Bed bugs are right up there with ants and mice as some of the most popular pest complaints we get. Unlike ants and mice, however, bed bugs are typically misdiagnosed. Most of the time when pest control experts get a call about bed bugs it turns out to be something else entirely. Why? Simple, because we are ALL afraid of bed bugs.
No one wants to encounter bed bugs and most of us know someone or know someone who knows someone who has a nightmare story about bed bugs infesting their homes and ruining all their things. But before you throw out that mattress and burn all your linens, let’s talk about how to know for sure you have bed bugs and not one of the other bed bug impersonators – like fleas or allergies.
How to know if you have bed bugs?
Wait, let’s not get ahead of ourselves. Let’s first talk about how it might not be bed bugs.
What is NOT proof of bed bugs
Bites are not proof of bed bugs.
If you are getting bitten at night, it is so easy to assume the culprit is bed bugs. That in combination with our strong anxiety of having bed bugs can cause us to jump to conclusions and before you know it, you are dragging your mattress out with the trash and bagging up all your belongings.
But bites experienced at night can be a result of almost any bug and oftentimes aren’t even caused by bugs at all. If you are sharing a bed with a partner and they are not experiencing any bites – it likely is not bed bugs. Bed bugs are not selective with their bites. Itching is also not a sign of bed bugs and bed bugs do not infest pets.
Word to the Wise: Google cannot correctly identify bed bugs
Avoid the temptation to Google bed bug symptoms or bed bug bites. Google is great and we love to use it as much as the next human-being, however, it is not a reliable bed bug identifier.
First of all Google-ing anything is only going to help you convince yourself of what you want to believe. The same happens with health conditions. How many of us have Googled a strange headache and convinced ourselves we had a terminal brain disorder? Yep, us too.
Also, Googling bug bites is never helpful. Bug bites cause physical reactions on our skin. The type of reaction will vary based on the area of the bite, the person being bitten and countless other factors. Even two people in the same bed being bitten by the same bug will not have the same bug bite appearance.
If you are truly concerned that you may have bed bugs – skip Google – and schedule a free phone consultation.
So how do we know if we have bed bugs?
The most effective way to diagnose a bed bug problem is with the help of a certified pest control expert, who knows exactly what to look for.
Before calling the expert though here are some of the common warning signs of a bed bug infestation:
Blood in the sheets. This happens because if there are bed bugs in your bed feasting on your blood each night, occasionally your sleeping self is going to roll over. This squishes the bugs and forces out the blood they’ve just filled their bellies with. If you have small red/brown dots of blood on your sheets, it could be a sign of bed bugs.
Multiple People being bit. If you share a bed with another person both of you should be getting bit, if it IS bed bugs that are biting you. The same is true if you share a room with another person although you may not be both bitten in the beginning of the infestation. If you share a bed with another person and they are not experiencing bites you do NOT have bed bugs.
Visual confirmation. You can see bed bugs if you know where to look. Bed bugs, despite their name, are not always in the mattress. In fact, many times, they are around the bed. Check the seams of your mattress, under your bed, behind the nightstand, under the carpet, etc. Again they are hard to see but if you are able to find any that could be confirmation.
If you are able to catch one, pop it in a baggie or container of some kind to show you pest control expert. That way they can quickly confirm its identity and get to work on eradicating them sooner!
Get an Evaluation. We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again. The easiest way to confirm a bed bug problem is to have an actual bed bug expert come check. They will check the same places we just listed and ask some of the same questions – but they are equipped and trained to accurately find and eliminate the pests and you can skip the second guessing.
So, when do you throw away the mattress?
Ideally, not until you’re in the market for a new one. And certainly NOT if you think you have a bed bug problem.
This is for a few very important reasons:
- Dragging an infested mattress across your home will only further disrepute bed bugs.
- Bed bug infested mattresses should be thrown away responsibly to ensure you aren’t spreading to another unsuspecting family.
- If you throw out an infested mattress you still have the same problem and your new one will be just as infested in a matter of time.
If you’re concerned about bed bugs in the mattress you can purchase a bed bug cover for your mattress. These are just like a fitted sheet but cover the entire mattress. They will not allow any bed bugs to hide inside the mattress and will prevent any that are hiding in there to perish because they cannot get out to feed. Thus protecting your mattress – indefinitely!
Does Kapture Pest Control treat bed bugs?
Absolutely. We use a combination approach of steam and chemicals. The steam treatment will kill all bed bugs on contact – instantly. The steam treatment only works while we are steaming, however, and has no residual effect.
Which is why once we’ve steamed it will also treat with a chemical product that will remain in place and continue to kill, and prevent bed bugs for months.
If you know or even just have a feeling you have bed bugs feel free to reach out. We can help put an end to the nightmare.
Contact Kapture for a No-Obligation Phone Consultation and Quote:
Call 1-888-811-5813 or schedule online now to start protecting your home and family today!
