Because bed bugs are quite small (and don't multiply rapidly at first), it's possible to go several months without noticing their presence. If you see any signs of bed bugs or if you think you may have bed bugs in your home, there are some things you can do to confirm your suspicions.
It can be hard to determine an exact date when the infestation started. You may have them for a while, but may not notice them until weeks, or even months later. Bed bug eggs take anywhere from six to 12 days to hatch, and the adult life span can be anywhere from six months to a year.
These insects lead a very cryptic and secretive lifestyle and will often go undetected. It is best to have a highly trained professional conduct the inspection for you. Occasionally you may see evidence of a bed bug infestation without actually seeing any bed bugs. Bed bugs leave fecal stains in the areas they inhabit.
Bed bugs can go undetected for long periods since they are mostly nocturnal and are very good at hiding. However, if you know what to look for you can find signs of a bed bug infestation.
As soon as bed bugs enter your home, the infestations can take a few months before it becomes a major issue. One female bed bug who has already mated can populate your home with additional bugs. The female will lay approximately 100 eggs within the first month.
Pyrethroids are synthetic chemical insecticides that act like pyrethrins. Both compounds are lethal to bed bugs and can flush bed bugs out of their hiding places and kill them.
Bed bugs have no preference when it comes to who they want to attach themselves to.
After feeding for about five minutes, drawing only a drop or two of blood, bugs return to their hiding places. Although bed bugs can live for over a year without feeding, they typically seek blood every five to ten days. The only way to know for sure what bit you is to find a bug and get it identified.
Blood Orange Oil
This essential oil is proven to be one of the most effective solutions when bed bugs are the matter as it can kill the pest successfully.
Finding one bed bug in a home is not necessarily a sign that an infestation is present. If you found a single bed bug, killed it, and can't find another after a thorough search, wait for a few days. Bed bugs don't take time off; if there are more, they will show themselves. Be vigilant.
In addition to certain blood types playing a part, warm blooded creatures have certain blood types that emit a particular scent to insects, which means people with type o blood (for example), may cause the bugs to feed on them apart from another person with a different type of blood.
Getting Bitten at Night But No Sign of Bedbugs
Bed bugs are tiny insects that are great at hiding, especially during the day. You will likely see signs they leave behind instead of seeing the actual bed bugs. However, even the signs of bed bugs can be discreet if you don't know what to look for.
You may not notice bites right away, as it can take up to 2 weeks for marks to develop. Unlike flea bites, which are mainly around your ankles, you'll find bedbug bites on areas of skin that are exposed while you're sleeping, often your face, neck, or hands.
Contrary to what the term suggests, bed bugs don't build traditional nests. Instead, they congregate in certain areas, often close to where they feed. Signs of a bed bug nest can include dark spotting and staining, which is their dried excrement.
Tea tree oil, renowned for its antibacterial properties, is like a natural bug repellent that bed bugs can't stand. Peppermint oil, with its invigorating minty freshness, overwhelms their acute senses. And eucalyptus oil, known for its refreshing aroma, is a formidable deterrent against these tiny intruders.
Showering can help remove any bed bugs present on your skin temporarily, as water and soap can disrupt their ability to cling to surfaces. However, showering alone is not sufficient to eliminate a bed bug infestation, as these pests primarily reside in hidden cracks and crevices within your home.
If bed bugs have one weakness, it's that they're intolerant of extremely high or low temperatures. Washing clothes and bedding at the highest possible setting followed by drying for at least 30 minutes at high heat should do the trick. You can also freeze clothing or other objects you suspect of being infested.
Pyrethrins and Pyrethroids: These are among the most common insecticides used against bed bugs. Pyrethrins, derived from chrysanthemum flowers, kill bed bugs on contact, while synthetic pyrethroids provide longer-lasting effects.
It can be difficult to eliminate bed bugs, but it's not impossible. Don't throw out all of your things because most of them can be treated and saved. Throwing stuff out is expensive, may spread the bed bugs to other people's homes and could cause more stress.
Bed bugs are not known to spread pathogens through their bites. Bed bug bites can be itchy and stressful. Do not squish a bed bug as it will release the blood and any pathogens it may be carrying.
Bed bugs disappear on their own over time when left untreated. You do not want to wait for this! It can take months before bed bugs go away – even years when they have been there for a while already.