You may find that on your skin, there are some red spots and you suspect that it is bitten by bed bugs. If so, you have to find bed bugs in places where you sleep such as the mattress and sheets and you can do that by using a flashlight since the bugs are very small.
Checking for Bed Bugs with Flashlight
The main tool to check bed bugs is a flashlight. You need this tool because bed bugs are very small and they hide in crevices. If you search for them without a flashlight, you may not see them. When you are searching for them with a flashlight, you have to make sure that you use a bright flashlight and it has fresh batteries. It is recommended for you to use an LED flashlight.
Another tool that you need for finding bed bugs is a magnifying glass. With it, you are able to see bed bug eggs clearly and freshly hatched bed bugs.
Collection containers are also needed by you. You can use resealable plastic bags, tightly capped vials, small jars and many more. These containers can be used by you to collect the bed bugs and their eggs that you find around your mattress.
As explained on the Michigan State University site, you may also need forceps or tweezers. It can be used to help you in collecting specimens. You may also need a probe for checking cracks if cracks and crevices are too deep to see into. A metal spatula, putty knife or thin nail file can be used by you to drive bed bugs out into the open. A probe can also be made by you by cutting a long, thin, triangular piece from an old credit-type card. You can use compressed air to flush bed bugs from hiding places in tight cracks.
You may also need hand tools that you can use to remove access panels or outlet covers to find bed bugs. You may need tools like pliers, screwdrivers and an adjustable wrench.
The last thing that you may also need when searching for bed bugs are alcohol wipes, baby wipes or alcohol and cotton swabs. These items can be helpful if you find spots that may be bed bug fecal stains or droppings. With the alcohol swabs, wipe or baby wipe, you can wipe the stain.
The Signs of The Existence of Bed Bugs On Your Mattress
When you find some red spots on your skin and you suspect that it is because of being bitten by bed bugs, you have to make sure of it by finding the signs of bed bugs on your mattress. Here are the signs that you have to find to indicate the existence of bed bugs on your mattress according to the United States Environmental Protection Agency.
- You have to find rusty or reddish stains on bed sheets or mattresses which are caused by bed bugs being crushed.
- You have to find dark spots which are bed bug excrement and may bleed on the fabric like a marker would.
- You have to find eggs and eggshells which are small and pale yellow skins that nymphs shed as they grow bigger.
- You have to find live bed bugs.
Places Bed Bugs Hide
Bed bugs usually hide in a variety of places. Around the bed, you can find them near the piping, seams and tags of the mattress and box spring, and in cracks on the bed frame and headboard. If your room is heavily infested, bed bugs can also be found in these places as also explained on the United States Environmental Protection Agency site.
- Bed bugs may be found between cushions, in the folds of curtains, in the seams of chairs and couches.
- Bed bugs may be found in drawer joints.
- Bed bugs may be found in electrical receptacles and appliances.
- Bed bugs may be found under loose wallpaper and wall hangings.
- Bed bugs may be found at the junction where the wall and the ceiling meet.
- Bed bugs may be found in the head of a screw.
Is It Possible to Be Able to See Bed Bugs with a Black Light?
You may wonder whether you are able to see bed bugs with a black light. The answer is no. You are not able to see a bed bug under black light. Nevertheless, blacklight technology is able to be used to locate bed bugs around your house.
As we know , finding bed bug infestations is difficult. You may be able to see them crawling all over. However, it is difficult for you to find their hiding place. Usually, bed bugs hide in cracks and crevices.
As explained on the Organic Lesson site, the black light can be used to detect bed bug trails which always lead to their hiding place. On that site, it is also explained that there are a lot of insects which see many spectrums of light and the UV ray has the largest wavelength and it is one of the beams a bed bug can see and they usually will run away from it.
If you want to find bed bugs with the UV lamp, you have to prepare your room. First, you have to clean up any potential hiding places. Then, you have to seal off all entries and exits to your bedroom. You also can paint over any cracks and you have to move beds to the center of the room. You can use your black light and then you have to follow the bedbug trail to the end. Heat or suffocation can be used by you to eradicate the bugs. However, it is better for you to get help from a professional if you are dealing with a bed bug infestation.
When Can We Call a Professional to Overcome the Bed Bugs?
You are able to call a professional like a bed bug exterminator near you if you cannot find the infestation on bed bugs on your own. It is also important for you to note that as explained on the LawnStarter site, managing a bed bug infestation requires removing or treating all infested materials. So, it is better if you call a professional in this case.
Let’s say that you call a pest control operator. If so, he will be able to inspect the suspected infested area and he will provide an extermination solution.
If you find that bed bugs symptoms are severe, bed bugs grow in large numbers and they expand their hiding areas or even re-infestation happens, calling a professional is the best thing that you can do.
