Of all the pest-related questions Viking Pest Control gets, far and away the most popular is “what do bed bugs look like?” This is with good reason. No one wants to risk getting a bed bug infestation and the best way to avoid it is to be able to identify and watch out for them. Bed bugs are rapidly spreading through the entire country because they are resilient creatures that are excellent at hitching rides on your belongings. Knowing what a bed bug looks like and the signs they leave behind is paramount in avoiding an infestation.
What Do Bed Bugs Look Like Through Their Life Cycle?
The first thing to know about bed bugs is that they have a life cycle from egg to nymph to adult bug and that at each stage they look very different. At the egg stage they can be smaller than a pinhead and look like nothing more than a speck of dust. The nymphs are translucent in color and as they grow range in size from a speck to the size of an adult bed bug. Adult bed bugs are often compared to an apple seed in size and color. They can range from light brown to deep brown and reddish if they just had a blood meal. They have three pairs of legs on their segmented bodies and antennae on their head.
Common Signs of Bed Bugs
Many times you may not see actual bed bugs, but you will find signs they leave behind. You can look for brownish stains on mattresses or sheets which can be from their feces or blood from bites. You may also find discarded bits of their exoskeleton which is a dead giveaway that these pests are nearby.
Side Effects of Bed Bug Bites
While the bites from bed bugs are for the most part nothing more than mildly annoying, repeatedly getting bitten can cause itching and uncomfortableness. Some people can have an allergic reaction to the bites, while others can get secondary infections from scratching the bites.
How to Prevent Getting Bed Bugs
You can try to prevent bringing bed bugs into your home by taking reasonable precautions while traveling. Inspect hotels, dorm rooms, public transportation, and restaurant or retail seating for signs of bed bugs before settling in. Hang your purse or coat rather than place it on the floor. Use suitcase racks instead of putting your bags on the bed. Wash your belongings on the hottest settings after traveling.
How to Get Rid of Bed Bugs
If you are in the unfortunate situation of finding bed bugs in your home, call Viking Pest Control right away. Highly trained bed bug exterminators will complete an effective treatment and comprehensive inspection to ensure that your bed bug infestation is completely eradicated. Viking Pest offers a variety of bed bug services including a liquid, heat, or K9 inspection service.
After the treatments are completed your technician will make recommendations to help you avoid bed bugs in the future, such as purchasing special mattress covers.
Call Viking at 800-618-2847 to learn more about our bed bug control and extermination services, or get a fast, free quote online today!
