Detect and Protect™ Yourself From Bed Bugs
Bed bugs are nocturnal insects that come out of hiding to take “blood meals from sleeping or quietly resting humans.”
According to the 2018 survey “Bugs without Borders” by the National Pest Management Association.
Bed bugs are uncomfortable and nasty, and the sad thing is, even the cleanest household can become infested. Once bed bugs infest your house, it can be difficult, time-consuming, stressful and costly to get rid of them.
Fortunately, there are signs and symptoms you can check for to determine if you have an infestation, and there are things you can do to protect against these parasitic pests.
Learn how to check for bed bugs, discover signs that indicate you might have an infestation and find out what you can do to defend against these insidious insects.
Bed bugs are usually active at night and can spend three to 12 minutes feeding before retreating back to a hiding place. They are parasites that feed on blood — preferably human. A female can lay up to 500 eggs in her lifetime, and their life cycle can be up 12 months or longer. These bugs can survive at temperatures as low as 46 degrees, but they will die if their body temperature hits 113 degrees.
Bites are the most common symptom of an infestation, but unpleasant odors, marks on your bed, and other signs may be present.
There are many warning signs and symptoms that you may have a bed bug infestation. The most obvious sign you may have bed bugs is that you have itchy, red bites on your body. These are usually in small clusters or zigzag-shaped lines, but they can also be in straight lines.
Bed bugs are most active at night. If you find yourself developing itchy welts while trying to sleep, if you’re constantly feeling the pins and needles sensation of being bitten and you can’t get a good night’s sleep, bed bugs could be a problem.
Unlike bugs such as chiggers and fleas that usually bite around the ankles, bed bugs look for exposed skin, like your arms and shoulders, which are often left uncovered while you sleep. If you’re noticing bite marks on your upper body area, it could be bed bugs.
Bed bugs often leave a strong, musty odor similar to that of a wet towel that’s not given enough time to dry. This is because, in large numbers, the bugs release pheromones that leave a powerful odor.
If you notice such a musky odor in your bedroom and you’re not sure of the source, you might check for bed bugs.
Bed bugs are parasites that feed on your blood. When they do so, they tend to leave small bloodstains, which may resemble rust spots. Often, these stains are found near the edges and corners of the bed. You might also discover oval, brown exoskeletons left behind when bed bugs molt.
You might also find dark spots approximately the size of a pinhead, which are excrement from the bugs. Nymphs shed tiny, pale-yellow skins that you may see, and bed bug eggs are about 1 millimeter in diameter and can be left behind.
Baltimore and Washington are No. 1 and No. 2 respectively in the Top 50 Bed Bug Cities ranking by pest-control company Orkin.
For Baltimore, it’s the city’s third straight year in the top slot, while the District was in second place last year, as well.
Here’s the full list of the top 10 cities: