There’s nothing better than settling down for a good night’s sleep on a cold Winter’s night – unless you’re joined by some uninvited house guests! Bed bugs are the vampires of the pest world and, unfortunately for us, their favourite meal is human blood. If you’re waking up to unwelcome itches, here’s how to know if you’ve been bitten by bed bugs.
How to identify bed bug bites
If you’ve spotted an insect bite but you haven’t yet identified the culprit, you may need to look a little further for clues. Bites aren’t the only thing bed bugs leave behind, so chances are you may be able to identify bed bugs from additional signs of infestation. If you’ve been sharing a bed with the blood-sucking critters, you may notice some blood specks on your sheets. You might also find additional clues in popular bed bug infestation areas such as cast skins (empty bug shells) and bug-sized faeces.
Bed bug bites commonly occur on areas of the body that are exposed during sleep such as the hands, neck, legs and arms. Although they may look similar to mosquito bites, bed bug bites will often appear in lines or grouped within a small area. Additional symptoms of bed bug bites include the following:
- Redness and swelling
- Itchiness and irritation
- Burning sensations
- Blistering at the bite site (in more extreme cases)
How to treat bed bug bites
If you’ve spotted a bed bug bite, you will need to keep the bitten area clean with warm water and soap. You should also avoid scratching the bite site (as difficult as it is), as this could lead to a secondary infection further down the line. Most bites will clear up within a matter of days. However, if symptoms persist or you develop an adverse reactions= to the bed bug bites, you may need to seek medical advice from your local doctor.
Bed bug control
Unfortunately for Perth homeowners, it’s very hard to get rid of bed bugs once they’ve infested. The common critters are survival experts, and can live for an entire year without feeding. Whilst washing bedding and vacuuming bed bug infestation sites may rid you of part of the problem, bed bugs are able to hide under mattresses and even in your walls. If you really want to rid your home of these common pests, you’ll need to organise professional bed bug treatments.
Pest control experts
At Bug Busters in Osborne park, our pest control technicians are highly trained in the safe and effective removal of bed bugs from Perth homes and businesses. Whether it’s insects or rodents, we provide one stop solutions to pest problems across the Perth metro area. If you’ve spotted signs of bed bugs, call Bug Busters today on 08 9493 1313 or fill out an online enquiry form to organise a bed bug removal service.