You may like bringing souvenirs back from a road trip, but what about bed bugs? These parasitic pests aren't shy about invading Honolulu homes, and they don't need much time to take over your living space.
Fortunately, bed bug control can help you get rid of an infestation. Here's what Honolulu homeowners should know about bed bug signs, the symptoms of bed bugs, the problems they create, how bed bugs get in your house, and how pest control in Honolulu can help.
Easy-To-Spot Signs Of Bed Bugs In Your Home
Bed bugs rarely come out and announce their presence in your home, which means you've got to be on the lookout for the signs of bed bugs. Here are some easy-to-spot signs that could indicate a bed bug infestation in your Honolulu home:
Unexplained Odor
Does your bedroom, living room, or other rooms in your home have an unexplained odor? There are several types of pests that can emit odd smells, and bed bugs are one of them.
Bed bug pheromones have a musty, sweet smell, often compared to berries, and they can stink up a room. While the odor may not be apparent with early infestations, the smell will increase and become more noticeable as the bed bug problem becomes more extensive.
Dark Stains
With a bed bug infestation, you might start to notice dark fecal marks or bloodstains on your mattresses, bedding, or pillowcases; this happens when bed bugs defecate and also when they get crushed while they are crawling across your bed at night.
Itchy Bites
Does it seem like you are constantly waking up with itchy bug bites after a long night's sleep? While it's easy to assume new bug bites were left by mosquitoes or other outdoor pests, it's important to consider bed bugs as a culprit, especially if you're noticing the itchy bites in the morning or the off-season for mosquitoes.
It's important to note that not everyone has a reaction to bed bug saliva. Some people never develop noticeable bed bug bites, which is why it's crucial to be aware of other signs of bed bugs.
Eggs And Shell Casings
Bed bug eggs are approximately the size of a pin-head with white coloring and are found near areas of high bed bug activity. Shell casings are also light-colored but have the same basic shape as a live bed bug.
Live Or Dead Bugs
Because bed bugs are nocturnal, you may not become aware of live or dead bugs until the infestation has gotten severe. Adult bed bugs are around 1/4 of an inch long and are brown or reddish-brown in color. Their bodies are flat and oval-shaped. Adolescent bed bugs (nymphs) are smaller than adult bed bugs and are nearly colorless.
The Symptoms Of A Bed Bug Infestation
Most people associate itchy bites with bed bugs, but this isn't the only symptom of a bed bug infestation. Bed bugs can cause all sorts of problems in your Honolulu home, including:
Insomnia
With bed bugs biting you all night long, it's no wonder why homeowners may struggle to sleep in the midst of an infestation. You may not feel the bug bites while they're happening, but knowing that these pests have infested your home could make it hard to sleep. Many homeowners may become anxious once they discover an infestation, leading to insomnia.
Over time, a loss of sleep can impact productivity, mood, and other aspects of your health.
Impacted Mental Health
Any pest infestation can impact your mental health, but the lack of sleep and the itchy physical symptoms that bed bugs cause can be a recipe for poor mental health. While you may experience more stress and anxiety once you're aware of the infestation, these pests could still negatively affect your mood – even if you're unaware of them.
Allergies
Individual reactions to bed bugs can vary from person to person. Some members of your household may not have any reaction at all, while others experience extreme itchiness that won't go away.
Even if most people have a mild reaction to bed bugs, some individuals may have more extreme allergic reactions – like breaking out into hives or anaphylactic shock. These extreme reactions are very rare, but they can still happen.
Secondary Skin Infections
Although bed bugs don't spread infections directly, a bite can sometimes lead to a secondary skin infection. If you itch the bite until it becomes an open wound, you may get a secondary skin infection if you don't treat it properly. Secondary infections like impetigo, ecthyma, and lymphangitis are possible.
Anemia
While most infestations don't get this far, a severe bed bug problem could lead to anemia in you or someone who lives with you. In someone that already struggles with anemia, a severe bed bug problem could worsen the condition.
How Bed Bugs Find Their Way Into Our Homes
Where do bed bugs come from? Bed bugs are experts at traveling. These "hitchhikers" get around by latching on to things, including luggage, purses, backpacks, clothing, and more.
Most bed bug infestations start because you've traveled somewhere that already has a bed bug infestation – like an infested hotel, airport, train, or even a friend's house. If you've gone somewhere that already has bed bugs, these parasitical hitchhikers may latch onto your personal belongings or luggage and come home with you.
Unfortunately, bed bug "hot spots" can include almost any location with regular human activity, making these pests extremely difficult to prevent.
Even if you don't travel to a place where there are already bed bugs, you may catch these pests through used appliances and furniture. Bed bugs can congregate in secondhand appliances and furniture, so it's important to inspect used items before you buy them and bring them into your home.
Can you prevent bed bugs? Bed bugs are one of the trickiest pests to avoid. Here are some tips on how to prevent bed bugs in your Honolulu home.
- Don't store luggage, clothing, or other personal items on the floor when you're staying in hotel rooms, as this can be an easy way for bed bugs to get on your luggage and hitch a ride.
- Make sure you always wash suitcases, clothing, and other luggage when you return from a trip.
- When you're staying at a hotel or friend's house, make sure you double-check your lodging area for signs of bed bugs, such as looking under sheets, mattresses, or furniture.
- Always inspect secondhand furniture, clothes, and appliances for signs of bed bugs before you bring them into your home.
- Be cautious about taking furniture or appliances from dumpsters, curbs, or areas where you're not sure why the owners have thrown them out. If you do take furniture from a curb or dumpster, be sure to inspect it closely.
- Avoid cluttering up the floor with clothes, and be sure to vacuum regularly.
- Use dust-proof encasements on your mattress or box spring to create another barrier between you and potential bed bugs.
- Regularly check for warning signs of bed bugs in your home, like dark stains on your mattress, fecal matter or spots, shed skins, and egg shells on furniture.
If you suspect you have bed bugs, the best home pest control to kill bed bugs comes from working with the pros at Pest Tech Hawaii.
How To Get Rid Of Bed Bugs In Your Home For Good
Dealing with bed bugs can be extremely stressful physically and mentally, but contacting the pros at Pest Tech Hawaii can bring you peace of mind. The sooner you reach out for help with an infestation, the better. If you want to get rid of a bed bug infestation completely, you'll need home pest control services in Honolulu.
Not only can you count on us to provide reliable, effective treatments designed to eliminate bed bugs from your home completely, but our services also come with a 100% satisfaction guarantee.
If you're spotting the signs of bed bugs in your Honolulu home and suspect you've got an infestation, call us at Pest Tech Hawaii today for complete and total bed bug elimination.
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