Not 20 years ago, tracking sleep was an arduous and difficult task. It required large equipment and uncomfortable breathing apparatuses to do properly. If you took a sleep study before the 21st century, you know what we are talking about. In our modern-day and age, there are many easier ways to track sleep. Using a smartwatch or similar device, you can find out how many hours of rem sleep you are getting each night. What this technology cannot tell you is whether or not your sleep is being disturbed by bed bugs.
To help you identify these invasive pests inside your Tampa home, here are a few signs you should be aware of.
Identifying A Live Bed Bug
Bed bugs are among some of the most elusive pests on the planet. Despite coming in contact with people regularly, these invasive insects often prove difficult to spot. Many people believe this to be because they are too small to see; this is not true.
An adult bed bug is the size of an apple seed and has a distinct reddish-brown color. The reason you rarely see these pests is due to when they decide to come out of hiding. The only time bed bugs come out is after their host (the person they are feeding on) goes to sleep. In short, if your home has a bed bug infestation, your chances of seeing one of these pests for yourself are low.
Other Signs Bed Bugs Leave Around Homes
Because bed bugs themselves are difficult to spot, you must learn some other ways to identify these pests. Here are a few signs bed bugs leave behind and where to look for them around your Tampa home.
- Bloodstains: When a bed bug finishes with a blood meal, it dribbles any excess fluids it can not carry. If bed bugs are regularly feeding, you may find dried blood spots around the area you sleep.
- Fecal droppings: A bed bug's excrement is dark red when fresh and a rusty color when fully dried. You'll find this pest's fecal matter along baseboards, around outlets, near sleeping areas, and inside cracks and other tight spaces around your home.
- Bites: A bed bug rarely bites only one time. If these pests are biting you at night, you may notice red marks on your skin in the morning. These raised welts typically appear in a straight line or zig-zag pattern.
Where You Might Pick Up Bed Bugs
You'll find bed bugs in indoor areas where people congregate. If a place offers people a place to sleep or rest for a while, bed bugs are more likely to be around. Here are just a few hotspots where you might run into these hitchhiking pests.
- Hospitals
- Daycares
- Schools
- Movie theaters
- Hotels
- Air B&Bs
- Homes
What To Do If You Find Bed Bugs In Your Tampa Home
Because of the nature of bed bugs, it is difficult to avoid bringing them home. If bed bugs are crawling around inside your house and you are looking for a fast way to get them out, trust the experts at EcoTech Pest Control Services. Using advanced equipment and industry-leading bed bug control strategies, we eliminate these pests from your living areas and ensure that they do not hide and reinfest your home later.
Give our team a call now to discuss our bed bug control offerings and find a quick and easy solution to your Tampa home's bed bug problems. Learn more about our home pest control and commercial pest control services.