One bed bug might not seem like a big deal. After all, it’s just one small bug about the size of an apple seed, right? How much damage could this or even two bugs do? Unfortunately, there is no other way to go about it – spotting even just one, single bug could spell trouble for you and your home. This single little speck could be the leading sign of an infestation.
Even finding just a few bugs is enough concern to call a Buffalo extermination specialist. Reputable companies with experience in dealing with the matters have years and years of field knowledge in dealing with such matters. All that aside, make sure you get at least two or three Buffalo quotes before deciding on a single company.
Why Bugs Means Risks
One bed bug might not seem like a huge deal to most individuals. However, to an experienced individual, it spells huge trouble. Why? Because, if there is one, there is likely more just right around the corner. These insects are very sociable like to travel in packs and reproduce even quicker. A single, female bed bug not only starts reproducing rather quickly, but she can lay as many as 500 eggs in a single lifetime.
Combine this with the fact that these creatures have grown more resilient over the years, and it should be easy to understand why one bug is a call for concern. This is especially true if that bug just happens to be a female. While it might be hard for a normal individual to discern, male bed bugs have pointed abdomens. Female abdomens are represented roundly. What makes the entire situation even direr is, an adult bed bug just measures to a total of 7 millimeters in length, making them extremely hard to locate with the human eye.
What Makes Bed Bugs Hard To Spot?
If you learn anything about bed bugs over the course of an infestation it will be that bed bugs are extremely stealthy. This is not only because they are small, about the size of an apple seed, but they possess extremely thin bodies. Bodies that are only about the width of an average credit card. Combine all this with the fact that they are reddish-brown, and it makes them somewhat chameleon-like amongst everyday surroundings.
Given the fact that they can blend in with most paintings and furniture items, it makes them entirely hard to locate. Even locating one does not guarantee that you’ll be able to eliminate them. They are extremely resilient as well, even to some of the top pesticides.
Ensuring That You Are Dealing With Bed Bugs
Just because you’ve procured a bed bug or are waking up in the mornings with bites, it doesn’t necessarily mean that you are dealing with bed bugs. Heck, it’s entirely possible that you’re getting bitten by fleas or your home is suffering from a flea infestation. You might be holding a flea in your hands. You’d think it would be more than easy to discern the difference, but this, unfortunately, not always the case. This is why you need to not only know what bed bugs look like, but you need to know some common symptoms that come along with bed bugs and a bed bug infestation.
To start out, as was mentioned above, bed bugs are reddish-brown, measure in at about less than 10 millimeters, and have six legs. They also are oval in shape with segmented antennas.
Common Symptoms Of Bed Bugs
Here are some common signs that might indicate you are, in fact, dealing with a current bed bug infestation.
Blood Stains – Look for rusty, red stains on your linens and bedding. This could be dried blood from feeding or an indication that you’ve rolled over and squashed a bug during feeding.
Exoskeletons – This one is self-explanatory, but the difficulty is, trying to discern what a bed bug exoskeleton looks like. It will be somewhat delicate, molted, and near translucent. These layers look just like a bed bug, but clear.
Eggs/ Casings – These items will be extremely hard to spot, as they will only be about the size of a tip of a pin. That’s right, a pinpoint! Seeing these is an indication that your home just suffered from a recent reproduction, which means you are likely now dealing with a full-blown infestation.
Fecal Matter – A bed bug’s fecal matter will be dark and black in color, just probably like what you would imagine. Bowel movements come along with feeding, and if bugs have been feeding during the night, you can expect them to naturally have bowel movements.
Bite Marks – Speaking of feedings, a bug cannot survive without blood. The way they procure that blood is a similar process to that of fleas or mosquitoes. Bed bugs, not always, but more often than not tend to feed on the face, neck, arms, and hands. If you have bite marks in these areas clustered in groups, it is likely you might be suffering from an infestation.
Musty, Sweet Odors – A large bed bug infestation might smell sweet and similar to that of soda pop, but the experience will be the furthest thing from sweet. As a side note, the sweet smell comes from the glands of the bugs.
Searching For Bed Bugs
Given their wits and resiliency, if you want to spot bed bugs in a home or office, you’ve got to know where to look. What’s even worse is, knowing where to look doesn’t always mean you’ll be able to detect an infestation right away. This is why it always best to deal with professionals. A lot of professional Buffalo exterminators will offer free inspections or at least discounted when you procure their service.
If you, however, want to approach the situation on your own, you can start by stripping your bedding and linens. All the way down to the very pillowcases and comforters. Once here, comb through everything looking for the above-mentioned signs. Don’t just stop there either, flip your mattress over, and thoroughly scan both sides.
This won’t be all either. You might have to go as far as to checking behind the baseboards, in the walls, carpets, rugs, under furniture, in electrical outlets, and maybe even in your electrical devices.
Calling In The Pros
If you do happen to spot bed bugs from the above mentioned there are a few procedures that you can follow from there. However, this is no guarantee that it’ll help clear up your problem. It might even make it seem worse at the time because it causes the bugs to scatter. Regardless, always dealing with a Buffalo professional is the way to go.
After performing extensive and exhaustive searches these professionals will help you develop a plan that is specifically suited for your and your home’s needs.