Bed bugs are sneaky critters turning your sweet dreams into nightmares. These tiny pests hitch rides on clothes or luggage and love hiding in your mattress or furniture.
Wondering how to spot them? Look for red stains, tiny shells, or the bugs themselves on your bed.
If you’ve been traveling or snagged some second-hand furniture, it’s smart to check your space. Spotting these uninvited guests early cuts down on stress and kicks off quicker action.
Curious about more ways to catch and kick out bed bugs? Keep reading to become a bed bug detective!
Key Takeaways
- Identifying bed bug infestations involves looking for physical signs, such as small, dark red feces spots, tiny, pearly-white egg shells, pale yellow shed skins, blood stains, live bugs, and a musty odor.
- Bed bug bites appear as small, raised welts with a burning or itching sensation, often in a line or cluster, accompanied by redness or swelling.
- Inspect bedrooms and common hideouts for early detection, including mattresses, box springs, bed frames, electrical outlets, and upholstered furniture.
- Prevent bed bugs by taking travel precautions, regularly vacuuming, reducing clutter, and using mattress encasements.
- If detecting or eradicating bed bugs becomes challenging, seeking professional help ensures comprehensive treatment and prevention strategies.
IDENTIFYING SIGNS OF BED BUG INFESTATIONS
According to entomologists, bed bugs are insects from the genus Cimex. Due to their parasitic nature, knowing the signs is crucial for identifying bed bugs in Louisiana.
Spotting Physical Evidence
Determining the presence of bed bugs involves a detailed inspection of the insects themselves and signs of their activity.
Bed bugs leave several physical signs that indicate their presence. When looking for them with the naked eye, check the following signs:
| Signs | Description |
| Feces | Small, dark red spots that might bleed on the fabric like a marker. |
| Egg Shells | Bed bug eggs are tiny and pearly-white, about 1mm, typically found in crevices. |
| Shed Skins | Pale yellow exoskeletons from growing nymphs. |
| Blood Stains | Small red or rust-colored dark spots on bedding from squashed bed bugs. |
| Live Bugs | Adult bed bugs are reddish-brown, flat, and about the size of an apple seed. |
| Musty Odor | This scent is released from the bed bugs’ scent glands and is often described as unpleasant and sweet. |
Recognizing Bed Bug Bites
Bed bug bites can manifest on the skin. Because symptoms can differ between individuals, it is vital to differentiate bed bug bites from other insect bites.
“I started to notice little bites all over when I returned home from a sleep-away camp. I woke up one night to a small pile of living bugs in my bed. It was obvious what the bugs were, as they had taken over every single bed in our house. To this day, if someone says “goodnight, sleep tight,” I am itching before they even finish the sentence. ”
— Elizabeth Evans, Tour Support Specialist at EF Go Ahead Tours
Common indicators include:
- Small, raised welts.
- A burning or itchy sensation.
- A pattern of bites in a line or cluster.
- Redness or swelling around the bite area.
CHECKING COMMON BED BUG HIDEOUTS
Regular inspection of potential hiding spots is essential for early detection of bed bugs.
Bedroom Inspection
When inspecting a bedroom for bed bugs, start where you rest your head at night and expand your search to every nook and cranny.
“An environmental learning center traumatized me and my family for life. Choosing the bottom bunk changed my life forever. I now do not allow anything to touch the floor of any hotel until I do a sweep of the room/bed. When returning home, my suitcases DO NOT enter the house until everything is put through the dryer. My boyfriend gets annoyed by me not understanding what I am saving him from. I am itching just writing this.”
— Elizabeth Evans, Tour Support Specialist at EF Go Ahead Tours
Here’s a step-by-step guide to ensure a thorough check:
- Start with the bed: Carefully check the mattress seams, looking for tiny, reddish-brown bed bugs or small blood spots.
- Box springs check: Remove the bedspread and lift the mattress to examine the box springs, focusing on seams and folds.
- Inspect the bed frame: Examine all joints and crevices, as bed bugs often hide in small spaces.
- Behind the headboard: Move the headboard away from the wall to inspect for live bed bugs or eggs in the gaps.
- Check the baseboards: Pay close attention to cracks along the baseboards where bed bugs could be nesting.
- Linens and bed sheets: Before laundering, check linens and bed sheets for bed bug signs.
- Don’t miss dressers and nightstands: Go through each drawer, looking for bed bugs in corners and under liners.
- Inside electrical outlets: Safely remove the faceplates of electrical outlets to check for bed bugs hiding inside.
- Picture frames and loose wallpaper: Look behind picture frames and any peeling wallpaper for sneaky bed bugs.
Beyond the Bedroom
When checking for bed bugs, looking beyond the bedroom is crucial. Here are some key areas and items to carefully inspect:
| Area | Recommended Action |
| Sofas and Couches | Deeply investigate upholstered furniture’s seams, folds, and skirts. |
| Upholstered Furniture | Remove cushions and pillows to examine the frame and springs beneath. |
| Curtains and Closets | Check the seams and folds of curtains and inspect all clothing and storage boxes in closets. |
| Own Room | Keep rooms tidy to reduce potential hiding places, making future inspections easier. |
| Common Shared Spaces | Remember to inspect communal areas where people relax and sleep, including guest rooms. |
BED BUG PREVENTION AND INTERVENTION
Before setting off on a trip or cozying up in your bed, take proactive steps to prevent bed bug invasions and understand how to intervene if they occur.
Travel Precautions
Before settling into your hotel room or unpacking upon returning home, take these essential precautions to protect yourself from bed bugs during your travels:
- Inspect the hotel room bed: Inspect the mattress, bed frame, and headboard for any signs.
- Protect your luggage: Use plastic bags or protective covers to prevent bed bugs from hitchhiking in your suitcase.
- Heat treatment for clothes: After returning from travel, immediately launder clothing in hot water to kill bed bugs.
- Examine your belongings: Before bringing your luggage back into your home, inspect it thoroughly to catch any unwanted hitchhikers.
WHEN TO SEEK PROFESSIONAL HELP?
Attempting to eradicate bed bugs alone can be like trying to herd cats—frustrating and futile. If any of the signs appear, a professional pest control can assess the severity of the infestation and discuss treatment options.
Wherever you’re in Louisiana, seeking expert help should be easy. For immediate intervention for a severe infestation, let Lajaunie’s mosquito control specialists tailor a solution that’s right for your home.