colored. They have six legs and two antennae. If a nymph has fed, you may see red blood in its abdomen. If it has digested the blood, you may see black feces in its abdomen.
- Nymphs grow to be a tan color, and as they mature, they become slightly more opaque— though never fully opaque. You will always be able to see blood or black feces in their bodies.
- Adult bed bugs are flat and oval if they have not had a blood meal. They have horizontal crease lines on their abdomens. In this stage, they will be rusty brown color.
Bed Bugs Leave Warning Signs
There are many ways to detect bed bugs without seeing them. These are important to know as bed bugs rarely show themselves. No matter where you are, always be on the lookout for these signs.
Bed bugs excrete feces and blood. This can cause black, red or brown stains. If you see black and brown stains on a sheet, pillowcase, blanket, mattress, couch, or chair, take note. There may be bed bugs nearby.
Bed bugs shed their skins as they develop. These skins may be found scattered in an area of infestation, such as between a mattress and box spring, or in the creases.
Bed bugs release pheromones to communicate. If there are enough bed bugs, you may smell them. The smell is often compared to the smell of a musty towel.
Bed bug eggs can be a warning sign. If you find eggs early, you may be able to destroy them before they hatch and prevent an infestation. Most of the time, eggs are just a warning sign that bed bugs are around.
Bed Bugs Hide In Tight Or Compressed Spaces
It cannot be understated that bed bugs love compressed spaces. They love them so much that it is easy to miss an infestation because bed bugs can be hiding right in plain sight. When inspecting for bed bugs, we recommend dragging a credit card along the seams of mattresses, box springs, and upholstered furniture to uncover skins, eggs, or bed bugs that are hiding.
Bed Bugs Are Photosensitive
Bed bugs hide in voids. If you purchase a used item that has voids within, you could acquire a bed bug infestation. Bed bugs don't just hide in beds. They can be in furniture, electronics, boxes, bags, luggage, and more.
If You Get Bed Bugs
It can be difficult to keep a watch for bed bug signs, and to prevent them from coming home with you. But, don't worry. If you ever have a bed bug infestation, you can count on the team at Green Home Pest Control to eliminate bed bugs in your Phoenix home. Reach out to us any time for immediate assistance.
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