Pests Don’t Go Away in the Winter

As a homeowner, you probably spent time and money on the look and function of your house. From purchasing new furniture and décor to shampooing rugs and washing windows, these tasks are important for your home's appeal and value. Unfortunately, you may understand how pests can affect the health of your home and family. While surprising to learn, bed bugs are not just annoying pests that affect your mattress. These small bugs can wreak havoc on the health of your family and your home. If you notice one or more of the following signs, you may have an infestation of bed bugs in your home.

Apple Seeds

Adult bed bugs are small, averaging about 5 mm long. They have an oval shape and are brownish-red in color. Most people believe bed bugs look similar to an apple seed.

Spend some time inspecting the mattresses and furniture of your home. Since bed bugs hitch rides on clothing and luggage from hotels to your home, inspecting yourself, clothing, mattresses, and furnishings is smart after traveling. If you notice specks that look like apple seeds, you most likely have a bed bug infestation.

Salt-like clusters on your bed, furniture, and other areas of the home are also a sign for concern. These clusters are most likely eggs, which will hatch and start feeding quickly.

Coffee Grounds

You may also notice bed bugs are leaving feces behind on your belongings. In heavily infested homes, the droppings may be found on the bed, sheets, chairs, sofas, carpet, and curtains.

The fecal matter will consist of digested blood, so it will have a dark red, brownish color. Most people compare the droppings to speckles of dirt or coffee grounds.

Bites

Blood is a bed bug's only source of nutrition, so they will try to feed off you, your family, and any pets in the home.

If you are outdoors and bit by a spider or mosquito, you will most likely notice. However, the bite of a bed bug is small and usually occurs at night while you are asleep in bed. Therefore, you may not feel the bite at first. Bites may be clustered in one general area of your body, such as your hands, arms, legs, abdomen, or face.  If you find unexplained bug bites on your skin, they most likely stem from bed bugs.

Treating a bed bug infestation is possible, but you should act fast. With this guide, you will understand if you have a bed bug issue in your home.