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NOVEMBER 18 2021 / HOME
Let's face it, bug bites are an inevitable part of life. If you're warm-blooded, you're going to get bitten by something. So, it is no wonder you've missed the first sign of a bed bug infestation.
Did you mistake those tiny little bites for spider bites? It's okay. Many people do. Because they don't realize that house spiders don't typically bite humans. Spiders are predatory insect that eats other insects. They don't eat blood. Therefore, they aren't interested in biting you.
If you wake up with a big nasty, itchy welt, that may be a spider bite. You could have twitched while you were sleeping and freaked that little spider out while it was crawling over you.
But if it was a spider, you'll usually only find a single, isolated bite.
Bed bugs bite multiple times through the night. Entomologists jokingly refer to bed bug bites as breakfast, lunch and supper. Those silly entomologists and their bed bug jokes. Silly.
You may have mistaken your bed bug bites for mosquito bites. This is also common.
Mosquito bites and bed bug bites can sometimes look similar.
Bed bug bites progress. They are small at first because bed bugs start feeding as babies.
At this stage, you'll know those bites aren't from mosquitoes, but they will be tiny, and most of the time lack the signature rash that accompanies bed bug bites.
Many people don't have a reaction at first. It takes many doses of the anticoagulant bed bugs use to thin blood before larger rashes become evident.
Sometimes those little bites may be confused for a gnat or black fly bites.
But you can tell by the pattern of bites what type of bite you're looking at. Bed bugs will often bite in a row. Flying insect bites will be more random.
If you suspect they are bed bugs, there are a few things you can do to check for bed bugs in your home.
If your infestation has grown large enough, you'll be able to find black fecal residue on the seams, corners and stitching of mattresses and upholstered furniture.
When bed bugs get large enough, you'll be able to see blood stains on your pillow cases or bed sheets.
Large bed bugs will shed casings in your bed.
You may also see these little rust-colored bugs crawling around on your bed, especially if you set your alarm for two in the morning and do a surprise inspection.
The single best way to find out if you have bed bugs is to hire a professional.
Look for a pest control company that has K-9 bed bug inspectors, like AmericanPest, which services Alexandria, Fairfax, and the rest of Northern Virginia.
Dogs are able to sniff out bed bugs at all stages of their development, even living bugs still inside their eggs sacks.
If you're waking up to small bug bites, examine them closely, and be sure to make a check for bed bugs. The longer you allow bed bugs to feed on you while you sleep, the harder it will be to eradicate these bugs from your home.
