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Bed Bugs

How Can I Tell if I Have Bed Bugs in My Indianapolis Home?

Your home should be a haven from all the stress and concerns of life. Invading pests can disrupt that peace and calm without warning. One of the most feared invaders is the bed bug. Unfortunately, Indianapolis has a growing concern with these pests, so it’s important to know how you can tell if you have bed bugs in your home.

What Do They Look Like?

Bed bugs are notorious for being very tiny and hiding in discreet places. If you can catch a glimpse, however, you will recognize them by their reddish-brown, oval-shaped, wingless bodies. They are roughly the size of an apple seed. Immature bed bugs are smaller and have a translucent whitish-yellow color. They often hide in the crevices of furniture, so you will probably have to go searching in order to find them. More often than not, you will notice the evidence of their existence before you see one roaming around.

What are the Signs of Bed Bugs?

The evidence left behind by bed bugs will probably be the first indication that you might have a problem. These include:

  • Bites – often in a line or zig-zag pattern, raised, red and very itchy on skin exposed while sleeping.
  • Bloodstains on your sheets
  • Eggs or fecal droppings on upholstery
  • Molting or skin that has shed
  • A musty odor

How to Find Bed Bugs:

The first step to finding bed bugs is to check all of your bedding for live bugs, bloodstains and fecal droppings.

Second, check your mattress and box springs for evidence of bed bugs. Make sure to check in all the crevices and seams.

Third, check around outlets, baseboards and other areas such as the carpet or objects near the area for signs of bed bugs.

Fourth, check you and your family’s skin for bites. The bites do not always appear the same from person to person, so check for any unusual bites and itchiness.

Fifth, inspect clothing, curtains and any other piece of furniture where bed bugs may have found a resting place.

Next Steps:

If you find live bugs or other evidence of an infestation, it’s important to take action quickly to prevent the further expansion of the bugs. You will need to thoroughly wash any bedding in hot water and dry them on the hottest setting. Upholstery should be cleaned and vacuumed frequently. It’s a good idea to encase your mattress in a zipped cover to entrap and kill any remaining bed bugs. Finally, you may need to seek professional help if you are unable to contain the problem on your own. An expert can safely and effectively remove the bed bugs to ensure your home is once again bug-free.

The news of a bed bug infestation can be shocking and overwhelming. If you suspect these pesky creatures may have made their way into your home, a professional at Trio Pest Control is standing by to help your Indianapolis home once again become a peaceful refuge. Give us a call today to set up an appointment and we can devise a plan that is right for you family.

Categories
Bed Bugs

Is Indianapolis Known For Bed Bugs?

Bed bugs are icky, oval shaped bugs that come out from behind your bed’s headboard or under your night stand at night to eat. Although they only eat for a few minutes while you’re sleeping, bed bugs live by sucking the blood of their hosts. Unlike ticks, bed bugs do not stay attached to their host but rather nest somewhere near where their host sleeps. Indianapolis consistently ranks in the top ten most bed bug infested cities in the United States. Staying on top of preventing bed bugs from coming into your home or quickly eradicating an infestation involves hiring the best pest control company.  If you are an Indianapolis resident, do not let your home become home to a bunch of blood sucking insects. Learn the best tips to keep bed bugs out and know who to call when you discover the first signs of a bed bug infestation.

Prevention

Bed bugs can be picked up from a number of places other than beds, unlike their name implies. In fact, bed bugs can infest any place with soft fabrics including carpet, car seats, or even other people’s purses or bags.

  • Making sure never to put your purse, backpack, or bag on carpeted floors in airports or restaurants is a good rule so that bed bugs never have the chance to climb into your bag and hitch a ride to your home.
  • After traveling, do not put your suitcase or duffle bag down on your carpet, immediately shower, and put your clothes in the wash on high heat.
  • Regularly check your mattress and sheets for:
    • Oval shaped exoskeletons
    • Tiny brown or red stains on your sheets and mattress

Treatment

If you discover any signs of bed bugs or have unexplained bites on your arms, shoulders, or neck, give a trusted pest control company a call immediately. Bed bugs can multiply quickly and soon you could have an intense infestation on your hands. Bed bugs can be extremely difficult to eradicate and hiring a trained pest professional is the quickest and easiest way to eliminate every bed bug from your home.

If you do not immediately eliminate a bed bug infestation, it will only get worse and spread to more places in your home. Whatsmore, you could even be spreading the bed bugs to your friends and family members’ homes as well. While some people do not esee the bites that bed bugs leave behind, others can have a trail of itchy bites on their arms or neck, and others, though more rarely, can even have an allergic reaction to the bites.

If you are in Indianapolis and discover, like thousands of other residents, that you have bed bugs, give the trusted team at Trio Pest Control a call today so you can stop worrying and get back to sleeping.