Are Bed Bugs Easy to Detect?
There are a few ways to detect bed bugs. Adults are around 4.5 mm long, and they have a rusty brown color. However, bedbugs don’t start off as adults; they start out as transparent nymphs. Nymphs are under a millimeter long and are almost impossible to detect without the presence of blood. Adult bedbugs aren’t as bold as their immature counterparts, and they usually stay hidden until carbon dioxide levels in the room start to rise, which is normally caused by regular breathing.
The best way to detect a bed bug infestation is to find it as early as possible. It’s much cheaper to remove an infestation when it is in its early stages, rather than trying to eradicate a widespread infestation. However, detecting a low-level infestation is often more difficult because the bugs may be mistaken for other pests. If you don’t know where to look, the bugs can easily spread and infest other areas of the home.
Bedbugs leave behind a distinctive odor when disturbed. This odor is called an alarm pheromone and can be compared to the smell of raspberries, cilantro, or almonds.