Bed Bug Detection For Your Home

By Jack Hanley

Prior to World War II bed bugs were common in the United States. Then with the introduction of DDT, bed bugs were almost completely eradicated in the U. S. Although they did remain in other parts of the world. Since DDT has been banned (for good reasons) bed bugs are becoming more common once again in the States. Their rise has made it important that you know the signs of bed bugs and about bed bug detection.

Bed bugs are approximately the size and somewhat lighter in color than an apple seed. They live in beds, sofas, and practically any upholstered furniture that will allow them to sneak out in the dark to enjoy the only thing that they eat human or animal blood. As soon as they finish their meal, the scurry back into hiding until the next night.

Bed bugs can travel into your home by means of your clothing, luggage or used furniture. They may have found their way onto your person at the office or at a movie theater. Once one bug gets into your home she may lay hundreds of eggs over her lifetime. Her offspring may also reproduce many other bugs. In a short time your entire home may become infested. With bed bugs, keeping a clean home does not seem to matter. All bed bugs need is a meal on your blood. If you are not available, they will feast on your pets. Try to put all clothing that has been in a hotel room immediately into the laundry. Store luggage sealed in plastic bags away from your bedroom until the next trip.

Once a home is fully infested with bugs, you may note a foul musty odor. There are dogs that have been trained to detect bed bugs by their smell that are often used in hotels. There are also other signs that you can look for that will get the problem under control before it becomes a full fledged infestation.

Since bed bugs like to hide during the daytime, it is important that you check out cracks and creases on the bed. Look along rails and behind the headboard. Look for rusty or brown colored stains on mattresses and bedding to be sure that you do not have a problem with bed bugs.

You may also see signs such as discarded skins or egg shells. Your box spring has many hiding places where the bugs can hide. Most of their lives may be spent inside the springs hidden by the mesh dust cover.

If you find bed bugs in your home, you should take immediate action to get rid of them. Wearing insect repellent will not stop the bugs from biting you. One possible method is to encase infested mattresses and box springs in specially made plastic enclosures that zip shut so the bugs cannot escape. Without meals of blood, they will die.

Many people feel that it is simpler to discard of an infested bed and replace it, however, you must also remove all clutter from the room and be sure that the bugs have been removed from the home before bring in a new bed that will also become infested. - 31975

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