Are These Bed Bugs In My Stafford Home?

If someone were to bring up bed bugs, certain things might come to mind about these notorious pests. You’d likely imagine being bitten while sleeping or think about television shows you’ve seen where people in big cities struggle to eliminate an infestation. However, you may not know what these pests look like or how to identify an infestation in your own home. Luckily, this guide is here to help you identify bed bug problems around your Stafford property and to give guidance on how to eradicate these infestations.

Why Bed Bugs Are Misidentified 

The truth is that bed bugs can be a tricky pest to identify as they are small and usually stay out of sight. They hide during the day and wait to become active at night. They are also small, with adults only growing to be the size of an apple seed.

For these reasons and others, bed bugs are sometimes mistaken for other pests such as fleas or ticks, but there are ways to identify bed bugs and tell them apart from other species.

What Bed Bugs Look Like At Every Life Cycle Stage

It’s probably not that surprising, but the bed bug eggs are the smallest. They are about the size of a pinhead, and this makes identifying them difficult. The eggs are a creamy white color, but they can become brown after the eggs have hatched and only the shells remain.

Then, once they become nymphs, the bed bugs get a little bigger. They are similar in size and shape to the adults, but they are a whitish color.

Lastly, the adult bed bugs are the ones you’re most likely to see and notice. They are still small, but you could notice them if you know where and what to look for. They are reddish-brown and have oval-shaped bodies with heads that are quite a bit smaller in proportion. They are not only the size of apple seeds but also resemble them in shape.

Other Signs Of Bed Bugs To Know

While knowing what the bed bugs themselves look like is important, some other indicators of bed bug activity are often more noticeable. These signs will show up earlier in the infestation, and if you know what to watch out for, you can stop the problem before bed bugs have spread throughout your entire home.

Here are four signs bed bugs are living inside of your home:

1. Waking up to find small, red bite marks on your skin in lines or zig-zag patterns
2. Seeing that you have bloodstains on your bedding, such as sheets and pillows
3. Discovering brown stains on bedding, furniture, and even walls
4. Finding discarded bed bug skins and egg casings around baseboards or furniture

Just be sure to remember that bed bugs don’t just invade places with beds. They can also live on other furniture, electrical outlets, and even holes in the walls.

What To Do If You Spot Signs Of Bed Bugs

If you’ve noticed bed bugs or signs of their presence around your home, it can be easy to freak out. These pests are gross and invasive, but there is help at hand. While removing bed bugs on your own is challenging, the Stafford, VA pest professionals at Viewpoint Pest Management Solutions are here to help.

With our bed bug control services, you can rely on swift eradication of the entire infestation. Then, we offer follow-up services, so you know that these pests won’t return. Just contact us today to get started and request a quote.