Have you ever had that uncomfortable experience of waking up in the morning with strange, red, itchy dots all over your body? Did that happen in your bedroom or hotel room, worsening every morning?
If that’s the case, it might have been a sign of a bed bug infestation.
Bed bugs can live anywhere, even in five-star hotels, and it’s vital to recognize them and call professionals immediately. Bed bugs can spread quickly and can cause an allergic reaction that usually requires medical attention. It is important that you remove yourself from the infested area as soon as possible.
Let’s take a look at what bed bugs are, how to recognize them, and what to do if you find bed bugs in your home or on your belongings.
What Are Bed Bugs?
Bed bugs are small, tear-like insects that can live in many places (wherever humans reside), and they usually hide in beds, couches, chairs, carpets, dressers, and other tiny crevices.
They survive by feeding on human blood, so you may find bloodstains when changing your sheets if you have a bed bug infestation. You may also find rust-like stains, which are typically the bugs’ feces.
These pests can also go days or even months without food, so if they have stopped biting you, it doesn’t mean that they’ve disappeared. They reproduce incredibly fast and are difficult to exterminate, so it is vital to check all cracks and crevices in your furniture since those are the places they commonly choose for shelter.
How Can You Recognize a Bed Bug?
Bed bugs can be as small as 1 mm or 0.04 inches (eggs) and as big as 4.5 mm or 0.18 inches (adult nymphs). They can vary in color, depending on their growth stage and how much they are eating. These tear-shaped, wingless, six-legged insects can be white (eggs), yellow, orange, red, dark red, or even brown.
Sometimes, it might be difficult to see them (especially young bed bugs, because they are too small). However, they tend to leave traces, such as bloodstains, feces, unusually tiny eggshells, etc.
Bed bugs usually hide in small cracks during the day and search for food at night. Because of that, you should look under your mattress, in wall cracks, under carpets, between couch cushions, or any other places you think they might be hiding.
Also, if you’re visiting a friend or staying at a hotel, check for bed bugs before sleeping there. Bed bugs can stick to your clothes or hide in your suitcase, so you could bring them back to your home if you’re not careful.
To find bed bugs, you can even use tools like a lint roller to determine whether or not you have bed bugs. Roll it over and under your bed, carpet, and couch to see if things such as eggshells or even bugs stick to it. And if the description matches the one above, you may have an infestation on your hands.
What Should You Do If You Find Bed Bugs?
Calling a professional as soon as you notice infestation signs is crucial.
If you notice the signs of bed bugs or find live bugs at a hotel or your rented property, you should also contact us immediately. Bed Bug Injury Law can help you determine if you have a case against the hotel or your landlord that our office can assist with.
Take pictures of bed bug signs and potential bites as evidence. If those bites feel worse than a mosquito bite and come with other symptoms such as fever, vertigo, heavy breathing, and nausea, you should seek medical help.
Get in touch with us if you think someone’s negligence has caused an infestation, and we’ll help you see if you have a case.
Contact Us Today for Help with Bed Bug Compensation!
Have you had an experience with bed bugs? If so, we can help! Our bed bug attorneys represent clients throughout the United States depending on the circumstances surrounding the incident. Contact us today and explain your bed bug situation to us and we will let you know if you have a case we can assist with!
