If you wait long enough and do not take any precautions, you will probably, eventually have a run-in with bed bugs. The question is, are these pests already inside your Fort Worth home? If you are having trouble sleeping at night, waking up with bites on your skin, and noticing odd things around your home, then there is a chance bed bugs are around and causing trouble. Here are some ways to identify these pests around your living areas and how to keep bed bugs from invading your home in the first place.
Signs Bed Bugs Leave On Beds
One common misconception about bed bugs is that they only exist around sleeping areas. This is only partly true. Bed bugs will hide inside box springs and the creases in mattress seams. If they aren’t hiding in these areas, they will only come onto beds in the middle of the night or when their hosts are sleeping. Some common bed bug signs you might find on your bed are blood stains and reddish-black fecal droppings.
Signs Bed Bugs Leave Around Homes
After feeding, bed bugs will typically crawl out of sleeping areas and then find a good place to hide. Some common areas one might find these pests include behind light switches, under baseboard cracks, inside wall voids, and in other secluded locations. We recommend checking cracks, crevices, and hard-to-reach areas around your home with a flashlight to look for fecal droppings, shed skins, and bed bug eggs.
Signs Bed Bugs Leave On People
Most pest bites leave obvious signs on human skin. Bed bugs are a bit different in that not everyone reacts the same way to the numbing agent bed bugs release beneath the skin while feeding. If you do have a reaction to this agent, you may experience an itching sensation or notice small red bites that run in a straight line or zig-zag pattern. But some people have no physical marks left by bed bug bites.
Some Strategies To Prevent Bed Bugs
Bed bugs exist wherever people congregate or live. Keep this in mind the next time you plan on going on vacation. While traveling, keep an eye out for bed bug signs. Check rooms before you bring in luggage, or store your luggage in the bathroom where these pests are least likely to be. While in between traveling destinations, be careful where you leave your luggage and other bags. One good rule to follow is to not leave items in one spot for more than 20 minutes, as this is how long it takes bed bugs, on average, to transfer from one item to another. Finally, store used clothing inside airtight bags. When you get home, unload and wash this clothing on high heat. This will eliminate any bed bugs hiding in your garments.
What To Do When Bed Bugs Invade
Bed bugs become easier to identify the longer they infest homes. If you even suspect these pests are around but haven’t seen any definitive evidence of their presence, consider letting the experts at Greenforest Termite & Pest Control have a look. A thorough bed bug inspection performed by a licensed technician is the absolute best way to know if there is a problem. If your technician finds any concerning evidence, they will point it out to you and then recommend an option to handle your infestation, fast. If you are unsure about anything and have any questions, we have service representatives standing by and ready to take your call.
Reach out to us today to learn more about our comprehensive bed bug control options, get a quote, or schedule your Fort Worth home for a detailed inspection. Find out more about our home exterminator options and commercial pest management plans in Fort Worth.