What is that reddish-brown speck on your chair? Is it a food stain? Or – yikes! – could it be a bloodstain left by bed bugs? Because of their small size, bed bugs in Fort Worth are notoriously difficult to identify. You won’t need a magnifying glass to spot them, but you’ll probably notice their bites before you ever lay eyes on the bugs themselves.
What Do Bed Bugs Look Like?
Bed bugs are small, about ¼ of an inch long. The bodies of adult bugs are oval-shaped, slightly rippled, and reddish-brown in color. Bed bugs are flat unless they’ve recently fed. Then, they look more plump and rounded. Nymph or adolescent bed bugs are translucent and may look a little yellow or white in color. These young bugs are often nearly invisible to the naked eye. Bed bug eggs are about the size of a pinhead and creamy white in color. You might notice a tiny eye spot on eggs that are over five days old.
If you look closely, you’ll notice bed bugs have wings, but they don’t use them to fly, hop, or jump. Rather, they crawl on belongings and get from place to place by hiding in suitcases, purses, second-hand clothing and furniture, and the like. They are truly unwelcome hitchhikers!
Other Signs Of Bed Bugs
Since they’re so small, you may not spot them until you have a bed bug infestation on your hands. Plus, these pests like to hide in your furniture, under rugs, behind picture frames, in box springs – basically, anywhere they can go to remain undetected during the daylight hours.
Bed bugs are more active at night when you’re sleeping. They crawl on humans to feed on blood, which is their only food source. When you’re bitten by a bed bug, you’ll feel it later. An itchy raised red area will appear on your skin, often with several bites in a zig-zag pattern. It may take a few days for the bites to begin itching or it may begin immediately. Your body’s reaction to the anti-coagulant the bug injects when it bites you dictates how much irritation you will experience. Believe it or not, some people have no reaction to bed bug bites!
If you don’t see the bugs or notice bites, you might notice:
- A musty-sweet odor is produced by glands on the lower side of the bed bug’s body
- Bloodstains or smears on your sheets or mattress
- Rust-colored spots on sheets, curtains, mattresses, or walls
- Brown marks in the seams of your mattress caused by bed bug droppings
- Shed bed bug skins around your bed or walls
And just because they’re called bed bugs doesn’t mean they only live in beds. These pests can be found anywhere in your home. They are also frequently found at laundry mats, schools, hotels, libraries, offices, and other locations.
Bed Bug Control In Fort Worth
You can try to prevent bed bugs in Fort Worth by taking a few steps.
- Use mattress covers
- Wash your clothing on the highest heat setting after traveling
- Avoid putting your purse or bag on the floors in public places
- Declutter your home to eliminate hiding spots
If you do develop an infestation, eliminating bed bugs is not a DIY job. It will require the assistance of a trained pest control professional who is knowledgeable about bed bug control in Fort Worth. Lonestar Safe Pest has the experience and equipment to do the job right. Our liquid treatment is sprayed on mattresses, carpets, baseboards, furniture, and other surfaces that need bed bug control. If necessary, we’ll follow up with a heat gun that allows us to spot-treat problem areas. Call Lonestar Safe Pest today to schedule an inspection and treatment!