Do You Have a Bedbug Infestation?

By Renee Garcia

How does a bedbug infestation begin? There are several ways by which our houses can become infested with bedbugs. A hotel or motel that we stayed in can have bedbugs. And unknowingly, we may have brought these into our house through our luggage.

Another way of getting bedbugs into your house is by buying used clothing or furniture. Also, if you live in a multi-unit apartment, building, or condominium, bedbugs can get from one place to the other through pets. It only takes getting in contact with these insects. Bedbugs can hitch a ride on your clothes or your shoelaces.

You must be aware whether you have a bedbug infestation or not. Bedbug bites are the first sign of infestation. These bite marks can be raised or flat lesions that are pinkish to red in color. Bedbug bites are easily identified because of their linear pattern.

The bites also cause itching and burning. Systemic corticosteroids or antihistamines have been used to lessen itching and burning. But if you want to make the bite marks disappear faster, use topical corticosteroids. Do not scratch the bedbug bites as this will only cause scars.

Once you have established that what you have are bedbug bites, finding the insects is the next step in determining bedbug infestation. You can begin with the mattress or sofa as these are the most preferred habitats of bedbugs.

You must inspect every hole and crack on the sofa, couch, or mattress. Red and brown spots on these furnitures will help you find the bedbugs. The red spots were formed by blood from bedbugs that were crushed while the brown spots are formed from fecal matter of bedbugs. These signs show definite infestation.

Adult bedbugs are reddish-brown and wingless. They have flattened oval bodies with microscopic hairs which give them a banded appearance. Newly hatched nymphs are translucent and lighter in color.

Now that you are 100% sure of a bedbug infestation, you can call a professional exterminator to kill these bedbugs. - 30446

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