Bed bugs expert reveals how to spot signs of infestation
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Bed bugs can leave painful bites on your skin, but you might not even know that you have an infestation because there are only a few signs to look out for. It’s really important to regularly check for bed bugs, seeing as just a small number of them can rapidly grow into a full-scale infestation.
Bed bugs are tiny parasitic insects that tend to live in bedding or around the bed frame.
Despite their name, they don’t necessarily just leave on the bed, and they can actually be found in all rooms of the house.
They usually hide away during the day, and then come out at night to feed.
They slowly crawl onto any exposed areas of skin, and then suck on blood for food.
One of the first signs of a bed bugs infestation is an unusual smell.
You might wander into your bedroom and think there’s a general musty or sweet smell in the air, according to Bed Bugs Insider.
The musty smell could be confused for damp, while some people are compared it to the sweet scent of cinnamon.
The smell is generally quite subjective, but any unusual change to the scent of your home should be investigated.
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“Bed bugs are one of many bugs that give off odour,” it said. “However, you might disagree with others as to what they smell like.
“People compare the smell to all sorts of different things, like mothballs, rotten wood and damp, and even raspberries.
“The more severe the infestation, the stronger the smell will be. If you live with an infestation, you might get used to the smell.
“But, if you’re not used to it, and you go somewhere there are bed bugs, the smell will be immediately obvious.”
Bed bugs use their scent to navigate around the room, it added.
They release hormones so they can find their way back to their home after feeding.
When they’re frightened, however, they release a different type of smell.
You’re more likely to sniff their scaredy scent when you lift up the mattress or start knocking the bed.
Often the first signs of a bed bug infestation are spotting their distinctive bites on the skin.
The bites tend to be red and very itchy, and they’re usually found in a line across the skin.
If you think that you have bed bugs, you should contact your local pest control service.
If you don’t eradicate all of the bed bugs from your home, they may come back again in the future.
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