If you see a black or reddish spot on your mattress this can indicate that there has been a bug near it. It is very possible that you suffer from a bed bug infestation. How do you know? Well, these little animals hang around while you are sleeping and feed off your blood, so for you to get rid of them you better know how they look like so pay attention to what comes next.
How bed bugs look like according to their stages
Remember that to the human eye we might identify different bugs, and many of them have characteristics that differ from others, so if you want to recognize them be very attentive to the details.
Adults
They are tiny, so they can be difficult to see to the naked eye. They tend to measure up to 5 mm just like a grain of rice, and their main characteristic is that they don’t have wings, so don’t confuse them with a cockroach since these animals are much bigger and eat other kinds of food. In terms of colour, they go from brown to reddish once they’ve fed, and are shaped like an oval. Six legs are what they have with 2 antennae.
After they have fed off their host they increasingly grow, making them more noticeable as blood gets into their body. You can see them better when they have done that, check the box spring or the headboard of your mattress.
Nymphs
These are more difficult to see since they are basically a baby bed bug. They are translucent and turn opaque after each moult they have. If they are fed, they’ll turn into a red spot due to all the blood they have sucked, making them very noticeable, although they are tiny so you better use something to help your eye. This is one of the main reasons why people don’t notice they have been infested since they barely leave a trace.
Bed bug eggs
Having to look for a bed bug egg can be very difficult if your eye hasn’t been trained for that. They seem like white capsules, almost like a poppy seed. Whenever you’re inspecting your home, be sure to have a magnifying glass that can let you see everything more closely and have a torch, as the light can show where they are. Make sure you investigate in dark places since those are their favourite places to be.
