I Found A Few Bed Bugs – Does that Mean I’m Dealing With An Infestation?

It is pertinent to pay close attention to your home. A pest infestation can show up unexpectedly, and it’ll quickly spiral out of control. Homeowners, renters, and business owners cannot ignore such problems. Doing so will lead to bigger problems in the future. Once you’ve found pests in your building, it is pertinent to get assistance immediately. You may ignore the problem since you’ve only found one or two bedbugs, but this will be a mistake. The problem is that you’re likely dealing with more bedbugs. Ignoring the problem will only cause more problems. Once you’ve found bedbugs in your home, call an exterminator. Whether it is one, two, or ten, call a professional exterminator.

Why Two Bedbugs Are Problematic

Bedbugs tend to travel in packs and they can hide exceptionally well. With that being said, you cannot ignore the bedbugs you’ve found in your home. In all likelihood, you’re dealing with a bigger infestation but you haven’t found out yet. Bedbugs tend to hide until the home’s occupants go to sleep. Furthermore, they hide in places that you normally won’t check. They’re difficult to spot and you have to worry that you’re dealing with a female bedbug. She could be pregnant and she might lay eggs in your home soon. Bedbugs reproduce rapidly with females laying as many as 500 eggs each year. Bedbugs usually only grow up to 7 millimeters so they’re difficult to spot. You’ll have to look closely to find them in your home. Telling the difference between a male and a female won’t be easy either.

Finding Bedbugs Is Hard

As mentioned above, it is hard to pinpoint bedbugs in your home. They’re small, thin, and excel at hiding. They know where to hide to prevent being found. Plus, they tend to stay put while you’re up. They won’t move around until you go to sleep. Suffice to say, you’re likely not going to find them walking around your home. Bedbugs consume blood at night. Even when you’ve been bit, you might not notice it. Not all bites lead to symptoms, but some do. Check your arms for red bite marks.

Is It A Bedbug?

Before doing anything, you’ll need to make sure that you’re indeed dealing with a bedbug infestation. It might be something else. Bedbugs rarely grow over 10mm in length. They’re usually 7mm or less. Furthermore, they’re reddish-brown and blend in with the furniture. They have six legs and two antennas. They are sometimes mistaken for cockroach nymphs, fleas, and carpet beetles.

Common Signs

Check for the following signs to determine whether you have bedbugs.

• Bloodstains – When bedbugs are squashed, they’ll leave bloodstains on your clothes, sheets, and mattress.
• Exoskeletons – When bedbugs shed, they leave skins around your home. Look for translucent bedbug skins.
• Egg Materials – You can also find bedbug eggs and their egg casings.
• Feces – Bedbug feces can be found in homes with infestations. Their feces resembles ink spots.
• Bites – If you find red welts on your body, it might be the result of bedbug bites.
• Smelly – Bedbugs can turn your home into a musty, smelly mess.

Searching For Them

Search your home for bedbugs by starting in your bedroom. Focus on the mattress first since most bedbugs hide there. You’ll have to take the sheets off of the mattress. Once you’ve done that, you can check the mattress. Check the top before flipping it over and checking the other side. Besides the mattress, you have to inspect the box spring, sheets, quilts, and pillowcases. You will also be able to find bedbugs hiding on your bed frame. Then, look at your baseboards, furniture, and carpets. Bedbugs can hide in these things as well. You may need to use a credit card and flashlight to pinpoint bedbugs, bedbug eggs, and exoskeletons.

Hiring An Exterminator

Unfortunately, you likely can’t fix the problem on your own. You can try to do so, but you may not succeed. You should try using your dryer to kill bedbugs on your clothes and sheets. Use the hottest temperature setting to kill them. However, you’ll want to hire an exterminator to wipe out the remaining bedbugs. Before hiring one of the local exterminators, be sure to obtain quotes from companies in your area.

Frequent Questions

Is It One Bedbug?

It could be one bedbug, but it likely isn’t. Instead, you likely have a bigger infestation. Search your home to find out what is going on. What Do I Do Now? Once you’ve found bedbugs hiding in your home, call an exterminator immediately. A professional can help assess the problem and assemble a plan to fix it. Don’t delay because bedbug infestations worsen rapidly.

How Many Bedbugs Can Be Found In An Infestation?

There is no answer. An infestation can be hundreds or thousands of bedbugs.