Warning Signs of Bed Bug Infestation in North Carolina Homes

There are certain things that just make your skin crawl. Snakes, spiders, clowns… Each person’s list is as unique as they are. However, there is one thing, we are willing to bet, that makes everyone’s skin crawl: Bed bugs. And when you have a bed bug infestation in North Carolina, they spread fast!

Many people think that bed bugs live only in dirty environments, and as long as they keep their homes clean they’re in the clear. Unfortunately, this is not the case. Read on to learn how bed bugs can infest any home and what and where to look to find out if you have a bed bug infestation. You may also find this recent article on the reasons bed bugs are becoming a constant problem in North Carolina interesting.

Warning Signs of Bed Bugs

Bed bugs don’t care if your house is clean or dirty. They get into your house by hitching a ride on clothing, bags, luggage, and more, and once they’ve arrived they’re quite happy to set up shop.
 
More often than not bed bugs are nocturnal, which means you probably won’t see the bugs before you notice the signs that they’re there. These signs include:

• Bites. If you wake up in the morning with clusters or lines of bug bites that you didn’t have when you went to sleep, you may have bed bugs.
• Blood drops. Pin-prick sized red spots of blood on your sheets are another indication that bed bugs might be present.
• Black and brown streaks. Small black or light brown streaks on your sheets, blankets, or carpet could be feces and urine streaks from bed bugs.
• Casings. Bed bugs go through five stages of development and shed their skin each time. If you find empty bug casings, you might have bed bugs.
• Musty smell. Bed bugs emit histamines, which give off an odor. If you notice a musty smell and have ruled out other possibilities, you may have bed bugs.

Where to Look for Bed Bugs

If you’ve noticed any of the above signs, you’ll want to do a more thorough inspection to see if bed bugs are actually present in your home or if there’s another culprit. But, if they usually only come out at night, where should you look for them?

Bed bugs hide during the day, and although they are often found in or near beds (as their name indicates) that’s not the only place to find them. This is where to look for bed bugs:

• In the crevices and corners of your mattresses and box springs.
• Near the headboard or footboard of your bed. (Lift the mattress and check around the edges.)
• In cracks and crevices of walls and windows. Bed bugs can even climb into the holes of electrical outlets.
• Behind and along the edges of wall hangings and picture frames.
• In the corners, creases, and crevices of other furniture.
• Along the edges of the floor and wall.

How to Know You’ve Found Bed Bugs

 If you find bugs during your inspection, they may or may not be bed bugs. To identify bed bugs look for the following:

• They are no bigger than the size of an apple seed. Bed bugs range in size, depending on what stage of development they’re in. They’ll start out about a millimeter in length.
• They’ll have a flat or pill-shaped body, depending on if they’ve recently fed.
• They’ll be milky white when they first hatch, then go from tan to reddish-brown as they grow.
• They have ridges along their bodies, six legs, antennae, and three separate body parts, although it will be hard to distinguish those since they’re so small.
• What to Do if You’ve Discovered Bed Bugs in Your North Carolina Homes.

If you’ve seen the warning signs and found bed bugs in your home, you’ll want to call in the professionals. Oftentimes when the warning signs are plentiful enough to actually be noticed, it means there is already a substantial problem, one that will be extremely difficult, if not impossible, to take care of with DIY methods.

Final Word: Stop a Bed Bug Infestation in North Carolina

Here at A-1 Pest Control, we have the answers to your bed bug situation. Our pest professionals will do a detailed inspection to discern the best way to deal with the problem. We will then choose a bed bug treatment plan that either uses chemicals or heat in order to eradicate your bed bug infestation. Our methods are done by trained experts to ensure the protection of your family, pets, and possessions. Request your free estimate today.