What Small Bed Bugs Look Like
WouterWhen it comes to identifying bedbugs, they can be very hard to identify, but there are ways to tell if you’re dealing with them. The first place to check for them is along the edge of the mattress, or along the seam. The small, blood-filled feces they produce look like small black dots. They are produced by feeding insects and are difficult to remove when the infestation is first underway.
If you suspect an infestation, it’s important to remove bedding from the bed and examine it carefully. Check the mattress cover for any evidence of bugs, as well as the seams in mattress frames and box springs. Also, check underneath the bed and around the headboard, edge of the carpet, and electrical outlets. If you find anything suspicious, call an exterminator right away. They will know what to look for, and how to treat them.
While bedbugs are generally not very large, they do grow larger after a blood meal. They can grow as large as two times their original size, depending on the type of blood they feed on. After feeding, bedbugs settle near people and are easy to spot, particularly in the mattress, box spring, and headboard.
Because bedbugs reproduce rapidly, it is important to keep their numbers down to a minimum. Even though they don’t transmit disease, their bites are a serious nuisance. Their bites cause itchy, red welts on the skin. In addition to the physical discomfort caused by the bites, bedbugs can cause a significant amount of emotional stress. People who have been bitten by bedbugs can develop a form of post traumatic stress disorder.
