How to Identify Bed Bugs – Spotting Them Before They Spot You
How to Identify Bed Bugs Spotting Them Before They Spot You
The phrase "don't let the bedbugs bite" is commonly heard throughout the country at night time. This saying takes on a more ominous tone when an individual has actually struggled to eliminate a population of bedbugs from his or her home. Bedbugs can be very difficult to get rid of once they get a foothold in a person's home. Since they can live not only in a person's bed, but also in the joints of ceilings and walls and the cracks in furniture and textiles, exterminating them requires patience and perseverance. The key to dealing with bedbugs is identifying them early.
Many people believe that bed bugs are all but impossible to see with the naked eye. In truth, adult bedbugs can reach up to 5 mm in length and 3 mm in width. They are reddish brown in color and oval in shape. Adult bedbugs actually bear a striking resemblance to cockroaches. In fact, they seem as though they could be a diminutive version of roaches. They feed by piercing an individual's skin and sucking the blood out. Bedbug bites often resemble pimples and can develop into a rash or other allergic reaction.
Bedbugs are not entirely nocturnal but they are most active at night. This makes evening and early morning the best times to locate and identify these insects. Although mature bedbugs can be easily identified, immature ones are harder to spot. Immature bedbugs are an almost translucent yellow in color. Bedbug eggs are almost impossible for the average homeowner to find or identify. The best way to be rid of bedbug larva and eggs is to thoroughly vacuum any room where a person suspects they might be present. Once the area has been vacuumed, the vacuum bag should be disposed of immediately away from the home.
Bedbugs are often confused with other small beetles and it is important to understand that these bugs do not have wings and they do not jump. Anyone suspecting that they may be facing a bedbug problem can purchase specially designed traps which capture the bugs as they travel from the floor to the bed or which use a combination of heat and chemical lures. These traps are an excellent way to determine whether or not bedbugs are present in an area. If a person wakes up with strange bites or blemishes, it is a good idea to rule out the possibility of bedbugs in order to prevent costlier problems later.