How to Know if Bedbugs Are Damaging
Physical Signs of Bedbugs:
Bites: Red, itchy bites on the skin, often in a line or cluster, typically appearing after sleeping.
Blood Stains: Small blood stains on sheets, pillowcases, or mattresses.
Fecal Spots: Dark or rusty spots of bedbug excrement on mattresses, bedding, or walls.
Eggs and Shells: Tiny, pale yellow skins that nymphs shed as they grow, and small white eggs or eggshells.
Presence of Live Bedbugs:
Seeing live bedbugs, which are small, reddish-brown insects about the size of an apple seed.
Musty Odor:
A musty, sweet odor in your bedroom or around the infested areas, caused by bedbugs' scent glands.
Behavioral Changes:
Signs of disturbed sleep due to itching or the presence of bedbugs.
Infestation Indicators:
Various signs indicating a bedbug infestation.
Bedbug Myths and Facts
Myth: Bedbugs Only Infest Dirty Homes:
Fact: Bedbugs can infest any environment, regardless of cleanliness. They are attracted to warmth and carbon dioxide, not dirt.
Myth: Bedbugs Transmit Diseases:
Fact: While bedbug bites can cause itching and discomfort, they are not known to transmit diseases.
Myth: Bedbugs Are Too Small to See:
Fact: Adult bedbugs are visible to the naked eye, about the size of an apple seed. However, their eggs and nymphs can be harder to spot.
Myth: You Can Get Rid of Bedbugs Yourself:
Fact: DIY methods are often ineffective. Professional pest control services are usually necessary for complete eradication.