Signs You May Have Bed Bugs this Winter

As temperatures dip down, many bug problems go away for the season. Mosquitoes are all but gone, ants go down into their holes and both wasps and bees stop harassing you for the rest of the year. This isn’t the case with bed bugs though, because they never lived outdoors to begin with. These little blood suckers can become a problem at any time of the year, and it’s important that you know how to recognize them as soon as possible so you can quickly deal with an infestation.

Bites Aren’t a Good Indicator

Many people just look for bites when they are trying to find bed bugs, and this is not the best way to go about your investigation. Some people don’t react to the bites at all, which means they won’t notice symptoms of an infestation. Others just believe the bites are something else, and they don’t make the connection fast enough. So, if you notice small bites on your body, you should begin looking for other signs of bed bugs. If you don’t notice them, don’t just assume that you do not have a problem that needs dealing with in your home.

Look for Physical Evidence

There are a few physical signs that you can look for if you think you may have a bed bug infestation. The first is finding old, molted shells. Bed bugs molt these small clear shells as they grow to a larger size. They are little tiny hard shells and they stand out pretty well after the infestation grows in size. Look at the seams of your bed and in and around all the creases to try and find these signs.

Another sign that you’ll commonly see is feces marks or blood stains. Blood stains will appear on the sheets of your bed or on your clothing itself. Feces stains will show up on your sheets. The feces stains are brown or black and the blood stains will be the color of dried blood. Both are good indicators of a bed bug infestation.

If you notice any signs of an infestation, it’s important that you call and get professional help as soon as you can. Bed bugs are very difficult to get rid of, and the sooner you call in a professional, the sooner he can get to work solving this difficult problem for you.