Bed bugs have started becoming a serious issue all across the United States, but conditions in West Palm Beach have led to an explosion of infestations over the past few years. Warm, humid weather and constant travel help these pests thrive and move from place to place, and they often go unnoticed until the problem becomes serious.
Bed bugs don’t spread diseases, but they can cause anxiety, itching, and allergic reactions, so it is a good idea to spot the signs of an infestation as early as possible. Don’t give these elusive pests the chance to spread.
Key Takeaways
- West Palm Beach is especially vulnerable to bed bugs because of it’s warm climate and tourism.
- Early detection is crucial when it comes to bed bug infestations. The longer you wait, the more complicated and expensive treatment becomes.
- Catching bed bug infestations early helps reduce bed bug spread, anxiety, itching, and insomnia.
- The most effective way to eliminate bed bugs completely is to get the help of a trained professional.
Why Early Detection Matters
Spotting signs of a bed bug infestation early on makes a huge difference in how difficult it will be to get rid of them.
One reason for that is the sub-tropical climate in West Palm Beach. The warm, humid weather helps bed bugs transition through the stages of their lifecycle very quickly, allowing them to reach maturity much faster. Since a single female bed bug can lay 100s of eggs in her lifetime, this situation leads to exponential population growth.
All it takes to start a full-blown infestation is for one or two bed bugs to settle into a hiding spot near a reliable food source. Once that happens, bed bugs begin to multiply and as their numbers increase they end up hiding in increasingly hard-to-reach areas, like wall outlets, bed springs, and even behind walls where they can travel between units.
Here are the main benefits to detecting a bed bug infestation early:
- Treating bed bugs is cheaper and less invasive in the early stages, especially with the help of experienced professionals.
- You can reduce health risks like chronic stress, insomnia, allergic reactions, and itchy bite marks on your skin.
- Bed bugs are less likely to spread into other areas of the house (or neighboring homes).
→ Call Nextgen Pest Solutions’ West Palm Beach office today for a free inspection.
Common Signs of Bed Bug Infestation
It’s one thing to say that early detection is important, but it isn’t very helpful if you don’t know what to look for. Here are some of the most common signs that show up when you are dealing with a bed bug infestation.
Bite Marks
Bite marks are one of the first things that people notice when they have a bed bug infestation. Bed bugs go after the easiest targets, so exposed skin on the arms, legs, and neck are common feeding grounds. The bite marks are small and they appear in specific patterns, like clusters, zig-zag lines, and straight lines.
Although they are small, bed bug bites can cause allergic reactions and infections, leading to red, itchy welts. They are often misidentified as mosquito bites but knowing that bed bugs leave several bite marks in the same location (and often in a pattern) can help you tell the difference between the two.
If you or the people you live with keep waking up with small bite marks on exposed areas of skin, it is time to call a reputable pest management company like Nextgen Pest Solutions for a thorough inspection of all sitting and sleeping areas in your home or business.
Stains on Your Bedding
Another common sign is staining on your bedding. There are a couple of different types of stains that are possible and they usually show up in specific areas.
The first type of stain that you’ll likely notice is blood. Blood stains can come from crushed bed bugs that have recently fed or from the feeding site itself. Look for blood stains around the feeding area itself (where people sit or sleep) like pillows, sheets, and upholstered furniture.
Another common type of stain that you’ll see are a much darker red, often appearing as dark brown or black. These stains are bed bug droppings (digested blood), and you’ll usually see them closer to where bed bugs are hiding.
Check headboards, mattress seams, between layers of bedding, and anywhere else these insects might be hiding. However, because of their flat bodies and ability to hide in very tight spaces, it can be challenging to find the evidence you are looking for. If you want to inspect your sleeping area on your own, be sure to have a very bright light, a magnifying glass, and a flat tool (like a butterknife) with you.
Eggs and Shed Skins
Other important signs to look for are eggs and shed skins. Both indicate an active, growing bed bug population, and they can be found in the same areas that you looked for the bed bug droppings. Check suspected nesting areas like mattress seams, joints in furniture frames, electrical outlets, behind wallpaper, and other similar locations.
Bed bug eggs are very small, often no larger than 1 mm. They are pearly-white and have an oval shape similar to a grain of rice. They are also smooth and glossy, making them distinguishable from dust and other small white debris that may be built up inside of bed bug hiding areas.
Shed skins are also most commonly found near nesting areas, but they can be easier to spot than the eggs. When bed bugs molt as part of their natural growing process, they leave behind a translucent shell that looks like an empty bed bug.
A Sweetish, Musty Odor
Another sign of bed bugs is an odor that many describe as being a little bit sweet and musty, like a combination of overripe fruit and moldy laundry. The smell comes from the pheromones that bed bugs release to communicate with each other.
While in small infestations it is unlikely that you’ll be able to detect the smell, large populations (especially in closed-off spaces like cupboards and drawers) give off enough pheromones for us to smell them. If you do smell bed bugs in your home or business, you may be dealing with a very large and well-established infestation, and it is advisable to schedule a professional inspection as soon as possible.
Protect Your West Palm Beach Home or Business From Bed Bugs
Bed bugs are persistent pests and they can be difficult to locate, but with the right approach you can take control and protect your West Palm Beach property from bed bugs. Effective bed bug removal begins with a thorough inspection and ends with the successful completion of an integrated pest management plan that is tailored to your specific situation.
Keep a close eye out for the common signs, but if you are unsure of what to look for or what to do once you spot them, you can schedule a free, same-day inspection from one of our experts.
FAQs
Can bed bugs survive outdoor conditions in West Palm Beach’s climate, or do they only infest indoor spaces?
Bed bugs can survive outdoors but they thrive indoors where they are close to their hosts.
Are there effective home remedies or DIY treatments for small bed bug infestations, or is professional help always necessary?
Nearly all DIY methods focus only on reducing the numbers of adult bed bugs. For total elimination, professional services are necessary.
How long does it typically take to fully eliminate a bed bug infestation in West Palm Beach once treatment begins?
Advanced treatments that use extreme heat or cold can be very fast (often single visit), but we still recommend follow-up visits for up to 5 or 6 weeks to be sure that none were missed.
What should I do with my clothing, bedding, and furniture during and after a bed bug treatment to prevent reinfestation?
You should also wash and seal any infested items that you have. Be sure that there is no contact between infested items and non-infested/treated items.
