What Are The Early Signs of Bed Bugs?

 What Are The Early Signs of Bed Bugs?

Nobody wants to have to deal with bed bugs. They’re small, hard to see and can make your nights downright uncomfortable. The secret to handling them? Catch the problem early!

Here’s a beginner’s guide to identifying the signs of bed bugs and making the first move to a restful, pest-free home.

1. Blood Spots on Your Mattress or Sheets

Bedbugs drink your blood as you sleep, and they can be slobs about it. If they’ve eaten, they might leave small blood marks often on mattress seams or edges, or your sheets.

But these lesions are not bright red. Rather, they’re more likely to appear as little brown or rusty flecks. These marks could be the result of squished bugs or dried droppings.

2. Bite Marks on Your Skin

Waking up with new bites? That’s one of the most common signs of a bed bug problem. Their bites are usually:

• Small and red

• Very itchy

• Found in lines or clusters, especially on arms, legs, neck, or back
  

They are commonly mistaken for mosquito bites, but bed bug bites look different and tend to have several bites in a row, typically after spending the night in a bed or an infested area.

3. Unusual Odours in the Room

Bed bugs have a unique smell when they are threatened. This odour is a result of their “alarm pheromones.” The odour is typically reported as sweet but musty, a bit like overripe fruit or soggy towels.

If your room strangely smells and feels musty, and there isn’t an obvious cause, that may be a red flag.

4. Shed Skins and Tiny White Eggs

When bed bugs become larger, they moult out of their exoskeleton. They are papery, almost transparent, and are pale brown and may be located along the margins of mattresses, cracks in bed frames, and even behind baseboards.

You might also see their eggs, which are:

• Tiny (about 1mm)

• White or off-white

• Found in hidden spots like mattress folds, fabric seams, and furniture joints
  

Spotting these is a strong sign that bed bugs are actively living and breeding in your space.

5. Others in the House Have the Same Problem

If you’ve got other family members or housemates who are waking up with bites or experiencing similar symptoms, chances are it’s far from a coincidence. Bed bugs are known to travel from room to room, sometimes even moving using shared furniture or laundry. And if more than one person in the household is affected, it’s time to act quickly.

What To Do Next

Should you notice any of the signs above, don’t delay. Bedbugs reproduce quickly, and it’s a waste of time to try do-it-yourself treatment for a full infestation.

✅ Bring in a professional pest control service immediately.

✅ Do not move beds or furniture between rooms to avoid contamination.

✅ Launder bedding and clothing in high heat so you can use the washing machine and dryer to kill any uninvited bugs or eggs.

Final Thoughts

Now that you've read about what to look for, you're well-equipped to prevent bed bugs from taking over your home. The key to being safe is staying vigilant and getting help early.

Still unsure? It’s never a bad idea to have a reliable pest control professional come by for a quick inspection, just in case.

Acme Termite Treatment Ellenbrook offers all pest control services in Ellenbrook and surroundings. Feel free to contact us at (08) 6186 7473 or visit our website:

https://acmetermitetreatment.com.au/