Bed bugs have a frustrating way of appearing seemingly out of nowhere. One day, everything seems normal, but then the next, you may notice unexplained bites or suspicious spots on your bedding. Contrary to a common misconception, getting bed bugs is not a sign that your home is dirty. These pests are skilled hitchhikers that can make their way into almost any home.
Where Do Bed Bugs Come From?
Often times, bed bugs enter homes through travel. Bed bugs can hide in the seams and folds of luggage, overnight bags, clothing, bedding, and other belongings. A stay at a hotel, vacation rental, dormitory, or another infested location can give them an opportunity to hitch a ride home with you.
Travel isn’t the only potential source. Bringing used furniture, mattresses, or other secondhand belongings into your home can also introduce bed bugs if the items are infested. Their small, flat bodies make it easy for them to remain hidden in seams, cracks, crevices, and other tight spaces.
In apartments and other multi-unit buildings, bed bugs can also move from one area to another. This is one reason a bed bug problem may develop even when you haven’t recently traveled or brought used furniture into your home.
How Do You Know If You Have Bed Bugs?
Waking up with itchy, red marks can be an early warning sign, but bites alone aren’t enough to confirm an infestation. Reactions to bed bug bites vary from person to person, and marks can resemble bites from mosquitoes and other insects.
Instead, inspect areas where bed bugs commonly hide, particularly around beds and other sleeping areas. Warning signs can include live bugs in mattress seams or sheets, shed exoskeletons, and rusty-colored spots on mattresses or nearby furniture. A larger infestation may also produce a distinctive sweet, musty odor. Since bed bugs are excellent at hiding, finding the source of an infestation isn’t always easy.
What Should You Do If You Find Bed Bugs?
If you suspect bed bugs, dealing with the problem early can make the infestation easier to control. Avoid relying solely on bites to identify the pest and consider having the affected areas professionally evaluated.
D & T Pest and Termite Control, Inc. provides professional pest control services in Massachusetts and Rhode Island and offers free pest inspections. If you’re seeing signs of an infestation or aren’t sure what type of pest has entered your home, contact D & T Pest and Termite Control, Inc. to schedule an inspection.