Are These Bed Bugs In My Orange County Home?

Have you ever watched a crime show on television where they brought some shady-looking characters into a room and asked a suspect to pick their attacker out in the line-up? It is sometimes difficult for victims to identify the criminal in a line-up because the suspects are in a lit room, and they're not wearing anything on their faces. We'd be willing to guess that you'd have a hard time picking out a bed bug in a line-up. Why? Because the images you find on the internet are mostly adult bed bugs under great lighting conditions. They also look much bigger when you see one on the internet. An adult bed bug is only 4.5 to 5 mm long. That's really small! Today, we're going to discuss a few details that can help you identify a bed bug when you these pests in your Orange County home. Here's what you need to know.

1. All Bed Bugs Look The Same. Basically. There are some insects that can vary in appearance based on the species. Carpet beetles are a great example. They can be a mottled brown and white, black white, and orange, or entirely black. An adult bed bug doesn't vary in coloration, though you might think so, and it doesn't vary in shape. It will always be slightly transparent and have a reddish-brown coloration, six legs, two antennae, and horizontal crease lines on its abdomen.
   
   2. You Might Think It's Black. If you find a bed bug in a dark area, it could look black. There are two reasons for this. The transparent skin of a bed bug allows the black feces inside its body to be seen. When you combine this with low-light conditions, it can make a bed bug look black. But, if you look closely enough (and use a flashlight), you'll see reddish coloration in its skin.
   
   3. You Might Think It's Red. If a bed bug has had a blood meal, its abdomen will be filled with blood. This can make the bug have a deep red color. If you're looking for a rusty brown-colored bug, like the images you've seen on the internet, you may mistake a bed bug for some other bug.
   
   4. It's Not Always Oval. An adult bed bug usually has a low profile and is an oval insect. But, after having a blood meal, it can be bloated and be more of a pill shape.
   
   5. It's Not Always An Adult. Once you're familiar with all of the different ways an adult bed bug can look, you'll also need to familiarize yourself with what the nymphs look like if you want to pick a bed bug out in a line-up. A newly hatched nymph is pale, has six legs, two antennae, and may have a bright red abdomen if it has had a blood meal. A grown nymph in stage two through four will be tan. You may clearly see black in its abdomen if it has not recently had a blood meal. If there is blood in the abdomen, the nymph will look like a tan and red bug.

How To Spot A Bed Bug Problem In Your Orange County Home

Most of the time, you won't see bed bugs. But, there are circumstances when you might. It is essential to understand these to identify a bed bug.

• You'll rarely, if ever, see an adult bed bug crawling around in your home. They prefer to come out at night while you're sleeping.
• If you see a bed bug crawling around or attached to your skin, it is likely to be an immature nymph. Be on the lookout for pale insects with bright red abdomens.
• If you lift your mattresses and see bugs huddled together in a corner or in a seam, there is a strong possibility that you've uncovered bed bugs. Along with using the identification tips given above, look for black and brown stains, shed skins, and tiny pale eggs. These should all be in the same location.
• Bed bugs range from 1 to 5 millimeters in length. A dozen bed bugs can be huddled together in an area the size of your thumbnail.

Even if you don't see bed bugs, you still may be suspicious of a bed bug problem. Here are some warning signs: 

• Three bites on your skin in a line or zig-zag
• Multiple bites on your skin in one area
• Bites that look like a path across your skin
• Black and brown stains on pillowcases, sheets, blankets, furniture, or fabrics
• Black streaks on surfaces, baseboards, or bedframes
• The scent of a musty towel

Bed Bug Control In Orange County With Pacific Shore Pest Control

If you detect bed bugs in your Orange Couty home or business, reach out to Pacific Shore Pest Control for immediate assistance. We have the tools and experience to get the job done right. We will come up with a customized plan that discreetly and completely solves your bed bug problem. Reach out to us today to learn more about our bed bug control options!