How can you tell if you have bed bugs?

The bed bug is a nocturnal insect belonging to the Cimicidae family in the suborder Heteroptera. It has an oval shape and can measure up to 5 mm in length as an adult. Bed bugs are crawling insects, meaning they have no wings and cannot jump or fly. They move by walking quickly, at the speed of an ant. They typically first appear in the bedroom and then spread to other rooms in the house.

Bed bug bites are usually painless, but they can cause a skin reaction in some people. Those allergic to bed bug saliva will develop several small red bumps (skin lesions) all over their body (legs, arms, back, etc.). If you are not allergic, you may not experience any signs of a bite.

Some characteristics of bed bugs

• It is visible to the naked eye.
• The adult bedbug is brown in color.
• It is oval in shape and the size of a flattened apple seed, i.e. 4 to 7 mm in length.
• It has a lifespan of approximately 5 to 6 months. However, it can live for more than a year without feeding when certain conditions are met.

Bed bugs are generally more active at night. They avoid light and hide in narrow, hard-to-reach places, which is why they can be difficult to find. Fortunately, there are some signs and symptoms that can help detect bed bugs.

The bumps on the body

Many people have allergic reactions to bed bug bites. If this is the case for you, you will notice small red bumps on your hands, legs, or back. These bumps resemble mosquito bites and usually appear in lines or clusters. However, reactions to bed bug bites can vary. Some people experience no skin reaction, while others have strong or even severe reactions.

Traces of excrement

If you notice small black spots on your bed or bedroom wall, they could be bed bug droppings, made up of digested and dried blood. On non-absorbent surfaces, they form small clusters of black, more or less pasty specks, resembling ink stains. They are 1 to 3 mm in size and soak into the fabric.

Bloodstains

Among the signs of their presence, bed bugs leave traces of blood on your bed sheets which may correspond to a scratched bump after a bite, a bed bug being crushed while sleeping or a trail of blood left by this insect when it feeds heavily.

The eggs

Their eggs are about 1 mm long (the size of a pinhead) and whitish in color. They can be laid singly or in small clusters of 5 to 15. They are glued on by bedbugs and are therefore difficult to remove, especially from fabrics. You can find them almost anywhere (on your clothes, suitcases, bed sheets, in the corners of your room, etc.).

Adult bed bugs

Given their very small size, it's rare, but not impossible, to see bed bugs moving around during the day. However, when they are visible to the naked eye, it generally means the infestation has already reached an advanced stage. Young or immature bed bugs are light-colored, making them a little harder to detect, while adult bed bugs are usually brown and therefore easier to spot.

Although they're called bed bugs, these insects can actually hide in many different places. At the beginning of an infestation, bed bugs tend to hide near the person they'll bite while they sleep.

The larger the bed bug infestation, the more they will spread and move to other rooms. Here are some possible hiding places:

• The seams and underside of the mattress, the bed base and the hems of the bedding items.
• The headboard, the bedroom furniture.
• Clothes, suitcases and backpacks.
• Chairs, sofas, wheelchairs and covers.
• The rugs and the curtains.
• Behind the paintings and the peeling tapestry.
• The wood, the floor, or the cracks in the plaster.
• Documents and books.
• Telephones, radios, and clocks.
• Door or window frames.
• Electrical outlets.
• Laptops.

The more advanced the infestation, the more significant the bed bug invasion will be. They can appear in your bedroom and spread to other rooms in your property, or even to other dwellings.

Bed bugs can get in and spread anywhere, even in the cleanest homes and hotels. These insects move quickly, so you need to be vigilant because they have multiple methods of transmission.

They spread:

• Through close contact with everyday items that are already infested, such as clothing, bags, wheelchairs, sofas, etc.
• During moves
• During travel, in luggage, suitcases or sleeping bags
• Through infested used items or clothing purchased from thrift stores or used furniture stores
• From the laundry rooms or washhouses

The important thing is to act quickly. The sooner you detect the presence of bed bugs, the better your chances of getting rid of them. If you've already found signs of their presence in your home, here's what you can do to eliminate them:

1. Start with a visual inspection. Look for any bed bugs visible to the naked eye and vacuum them up. A helpful tip is to place a pantyhose over the end of the hose to prevent bed bugs from accumulating in the vacuum. Once you've vacuumed them up, remove the pantyhose, tie a knot, and throw it in the trash (outside).
2. Call a pest control expert. A certified exterminator will be able to get rid of the infestation quickly and effectively.
3. Disinfect your mattress using an iron (through a clean sheet) at a temperature of 70°C and iron several times in the same place to ensure that you kill all the bedbugs.
4. Wash your infested clothes and bed linen at over 60°C (pillows, cushions, duvet, sheets, etc.).

You can avoid bed bug infestations by taking the necessary precautions. Here are some tips to help prevent them.

Be careful during your move

When you move, place your belongings (clothes, furniture, mattresses, etc.) in sealed plastic bags. Remember to inspect the moving truck before loading your furniture and other items to ensure it is clean.

Once you're settled in your new home, use a flashlight to inspect all the rooms, paying particular attention to the bedrooms. If you find bed bugs or any signs of their presence, inform the landlord immediately so they can call a certified exterminator.

Inspect your used clothes and items

If you regularly buy secondhand clothes or other items, always inspect them before bringing them into your home. Also, avoid bringing home any damaged or abandoned items or furniture found on the sidewalk (mattresses, box springs, wooden furniture, etc.). If you do decide to bring one of these used items home, be sure to steam clean it.

Avoid clutter in your home

Try to avoid clutter in your home as much as possible. Don't leave anything lying around to reduce the number of places where bed bugs could hide.

Take precautions when traveling

When you travel, be sure to thoroughly inspect your hotel room, especially the bed. Place your suitcases on luggage racks or in the bathtub, and avoid storing your clothes and personal belongings in drawers or on the floor. When you return home, the first thing you should do is place your suitcases on a hard surface and inspect them carefully.

Are you experiencing persistent bites and itching, but still can't find the bed bugs in your home? Act quickly and call an exterminator . RD has specialized in eco-friendly pest control for many years and has branches throughout Quebec to meet your needs and help you regain your peace of mind.

Our certified technicians will assess your situation and the level of infestation to provide you with customized solutions. Our team can help you get rid of a variety of pests and insects. Don't hesitate to contact us if you would like more information about our pest control services.