When it comes to household pests, very few critters are as troublesome as bed bugs. In addition to impacting your sleeping habits, these insects can also bring a wide variety of germs into your home. Those are just a few of the reasons why you should always keep an eye out for any signs that you might have a bed bug infestation on your hands. You might also want to spend some time familiarizing yourself with how bed bugs get into a home and some steps that you can take to eradicate those unwanted pests.

A Quick Look at Bed Bugs

A bed bug is a wingless insect that likes to burrow into fabrics, and these pests are usually about the size of an apple seed. Even though bed bugs don’t fly or jump, they can crawl very quickly, and an infestation might spread throughout your home in the blink of an eye. While bed bugs aren’t extremely dangerous, they will bite and scratch your skin. Many people discover that they have a bed bug infestation because they begin to develop rashes and other skin problems. They can also leave blood stains and other dark spots on your sheets and pillowcases.

Gaining Entry Into Your Home

It is important to note that bed bugs don’t travel long distances on their own, and they almost always hitch a ride on an individual’s clothing or luggage. After you stay at a hotel or your child spends the night at a friend’s house, a few of those bugs could cling to a piece of clothing that is brought back into your home. As soon as there are a handful of bed bugs in your house, there is a very good chance that they are going to multiply before you know it.

Bed Bug Nesting Habits

Even though bed bugs aren’t social insects, they can reproduce relatively quickly. After they have found a source of nourishment and a good place to nest, the females will often begin to lay one or more eggs per day. That isn’t as fast as some other common insects, but you could still end up with thousands of bugs throughout your home in a matter of months. Once they have begun to multiply, they will spread to every corner of your house looking for food, water, and a safe place to lay their eggs.

Finding and Eradicating Bed Bugs

If you believe that you have bed bugs in your home, then you must act immediately. Some of the most common signs of a bed bug infestation include dark spots on your bedding, eggshells in the corner of your rooms, and a musty odor around your beds. You might also notice skin problems such as red bumps and lingering rashes that won’t seem to go away. To thoroughly eradicate a bed bug infestation, you will need to contact a pest control expert. These pests are notoriously hardy, and most over-the-counter pest control products aren’t going to destroy every bed bug that is in your home.