Anyone that has suffered a bed bug infestation knows it can be a living nightmare. As parasites, bed bugs feed on human blood and, while bed bug bites are not generally harmful, they can cause serious physical irritation and emotional distress.
The added frustration is that because of their nocturnal habits, it is very hard to find bed bugs in the daytime.
Bed bugs hide once they have fed, so it’s almost impossible to find evidence of live bed bugs during the day. If you want to know how to find bed bugs during the daytime, look for the signs such as blood stains, faeces and shed skins that may be visible on the mattress, bed frame and other furniture.
If you suspect a bed bug infestation then time is of the essence. They multiply slowly to start with, but they can live up to 12 months, so the situation can get out of control fast once they are established.
With multi-generations of live bed bugs on the loose, they can be tricky to exterminate, so it is wise to consult a professional pest controller.
Project Multi Pest is a trusted member of the pest control industry, and have several tried and tested methods of eradicating bed bugs. Our customers include homeowners, business owners and landlords throughout London and Kent.
What do bed bugs look like?
Along with their nocturnal habits, a bed bug’s small size makes them hard to spot. Adult bed bugs are usually no bigger than 5mm, about the same size as an apple seed. They are reddish brown in colour, more red than brown following a blood meal. Their bodies are round and flat, with a smaller head.
In the early stages of their life cycle, nymphs (baby bed bugs) are almost transparent and especially difficult to see with the naked eye.
Can you see bed bug eggs?
Bed bug eggs are nigh on invisible to the naked eye, no bigger that a dust particle. A single female bed bug can lay 500 eggs during its lifetime, but they only lay a handful at a time so they can easily go unnoticed in the early days.
What causes bed bugs?
A bed bug infestation is not a symptom of bad hygiene, but one of bad luck. They are transported by humans and animals from place to place, hiding in clothing and luggage. This is why they are so common in hotels and other places where the footfall is high.
A bed bug will feed on any warm-blooded animal and then go into hiding to protect themselves. That makes your bed a very attractive habitat, offering easy access to a food source (i.e. you) and lots of tiny cracks and crevices in which to hide away after they have fed.
Are bed bugs dangerous?
The odd one or two bed bug bites can go unnoticed, but if they are left to multiply – sometimes three generations of bed bugs can be cohabiting at once in a single bed – the bites will undoubtedly multiply, too.
While they only feed once every ten days, a single bed bug can bite more than once in one sitting. Bed bug bites in large numbers can become seriously sore and itchy, sometimes resembling a rash. Along with the risk of infection, this could pose a health risk to allergy sufferers.
What time of day are bed bugs most active?
Bed bugs are considered to have nocturnal habits, but it depends on what time of day your bed is usually slept in. If you sleep at night, chances are that’s when there will be most bed bug activity. They will be more elusive and hide during the day, making them tricky to identify.
However, if you work at night and sleep during the day, you have more chance of finding live bed bugs during daylight hours.
How do you spot bed bugs during the day?
If you mostly sleep in your bed at night, finding bed bugs during the day can be very difficult. Bed bugs hide away once they have fed and favour small, dark hiding places. They can be found hiding in mattress seams, box springs, in the bed frame, carpets and other furniture. Bed bugs can travel an astonishing 20 feet from their food source, so it pays to be vigilant.
What are the signs of bed bugs?
There are common signs of bed bugs, that if found and dealt with early enough, can prevent a nasty infestation.
Here are our top tips for how to find bed bugs during the day.
#1 Bites
Bed bugs feed on blood and will gladly make a meal of you (and your pets) while you’re sleeping. Bed bug bites usually look like raised, red or purple itchy bumps which can form clusters that resemble a rash. They usually appear on skin that is exposed, typically on the arms, neck, legs and even the face.
This makes them easier to distinguish from flea bites, which are usually found on the lower body.
#2 Blood stains on sheets
The odd bed bug bite is usually painless so in the early stages of an infestation, the only evidence may be small reddish stains on your sheets. This may be from the spot on your skin where they’ve bitten you, or you may have rolled on one and squashed it.
3# Faeces
As if their presence wasn’t foul enough, bed bugs leave a trail of dark faeces behind. They usually measure no more than 1mm, so it may be worth grabbing a magnifying glass or zooming in with your smartphone to try to get a better look.
4# Shed skins
Bed bugs molt around four- five times before reaching maturity, so you may find evidence of discarded, dried-out skins in and around your bed. These can appear discoloured and whiteish.
What should I do if I have bed bugs?
It is best to consult a professional pest controller if you find bed bugs. Due to their long life cycle, bed bugs can survive for several generations. While you may get rid of the adult bed bugs, their eggs may still be lurking in your mattress waiting to start the whole nasty cycle off again.
A knowledgeable pest controller, such as Project Multi Pest, may recommend a course of treatment over several weeks or months. Depending on the severity of the infestation, this may involve professional grade chemical or heat treatment.
How do you kill bed bugs?
There are domestic grade insecticides on the market, but it may take several before you find one that works and they will only be effective if sprayed directly on the bed bugs. As we’ve established, bed bugs are incredibly elusive during the day so this could prove an impossible task.
By far and away, the best course of action is to call in a pest controller to have bed bugs treated professionally.
Meanwhile, there are things you can do to prevent bed bugs from getting further out of control such as washing linen at a high temperature. If your bedclothes become infested, then it is worth popping them inside a plastic bag inside the freezer to kill the bugs, although this is no guarantee.
Vacuuming and dusting bedroom furniture regularly can also help. Bed bugs don’t mind clean or dirty spaces, but the act of cleaning may alert you to their presence so you can take action sooner rather than later.
FAQs
Do bed bugs bite pets?
Bed bugs are not discerning and will bite any warm-blooded mammal, including pets.
How long does a bed bug live for?
On average, a bed bug lives for around four to six months, but with the right kind of living conditions they can survive for 12 months.
Can you find bed bugs during the day?
It is hard to spot bed bugs during the day as they are most likely to feed at night and then retreat to their hiding spots while they digest their meal. So, while it is possible to see live bed bugs in the daytime, it’s more likely that you will see these mini vampires after dark.
Conclusion
It is very hard to find bed bugs during the day due to their nocturnal habits. While the odd bed bug bite is harmless, they can cause serious irritation in large numbers. It pays to be vigilant to the signs of bed bugs as you are unlikely to see live bed bugs in the daytime.
Signs include blood marks on sheets and black spots on bedroom furniture. If you suspect a bed bug infestation, it is best to call a professional pest controller, as you may find it gets out of control very quickly.
Project Multi Pest can rid you of bed bugs for good
Bed bugs are notoriously hard to exterminate because of their complex lifecycle and nocturnal behaviour.
At PMP, we see many cases where bed bugs are treated only to reappear days later when newly hatched nymphs emerge.
We have the specialist knowledge to track bed bugs down in their favourite hiding spots. Depending on the severity of your bed bug infestation, we will offer a course reliable treatments using chemicals and/or heat.
PMP understands just how distressing bed bugs can be, so we will take fast action to rid you of these nasty parasites in your home, property or business, once and for all. Please get in touch to arrange a quotation.
