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Bed Bugs

What do bed bugs look like?

Adult bed bugs have a flat oval body that is the perfect shape for hiding in cracks and crevices of furniture, floorboards, electric outlets, and other small spaces.  

While small, adults are visible to the human eye, growing to be about ¼ of an inch in length; bed bugs are reddish brown, becoming a darker red color directly after feeding.  

Bed bugs are not winged. They cannot fly or jump, but are very strong crawlers.

Are bed bugs dangerous?

Bed bugs are not known to carry or transmit any dangerous diseases. They are mainly considered to be a nuisance pest; however, bed bugs should be eliminated from any home or property quickly because they can multiply fast, feed on you and your family members while you are sleeping, leave behind small welts that if scratched could lead to infection, and can cause loss of sleep.

Bed bug bites vs. mosquito bites

Not every person that is bitten by a bed bug will have a reaction, but if a reaction does occur they are often compared to the bite of a mosquito.  While bed bug bites do appear similar to a mosquito bite, there are some differences that can help to identify it as a bed bug bite.

When a person is bitten by a mosquito, it is generally randomly and is only a singular bite; bites from bed bugs usually occur in a line or cluster of three or more bites.

Generally, when a person is bitten by a mosquito they instantly know it. The bite creates an instant raised welt that is itchy and sometimes warm to the touch. In comparison, it can sometimes take days for the welt from a bed bug bite to appear.  Also, the itch associated with a mosquito bite is usually short lived, maybe an hour or so, while bed bug bites may itch and be uncomfortable for days.

Signs of bed bugs

When bed bugs have infested a home they will leave behind several signs. Knowing what these signs are can help you identify a bed bug infestation as quickly as possible. These signs can include:

  • Seeing actual bed bugs crawling on walls, wooden furniture, along baseboards, or seams of mattresses and box springs.
  • Finding piles of skin that the bed bugs leave behind as they grow and develop.
  • Discovering red dots of blood on your sheets or other bedding that are dropped as the bed bugs feed.
  • Finding dark brown stains (feces) that are also left behind on mattresses, box springs, and bedding.
  • Smelling a sickly sweet odor inside your home (present when infestations are large).

Where do bed bugs come from?

It is important to understand that bed bugs do not discriminate; any person and home can become victim to bed bugs.

Bed bugs are picked up anywhere that large groups of people congregate.  Public places like hotels, motels, airports, libraries, movie theaters, and shopping centers can all be home to bed bugs.

Bed bugs will crawl onto people or their personal belongings and be accidentally brought back into a home where they start invading, feeding, and breeding.

How do you get rid of bed bugs?

At Spencer Pest Services our preferred course of treatment begins with a free bed bug inspection.  One of our specially trained Service Professionals will come to your property and perform a thorough inspection to identify all infected areas and go over treatment options that are specific to your home.

We will then provide the most advanced and eco-friendly conventional bed bug treatment available.  For even more added peace of mind, a bed bug warranty may be available.

To see how Spencer Pest Services will eliminate bed bugs from your Greenville, upstate of South Carolina, or Northern Georgia property call us today.

To ensure complete bed bug eradication, preparation is necessary prior to treatment.  Check out our Bed Bug Preparation Sheet for more details on how to get your property ready for a bed bug treatment.

Bed bug prevention tips

Preventing bed bugs is very difficult because they can be picked up in so many public places. The best way to protect your home and family is to be vigilant and proactive against these parasitic pests. Bed bug prevention tips include:

  • Inspect a hotel room for signs of bed bugs before bringing your luggage and other personal belonging into it.
  • Make sure to keep luggage off the floor in your hotel room.
  • Keep items that you are not using is sealed plastic bags.
  • Wash all clothing in hot water after returning home from traveling.
  • Make sure to thoroughly vacuum and wipe out your suitcase before storing it until your next trip.
  • Try not to bring used furniture or mattresses into your home.

Make sure to wash clothing items from second-hand stores immediately after purchase.

Call for help from Spencer Pest Services at the first sign of a bed bug infestation in your home.

Helpful bed bug articles

What Do Bed Bugs Look Like?

Get To Know Bed Bugs

Where Do Bed Bugs Come From?

Why You Should Never Attempt DIY Bed Bug Control

Are Bed Bug Dangerous To South Carolina Residents?