Are you waking up with itchy bed bug bites? There’s nothing worse than being bitten in your sleep, but it can take a while for homeowners to realize that they have a bed bug problem. Part of the issue is that bed bugs do not bite every night, so the pest problem can be hard to spot.
Do Bed Bugs Bite Every Night?
Waking up with bed bug bites is never fun. It can feel like you wake up every morning with a new collection of bites, which leaves many homeowners wondering if bed bugs bite every night.
The truth is that bed bugs do not bite humans every night. They have a purpose behind their biting, and it’s to get a blood meal. One blood meal can typically last bed bugs for three to seven days. Once their previous blood meal is digested, they’ll go back for more.
If they can’t access a blood meal, bed bugs can survive for 20 to 400 days without eating. In between meals, they return to their hiding place, which is why homeowners need to understand the common bed bug signs and hiding places.
Bed Bug Signs
Waking up with unexplained bites is one of the most common signs of a bed bug infestation. Bed bug bites can appear in either linear or cluster patterns. They can also be red, itchy and swollen.
However, there are other ways to spot these unwelcome pests. Not all humans or pets react to bed bug bites, so it’s valuable to learn the other signs of an infestation so that you can deal with it as soon as possible.
Bed bugs are difficult to spot, especially since they typically come out at night. Yet, it’s still possible to catch one of them scurrying around your home. Adult bed bugs are close in size and shape to an apple seed. They are reddish-brown and have flat bodies, especially when they haven’t had a blood meal in a while.
Bed bug eggs are almost completely invisible as they are translucent and even smaller than adults. If you suspect that you have a bed bug infestation, you will need to conduct a thorough inspection of your home to find them. A better option is to contact a pest control professional to look for you.
A more obvious sign of a bed bug infestation is when you see brown spots on your bed and other surfaces. Bed bugs leave behind rust-colored stains on sheets, mattresses, pillowcases and other surfaces.
Another sign of a bed bug infestation is the musty odor that they give off. The bigger the infestation, the more you can smell it. If you notice these signs, consult a pest control professional to inspect for bed bugs.
Bed Bug Hiding Places
Bed bugs are skilled hiders and can fit into hard-to-reach crevices. They often hide within the seams and tufts of mattresses or around the bedframe and headboard. Hiding places around the bed are popular because bed bugs like to remain close to their host.
These pests can also find their way into other crevices around your home, such as inside your furniture, baseboards, curtains and walls. They may even hide inside light switches and electrical outlets.
Bed bugs are discreet pests that can remain out of sight for a long time. However, it’s important not to let an infestation go too far. Working with a pest control professional can ensure that you catch the infestation sooner and control these pests.
How Do Bed Bugs Bite?
The more you know about how bed bugs function, the quicker you can catch an infestation before it goes too far. Bed bugs bite by using their long beaks to pierce human or animal skin. Their tube-like beaks extract the blood, and the feeding can last for around five to ten minutes or until the bed bug is full.
Bed bugs are typically active at night and feed when their hosts are asleep. This allows them to remain undisturbed and undetected. After feeding, they retreat to their hiding spots until it’s time for another blood meal.
While bed bug bites can become annoying over time, they are not painful in the moment. Bed bug saliva contains an anesthetic property that numbs the skin, which is why hosts never know when the bed bugs are feeding on them.
How to Control and Deter Bed Bugs
Bed bugs can use several tactics to feed on their hosts and remain out of sight. However, it’s important to get ahead of these pests. There are several things you can do to make your home less inviting for bed bugs.
First, keep your home neat and clean. Bed bugs can easily hide in clutter, so it’s important to keep your floors and surfaces clean. Regular vacuuming, especially around your bed, can also go a long way in reducing the number of bed bugs in your home.
Next, wrapping your mattress and pillows in bed-bug-proof encasements, even if you don’t have an infestation, can keep them away from where you sleep.
It’s extremely important to be cautious of bed bugs as you travel. These pests can follow you home on suitcases or clothing. When you stay in a hotel, conduct a thorough inspection to ensure that there are no bed bugs that you could take home with you.
Additionally, you need to inspect and wash secondhand furniture and clothing before you bring it into your home.
While these bed bug deterrent strategies are helpful, the best thing you can do to keep bed bugs away from your home is to work with a pest control professional for bed bug control. A specialist can conduct regular inspections to make sure that bed bugs do not have a chance to thrive in your home.
How Often Do Bed Bugs Lay Eggs?
Bed bugs are annoying pests that reproduce at a rapid rate, which is why it’s important to get ahead of an infestation. If you aren’t careful, a small bed bug problem can quickly become a huge issue.
After a blood meal, a female bed bug can produce between one and seven eggs every day for about ten days. A single blood meal allows them to produce between five and twenty eggs.
Bed bug eggs only take ten to fifteen days to hatch, which means that in an extremely short time, there will be dozens of new bed bugs in your home.
It’s important to get ahead of bed bug infestations and control the problem before they have a chance to reproduce. If you suspect that you have bed bugs in your home, do not hesitate to call in a pest control specialist. The sooner you act, the sooner you can control these troublesome pests.
Bed bugs are not easy to get rid of on your own. A pest control expert has the right tools, experience and professional-grade solutions to control these unwanted guests from your home in a timely manner.
Control Bed Bugs With Professional Assistance
If you’re tired of waking up with bed bug bites, it’s time to contact a pest control professional. Bed bugs are stealthy pests that are hard to deal with on your own, and since they reproduce rapidly, a small problem can quickly become a large one.
Enlisting the help of a pest control specialist is the best way to get your home back and sleep peacefully again. To assist with professional treatments, you can also make your home less welcoming to bed bugs by keeping it clean.
ABC Can Bring Your Whole Family Relief From Bed Bugs
Homeowners who have a bed bug problem agree that it can significantly alter your normal routine and have a negative impact on your mental health. Take your back life from these pests by contacting ABC Home & Commercial Services. We offer pest control solutions to all types of pest problems, so you can get some relief. Our pros can also give you tips on how to check your bed for bed bugs.
