Signs of a Bed Bug Infestation
Common signs of a Bed Bug infestation include:
.Live adults and Nymph's: Adult Bed Bugs are a mahogany brown colour, oval and around 5-7mm in length. Unfed, they are a more pale, yellow-brown colour. Nymph's are small versions of the adult, around 1.3-5mm as they pass through 5 instars.
. Cast Nymphal skins: Bed Bugs under go incomplete metamorphosis, therefore there are no larvae. Instead, Nymph's hatch from eggs and after a blood meal cast to allow growth.
.Eggs: A female Bed Bug generally produces 2-3 eggs per day and can live for weeks or even months meaning one female could produce around 400-500 eggs in their lifetime. The eggs are tiny, pearl white, oval-shaped and about 1mm in length. They can often be found in clusters hidden along cracks and crevices, especially seams of mattresses.
.Excrement spots: These dark brown/black spots are the excrement from the Bed Bugs usually after a blood meal. They consist mainly of excess water and a little blood.
.Sweet Coriander smell: The higher the level of infestation and the length of time can usually create a sweet coriander smell. The smell is more noticeable if you are not regularly in the room.
.Bites: Bed Bug bites can be raised and itchy. They are often in a line or grouped together and tend to be on the upper body
