Illinois Bed Bug Warning Got Us Checking Our Beds for These 7 Things

Illinois has a bit of a bed bug problem. The pest control experts share these telltale signs that soon they'll be crawling up your legs at night.

Illinois Bed Bug Infestation

Nobody wants to be trying to sleep and feel a little bug crawling up their leg. As we enter the fall season, I assume it won't be long before I think a boxelder or stink bug crawling on me. It's when I feel some critter crawling on me under the covers in bed that I immediately freak out a little.

It's all good if I have to smash a boxelder bug, or re-locate a stink bug (don't smash those), but I don't ever want to feel a bed bug crawling on me.

According to the pest control experts at Orkin, a bed bug crawling on you may be a little more common in Illinois right now. So, here's what you should be looking for to determine if the bed bug infestation has begun at your house.

7 Signs Berd Bugs Have Infested Your Home

1. Blood Stains

Bed bugs feed on the blood of animals as well as humans. They hide in all kinds of crevices near to where you sleep, including wood, metal, or other soft furnishings like your bed. If you sleep on the couch, they could be there, too. They will bite you in your sleep and leave behind tiny little blood stains. Bed bugs are not picky about where they bite you, either.

2. Eggs

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Female bed bugs lay several eggs a day, up to 205 over their lifetime. The eggs take about two weeks to hatch and those hatchlings are ready to lay their own eggs in about 4 to 7 weeks. The eggs are about 1 millimeter in length and are visible to your eye unhatched or not.

3. Shed skins

Bed bugs shed their exoskeletons. A hatchling will shed its skin 5 times before it reaches maturity, which can leave behind plenty of evidence if you’re dealing with an infestation.

More: Your #1 Job in Illinois is to Kill This Insect

4. Feces

The feces will be really easy to spot on your white bed sheets. They're very tiny spots but in a cluster, they can look like an ink stain. And you won't just find bed bug feces on your bed, you can also find it on your headboard and walls. It resembles mold or mildew on the wall but if it has a reddish tint, it's bed bug poo.

5. A musty odor

Bed bugs leave behind a musty, slightly sweet odor. It’s described as smelling similar to that of coriander or expired raspberries, as well as moldy laundry. Just because the smell isn't there doesn't mean the bed bugs aren't.

6. Bites

Bed bug bites look a bit like small and inflamed pimples, sometimes they itch, too. They may be raised or blistered, depending on the person. YOu might even see a cluster or zig-zap pattern of bites on your skin. Remember, bed bugs aren’t picky when it comes to meals, so any exposed skin is at risk.

7. You see the bed bugs

Bed bugs like to hide but you might still see a couple, especially if you have an infestation. They’re about  5 millimeters in length, with an oval-shaped body and a deep reddish-brown color. They don't jump or fly. It’s easier to spot a cluster rather than just one, so be sure to check any concealed spaces where they’re likely to congregate undisturbed. Remember, they will often hide near where you sleep.

[H/T Tom's Guide]