How to Tell If You Have Bed Bugs

I used to get little red spots on my arms or legs and wonder if I had just gotten bit by a mosquito or a spider. Little did I know, I had a bed bug infestation, which explained the red, itchy spots that looked like mosquito bites. There are many things you can look for to identify a bed bug infestation.

What to look for. Itchy skin welts on body, blood smears on bed, Tiny dark spots on sheets, box springs or the mattress, which are the bed bugs fecal droppings and dried remains of bed bug skin are all things to look for when determining whether or not you have a bed bug infestation.

Bed bug bites. Most people do not have any kind of reaction to bed bug bites, but some do and the bites usually appear red, itchy, inflamed and may resemble a welt. Most people just have small red bumps that itch and is usually painless.

Where bed bugs are found. Check around the edges of bedding and box springs for black spots, which will be a sign of a bed bug infestation. Lift up the sheets and look at the mattress itself for black spots, which will usually be in the corners of the mattress. You should then lift up the mattress and look at the top of box springs, which is even more common of a nesting spot because they can still reach the host while remaining hidden.

Find bed bugs early. The sooner you find the bed bugs, the better off you will be due to the spreading of the nest. Bed bugs tend to have more than one nest and the longer you go without getting rid of the infestation, the more risk you take in the bed bug nest spreading to more locations, like the couch or chairs.