How Many Bed Bugs Are an Infestation?
Knowing how many bed bugs are in an area can be a crucial part of the bed bug treatment process. Bed bugs can live in homes, office buildings, schools, daycare centers, and even public transportation. In addition, a bed bug infestation can be difficult to detect because it may not be evident until weeks or months after the infestation began.
Bed bugs typically start in one or two areas and spread from there as the population increases. This is due to a number of factors, such as the natural migration of females or the movement of personal items. An infestation is also evident by dead bed bugs left on various surfaces, including bed frames, carpets, and under moldings.
Once an adult female starts to lay eggs, it will multiply rapidly. The number of bed bugs in your home can increase by ten or even twentyfold. A single female bed bug can lay hundreds of eggs in a matter of weeks. If you have found more than a single female, you may already have a small infestation.
The first step in dealing with a bed bug infestation is to clean your bed linens thoroughly. This means washing them on the hottest setting and drying them on the highest heat possible. The next step is to call a pest control professional. This professional will conduct an extensive inspection and develop a targeted plan to eliminate the infestation.