What is this bug in my bed? We recently had several people call us, convinced that they have bed bugs. We contacted a local K9 inspector to bring in his dog to verify the location of the bugs so that we could accurately assess the treatment needed. However, in many instances, the dog did not alert to bed bugs. This was also verified by the inspector, who did not see any signs that a bed bug infestation was present.
So, if you find a bug, and you wonder, is this a bed bug, here are some characteristics to look for that are unique to this species.
Physical Description
First of all, adult bed bugs are about ¼ inch in size and are about the size of an apple seed. They tend to be brownish and flat unless they have recently eaten. Then, they become elongated and more reddish brown in color. They have six legs and 2 small antennae at the top of their head. They start as very small eggs that are whitish in color and are about ¼ of the size of a grain of rice. The eggs can be hard to notice on light surfaces, which is why the canine dog is very instrumental in confirming the location of the nesting areas of the common bed bug. The nymphs or babies are extremely hard to see and may be clear in color unless they have eaten. As they grow, their color changes from clear to bright red to reddish brown.
Other signs
Bed bugs shed their exoskeleton 5 times before becoming an adult. So you may notice yellowish encasements that look just like the creature. These can often be found in clusters as the bed bug is a nesting insect. They tend to huddle together and just rest in between feeding.
You may also notice blood smears on your bed where bites may continue to bleed after the bugs are done feeding. Fecal stains (little blackish-brown dots in clusters) are also a sign that bed bugs are present. READ MORE
What You Can Do
If you should positively determine that you have an infestation, we are here to help with treatment! We are firm believers in heat treatments for bed bug extermination. Heat treatment is the only eradication method that kills all the stages of the bed bug life cycle. READ MORE. If you find a bug and wonder, “Is this a bed bug,” we are happy to assist in lining up a K9 inspector to visit your home. This way you can find out if you have bed bugs or other insects biting you at night. Also, the canine can pinpoint the specific locations of adult bed bugs, baby bed bugs, and eggs. Then you won’t have to treat more than you need to. We have electric heaters that are great for treating a room or two. For larger bed bug infestations, we have large propane heaters to efficiently treat entire homes. Just give us a call. We are here to help!