How to Know If You Have a Bed Bug Infestation

How to Know If You Have a Bed Bug Infestation

Detecting bed bugs may prove difficult, due to their small size and ability to hide in tiny spaces. Bed bugs normally take up residence in furniture which people frequently use such as mattresses, sofas, headboards etc. There are different methods available by which we can find evidence of a bed bug infestation. Bed bugs tend to leave black or dark brown coloured spots of their dried excrement in infested regions. Besides this, they also have a distinct odour about them which can be identified. The most definitive way to prove a bed bug infestation is to provide a sample of the bug itself. And it is not right to consider any random unexplainable bite mark, as caused by a bed bug. Most of the time even medical professionals cannot say with certainty if a bite has been caused by a bed bug. If you wake up in the morning with bite marks that you didn’t have before you had gone to sleep, you can begin to suspect a bed bug problem.

And most of the time, the pests will not be visible to the naked eye and the only proof that you may find are fecal stains left by the bed bugs. We take a look at a number of methods that can be employed to get a live sample of a beg bug and prove the infestation.

Visual Inspection

You should carefully examine the areas between the bedsheets, and along the edges of the mattress. If you do not find any evidence, remove the mattress and move on to the box spring. Be sure to closely examine all areas, especially hard-to-reach places and corners which are favoured hiding spots for these bugs. Visual inspection is just a preliminary step and it is recommended that you follow it up with any of the methods given below.

Installation of Active Monitors or Interception Devices

Installing such devices under the bed or couch is a very effective method in detecting bed bugs. Interception devices need to be placed strategically and will trap the bugs as they move around. Active monitors are costlier and use an attractant to lure the bugs to them.

Installation of Encasements

Encasements for mattresses and bedsprings are available which aid in the detection of beds bugs and also protect against future infestations. Encasements prevent the bed bugs from entering the main areas of the bed and keep them restricted to the outer fringes. Here they are vulnerable to visual inspections and can be dealt with.

Pest Management

If all options fail and you are driven mad by bed bugs or what your suspect is a bed bug infestation, it is time to call in the big guns. A professional pest management agency will do a full sweep of all affected areas, confirm the presence of the bed bugs and perform the required clean-up.

Bed bugs are an annoying problem and can rob you of a good night’s sleep besides posing health risks. The above-mentioned methods are a good way to detect their presence early.