Nocturnal, tiny, and good at playing hide and seek, bed bugs are elusive blood suckers that may be hard to detect if you don’t know what to look for. Here are some characteristics to help you identify them:

• Brown to reddish brown in color
• Flat and oval in shape
• The size of an apple seed
• Six legs
• No wings (bed bugs crawl, they don’t fly)

While You Were Sleeping…

You wake up several mornings in a row to find itchy red spots on your arms that weren’t there before. It’s apparent that something has been nibbling on you during the night. Are there bugs in your bed? But you keep a clean house, so how did you get bugs? Bed bugs are not interested in dust, dirt, crumbs left behind by messy eaters, or rotting wood like other nasty pests. They feed off the blood of humans and animals, and when they are hungry they may look to you to become their next nibble.

Hot Spots for Bed Bugs to Hide

Bed bugs get their names honestly because they are often found on or near mattresses. That is because they feed at night, and you, their food source, are usually tucked into your bed sleeping. And because they don’t like the light, they are very good at finding dark places to hide, such as:

• Furniture upholstery
• Cracks and crevices along the floorboards or walls
• Rugs
• Clothing
• Boxes
• Piles of newspapers or magazines

Signs of a Bed Bug Infestation

Since these tiny pests stay hidden until it’s time for them to dine, it’s probably easier to spot the signs these spoilsports leave behind. Once you discover bites on your arms, neck, or head, the next place to check is your mattress and sheets. Look for rusty stains from the crushed bugs. And look for tiny clusters of brown or black spots on the mattress, especially along the seams. This is their excrement—a sure sign that the uninvited guests are enjoying a slumber party at your expense.

If you suspect you may have a bed bug infestation, call Green Pest Solutions at 877-636-9469 right away. We’ll make sure you rest easy and pest free.