How To Tell If Your West Palm Beach Home Has A Bed Bug Problem

Bed bugs are one pest that you might dread finding in your West Palm Beach home. It is certainly an unpleasant feeling to go to sleep at night knowing that bed bugs are sharing the same room as you.

Fortunately, we specialize in providing thorough bed bug treatments that will quickly and completely eliminate them from your home.

However, there are some misconceptions about bed bugs. While they are aptly named since they do live in mattresses and box springs of beds, they hide in other areas of houses as well.

We have found bed bugs hiding in areas including couches, chairs, tables, electrical outlets, popcorn ceilings, picture frames, headboards, suitcases, and baseboards. 

Another myth about bed bugs is that they are invisible to the human eye. While they are quite small, you can definitely see them if you know where to find them. They are about the size of an apple seed and during the day while you are awake they hide in cracks and crevices. Approximately 70-80% of bed bugs can be found within three feet of the headboard of the affected bed.

Since you can see bed bugs, knowing what they look like can be a useful way to identify them. Here is what bed bugs look like:

• They are a red-brown color.

• They are usually flat except after they've had a blood meal.

• They have small heads compared to their bodies.

• Their bodies have a ribbed look.

• You can often spot their fecal matter in areas they frequently hide including the seams of mattresses and cracks and crevices of headboards.

What You Should Know About Bed Bug Bites

While you definitely can see bed bugs, there are other signs of an infestation you'll likely notice first. Once you suspect bed bugs, searching your bedroom with a bright flashlight will help you confirm if they truly are present in your home.    One of the first and most obvious signs of bed bugs are the bites you may find on yourself of a member of your family. These bites can appear anywhere that your skin is exposed while you're sleeping. Bed bug bites usually show up in rows or zig-zag patterns, and they can be itchy and red.   While these bites can be quite uncomfortable, bed bugs fortunately aren't known to transmit diseases through their bites.

However, the bites can cause secondary infections through scratching, and severe cases can lead to anemia. Bed bugs can also lead to trouble sleeping and insomnia.

What Are Other Signs Of Bed Bugs in West Palm Beach?

While it's likely you'll find bed bugs in your bedroom, they can also spread to other areas of your house, especially as the infestation grows. You may find them on furniture, curtains, and cloth items of all kinds.    Knowing the signs that bed bugs leave behind can help you identify and remove them faster.

• Look for bloodstains on sheets and pillowcases.

• Watch out for small, rusty spots on mattresses, sheets, and even walls.

• Be aware that a sudden musty odor is also a common sign of an infestation.

• Keep an eye out for bed bug nymphs that are smaller and a whitish color.

• Look around your bed and baseboards to check for discarded bed bug skins.

What You Should Do If You Have Bed Bugs in West Palm Beach

Because of the difficulty in eliminating bedbugs, the best thing to do when you identify the presence of bed bugs is to contact your local pest control experts at Native Pest Management. With over 3,000 five star reviews across Google, Yelp, HomeAdvisor, Facebook, Angie's List, and Nextdoor, we know what it takes to get rid of bedbugs for good.

It's nearly impossible to eliminate an infestation yourself, but our trained, experienced technicians can quickly and effectively remove every bed bug in your West Palm Beach, FL area home to ensure that they don't keep coming back.

Instead of spending countless hours trying to deal with a bed bug problem on your own, give us a call today to request a free quote or book a bed bug removal service.