It may be hard to tell if your Moline home has bed bugs. Bed bugs can be difficult to identify. But if you learn the warning signs and can identify what their bites look like, you will be better prepared to recognize a problem. If you do see warning signs, you need to get a professional inspection and treatment right away, if possible. If you can stop the infestation early, you have a better chance of eliminating it completely with as little disruption to your home as possible.
Why Bed Bugs are a Serious Problem
Bed bugs can infest a home rather quickly. They live by feeding on humans, biting and having a blood meal. Their bites can cause itching and unsightly bumps. Bed bugs can also trigger allergies in some people. Occasionally people develop secondary infections from bed bug bites because they can’t stop scratching.
Bed Bugs Can Be Difficult to Identify
Bed bugs are relatively small and they resemble a dark-colored apple seed with legs. They tend to hide out in secluded places such as behind outlet covers, in the cracks of walls, behind wallpaper, behind wall hangings, inside books and drawers, in loose molding, and especially in the seams of mattresses and box springs. They resemble other bugs when full grown, so they are often overlooked. In the egg and nymph phase, they are extremely small and clear or light in color and easy to miss.
Warning Signs of Bed Bugs
Bed bugs leave tell-tale signs. They shed their skins several times in their growth process so you may find discarded skins. They also leave behind feces which shows up as small black smears on your mattress or elsewhere. When they feed, they can excrete blood so you may find blood stains on your sheets or mattresses. The number-one warning sign that people usually recognize first is bed bug bites which can be anywhere on exposed skin. These bites usually come in clusters and, because arms and neck are usually exposed during sleep, are common bite locations.
Why Get Professional Treatment
Bed bugs are not a pest that can be treated on your own. If ignored, these blood-eating pests can cause huge problems for your family. Professional pest control is the only option if you suspect bed bugs in your home in the Moline or throughout the Quad City area's. At Quik-Kill, we have a variety of methods that can eliminate bed bugs. Contact us today for an inspection and treatment options. We utilize a bed bug detecting K-9, heat treatments, chemical treatments, mattress encasements, and our Home Guardian + Bed Bug plan.