Blood stains on sheets and pillowcases
When bed bugs bite, they inject an anticoagulant. This stops the blood from clotting.
When the bug has finished feeding, the bites can continue to bleed for some time.
Bed bugs have a hollow tube like mouthpart, called a proboscis, which they use to suck up blood.
This is why a person may notice tiny spots of blood on their bedsheets or pillows.
Blood stains on sheets and pillowcases
When bed bugs bite, they inject an anticoagulant. This stops the blood from clotting.
When the bug has finished feeding, the bites can continue to bleed for some time.
Bed bugs have a hollow tube like mouthpart, called a proboscis, which they use to suck up blood.
This is why a person may notice tiny spots of blood on their bedsheets or pillows.
Spotting the shells, skin, or casings of a bed bug
Spotting shed skin in or around the bed is one of the surest signs a person may have a big problem on their hands.
This cast skin is actually the moulted exoskeleton of the bug and indicates a bed bug infestation may be in full swing.
The moulting process (called ecdysis) leaves this tell-tale bed bug evidence behind. Bed bugs go through five stages of maturing before becoming an adult. At each immature stage, the bug moults after a blood meal.
David Cain of extermination company Bed Bugs Limited said: “The problem of bed bugs has been spreading globally since the late 1990s, and there is literally no country on the face of the planet that hasn’t had a bed bug problem.”
Other ways to recognise an infestation
“The first thing is you have to be able to recognise and distinguish a bed bug from any other insect,” said American Scientific.
“Everything starts to look like a bed bug if you start to worry about them.
“An adult bed bug is about the size and shape of an apple seed.
“If it has not fed recently it will be flattened and brown, if it has fed it will be round in circumference and reddish.
“Immature bed bugs have a similar appearance to adults, with the smallest being the size of the head of a pin.
“You can then learn to look for their faecal spots, which can be easier to detect than the bugs themselves.”
How can I treat bed bug bites?
Bedbug bites usually clear up on their own in a week or so but there are things you can do to alleviate them.
The NHS recommends:
Putting something cool, like a clean, damp cloth, on the affected area to help with the itching and any swelling
Keeping the affected area clean
Not scratching the bites to avoid getting an infection
According to the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), bed bug infestations are commonly treated by insecticide spraying.
“If you suspect that you have an infestation, contact your landlord or professional pest control company that is experienced with treating bed bugs,” advises the CDC.
Often with bed bugs it’s best to get professional help and if you experience any of these symptoms seek help.
Doing a thorough clean and hoover around the bed and ensuring all linen is washed in hot temperatures will reduce the risk of an infestation.