What Are the Signs of Bed Bugs

Where Do Bed Bugs Like To Hide?

Bed bugs are masters of concealment, choosing places that provide both safety and proximity to their food source—you. During the day, they prefer to stay out of sight. Common hiding spots include mattress seams, box springs, bed frames, headboards, and upholstered furniture. They also inhabit less obvious places like behind baseboards, inside electrical outlets, or in folds of curtains.

At night, bed bugs emerge to feed, drawn to body heat and carbon dioxide. They don’t stray far from their hiding places, usually staying within a few feet of their host. Their behavior is driven by survival; by remaining hidden during the day, they avoid detection and potential threats.

How To Check for Bed Bugs

A thorough inspection can confirm whether you have bed bugs and determine the extent of the infestation. Bed bugs can spread quickly, so it is important to act immediately before a few bed bugs become a larger infestation.

Steps for Inspection

• Remove Bedding: Strip the bed and carefully inspect the mattress seams, box springs, and pillows. Look for live bugs, eggs, shed skins, and fecal spots.
• Check Nearby Furniture: Examine all furniture within close proximity to the bed, including upholstered furniture, nightstands, and chairs.
• Inspect Hidden Areas: Use a flashlight to check cracks in bed frames, behind baseboards, and inside electrical outlets.

Do You Have a Bed Bug Infestation?

If you’ve noticed the signs of bed bugs, whether that’s bites on your legs or spots on your bedding, how do you know if you have an infestation? In general, seeing even a few bed bugs means you already have a full-blown infestation.

Swift action is essential to stop bed bugs from taking over your home. A professional pest control company like Active Pest Control has the tools and expertise to address the issue effectively. Don’t let the infestation worsen—contact Active Pest Control today for a thorough inspection and reliable solutions to eliminate bed bugs.

What Do Bed Bugs Look Like?

Adult bed bugs are reddish-brown, oval-shaped, and roughly the size of an apple seed, measuring about 4-5 mm long. When unfed, they are flat and can easily slip into narrow crevices, but after feeding, they become more elongated and swollen with a darker hue. Nymphs, or immature bed bugs, are smaller and translucent, making them harder to spot unless they have recently fed, in which case their abdomen becomes more visible with a reddish tint.

Bed bug eggs are tiny, measuring about 1 mm, and are pearly white, often resembling grains of rice. These eggs are typically laid in clusters and can be found glued to surfaces in hidden locations such as cracks in furniture, mattress seams, and box springs. Their small size and pale color make them particularly challenging to detect without close inspection and proper lighting.

In addition to their appearance, bed bugs leave behind visible signs such as shed skins or exoskeletons as they grow. These light-brown shells accumulate in their hiding spots and are an important clue when identifying an infestation.