One of the more common Tennessee pests is the bed bug. Although most people know enough to fear bed bugs, they don’t know how to tell when there’s an infestation. Find out how you can know if bed bugs are around, and learn what you should do to get rid of them.
Bed Bugs In Tennessee
Bed bugs are parasites that feed on human and animal blood. Despite their small size, bed bugs are visible to the human eye. If you look at one closely, you’ll see a small insect that’s reddish-brown and flat. After it feeds, a bed bug loses its flat appearance and becomes both rounder and redder.
Before you see an actual bed bug, you’ll probably find evidence of a bed bug bite. Bed bugs don’t have a painful bite like many other household pests. In fact, you probably won’t even know that you’ve been a victim of a bite. It’s not until a few hours later that you’ll notice an itchy red bump.
Bed bugs are nocturnal and will wait until you’re resting to feed. If you wake up in the morning with bite marks, it is likely that bed bugs are hiding out in your home.
Five Signs Of Bed Bugs On Your Property
If you have bed bugs in your Tennessee property, you need to act quickly. Be on the lookout for the following signs of bed bugs in your home or business:
- Bed Bug Bites: If you have bites on your body, you could have bed bugs. Although they can bite you anywhere, bed bugs tend to prefer biting exposed areas of your body. They often attack the neck, hands, and face of their victims. Unlike mosquito bites, these bites often appear in the morning and are likely to be in a line or cluster.
- Red Stains: Are there red stains on your sheets and pillowcases that you can’t explain? You could be looking at blood stains from bed bug bites. They often leave behind stains.
- Excrement Stains: When bed bugs defecate, their feces stains your surfaces. Typically, they leave those stains on your walls, sheets, and mattresses. If you know where to look, you might see small rust-colored spots.
- Shed Skins: Over time, bed bugs shed their skins. Those skins are often light in color and tend to be accompanied by many more shed skins. You might find them in furniture, at the edge of a carpet, or on your bed frame.
- Foul Smell: That musty smell in your home could be a sign of bed bugs. Equipped with scent glands, bed bugs emit a musty smelling odor. If you can’t find another cause of the odor, you might have bed bugs.
What Should You Do?
While bed bug infestations are always serious, infestations in businesses tend to have the direst consequences. Whatever business you own, a bed bug infestation could destroy your reputation. It may keep customers from coming to you and result in a loss of revenue.
Because there’s so much at stake, you should always be on the lookout for bed bugs. Before you start experiencing the discomfort of bed bug bites, look for signs of their presence. When you first suspect an issue, call a professional pest control company.
Here at Proven Pest Management, we’re ready to identify and treat your bed bug infestation. Whether you have a home or business, we can help you. Our team has the experience and resources needed to make a difference. If you’re ready to get started, give us a call now.
