How to Identify Bed bugs

Bed Bugs Are Back

Some things really should just stay out of fashion. Bed bugs, long dismissed as a pest endured by our ancestors, have crept back into modern life. If you visit a place that is infested with bed bugs, they can hitch a ride in your suitcase to begin a new colony in your house. You can't judge a bed bug by its bite. That nasty welt on your leg could have just as easily been caused by a flea or a mosquito. Here are some things you'll want to know about bed bugs, including what to do about them.

What Are Bed Bugs, Anyway?

Bed bugs (Cimex lectularius) are non-flying, bloodsucking insects that have adapted to living close to their food source. That means us. When they bite, they take a few drops of blood and inject saliva into our skin. Over time and repeated exposure, some people can become sensitized to bed bug saliva and develop irritations or even allergic reactions. Even then, some people chalk up such a skin reaction to a nighttime visit from a mosquito or spider. To most, however, their bite feels innocuous, so most people don't know they've been bitten.

Bed bugs are quite stealthy and find their way into homes, apartments, and hotels by quietly crawling into and onto backpacks, suitcases, boxes, thrifted clothes, and used furniture, then hitching a ride to their next destination. They like to hide in dark, tight places, and they're also very patient. They're able to hang around for months waiting on a meal, and can live a long time, well over a year if the conditions are favorable. However, they don't just come out in the dark; bed bugs will venture into the light if they're hungry enough. 

Their nocturnal nature means that bed bugs can go undetected for long periods of time. Left unchecked, they can lay eggs and reproduce at a rapid rate of three or more generations every 12 months. While the average adult bed bug lives just a couple of months, some can survive up to a year, even without a blood meal.

What Do Bed Bugs Look Like?

Knowing exactly what you’re dealing with is the first step in any good pest control plan. Learn these characteristics of adult bed bugs so you can confidently identify them:

• 6 legs
• 2 small antennae
• Wingless
• Reddish-brown color
• Approximately ¼ inch long with a flat, oval-shaped body (about the same size and shape of an apple seed)
• Bed bugs appear darker, larger, and rounder after feeding.
• Young bed bugs (nymphs) will look similar to adults, but smaller and lighter in color.

How to Check for Bed Bugs

Since bed bugs are nocturnal and only come out of hiding to feed, they can be hard to find. Bed bugs are small, and their flat bodies fit into tight, dark places where you might not see them or think to look. In other words, these pests are really great at hiding. Check for bed bugs in mattress seams and puckers, inside and underneath nightstands, and in and around items kept near your bed, such as clocks and phones.

If you’re unable to find a live one, then look for these telltale signs they leave behind:

• Blood stains. Since bed bugs feed on blood, look for dark red or rust-colored stains on your bedding and pajamas.
• Fecal marks. Bed bug excrement is often liquid and will look like tiny black ink marks that have bled into fabrics.
• Molted skins. Bed bugs will shed their skin 5 times before they reach adulthood. If you find a lot of skin casings, then it could mean bed bugs have been present for several weeks, or even longer.
• Egg casings. Female bed bugs can lay multiple eggs per day. They're about the size of a speck of dust and have a whitish color. You'll likely find them hidden in secluded areas, such as seams and tufts of a mattress.
• A musty, "buggy" odor. This usually signals a pretty large infestation, but can be another clue in determining if you have a bed bug problem.

If you've looked and don't see bed bugs or signs of them but are still concerned they may be lurking in the shadows, a bed bug detector can help monitor and detect if you have an infestation. Ortho® Home Defense Max® Bed Bug Trap is an easy-to-use station that detects and traps bed bugs. This trap has an attractant that you activate before placing it under your bed or between the mattress and box spring, in a place that's closest to where your head is when you sleep. You can also place it in bed bugs' other hiding hangouts, such as under a recliner chair leg or sofa cushion.

If bed bugs are present, a few will end up in this trap. When that happens, it's time to take steps to get rid of them, and fast. After treatment, use the detector again just to confirm that bed bugs are gone. If there are no bed bugs in the trap after 2 weeks, and no new signs of bed bugs (new bites, fecal droppings, eggs etc), there are probably no bed bugs in your home. 

How to Control Bed Bugs

Bed bugs can be hard to control and require a multi-pronged approach. Use these tips to kill bed bugs in your home.

• For curtains, mattresses, furniture, and even luggage use Ortho® Home Defense Max® Bed Bug Killer. The aerosol kills bed bugs fast, including pyrethroid-resistant ones, and will keep killing bed bugs for up to 16 weeks on non-porous (ceramic) surfaces.
• Use Ortho® Home Defense Max® Bed Bug, Flea & Tick Killer with the Comfort Wand® to kill bed bugs hiding in the carpet and along baseboards.
• Kill bed bugs hiding in cracks and crevices with Ortho® Home Defense Max® Bed Bug & Flea Killer Powder.

For more in-depth information, check out How to Get Rid of Bed Bugs.

When your bed bug problem is substantial, it may be best to contact a professional for treatment. If you rent your home, contact your landlord about having the property treated for bed bugs. Be sure that adjacent apartments are treated, too, since bed bugs can travel between walls. If you own your own home, contact a pest control company.