So your child has little, red bumps on his skin after sleeping. Could it be bedbug bites?

Bedbugs are small insects that live indoors and primarily feed on human blood. They’re a growing problem in Indiana due to increased poverty and drug use, and they can easily spread from house to house by traveling on clothes and hair.

If you suspect your home in Bloomington or Columbus, Indiana, might be infested with these pests, there are some simple ways you can identify their presence and keep them from spreading until your local pest control expert can kill them for good.

If you suspect bedbugs, you’ll want to prepare before checking for them. Do this by wearing simple clothes — no collars, cuffs, or buttons. And avoid pockets. Essentially, avoid clothing with folds and places where bedbugs might hide. Also wear simple shoes that you can throw in the dryer if you do find evidence of bedbugs. You’ll want to wear a long-sleeved shirt tucked into a pair of pants, too.

When you arrive at the suspected infestation, only bring with you what you need. You don’t want any insects hitching a ride on your jewelry or purse, for instance.

You will, however, want to bring the following items:

When looking for bedbugs, wear your rubber gloves over your sleeves to avoid contact with the insects and to make sure they don’t into your shirt.

Using the flashlight, look along the seams of beds, couches, and other upholstered furniture, as well as the edges of carpets. Because bedbugs are only about as thick as a credit card, they can hide in very small cracks and crevices.

If you think you’ve found evidence of an infestation such as eggs or shells and aren’t sure whether they’re from bedbugs or not, you can use the duct tape to pick them up to have a pest control professional take a look for you.

While checking for bedbugs, you’re looking for adults and evidence of adult activity. Adult bedbugs are about the size of apple seeds, are flat, oval-shaped, and brownish if they haven’t recently fed. If they have fed, they look reddish and have more of a balloon shape. Bedbugs are also known for a musty-sweet smell, which they secrete from their glands.

Young bed bugs (called nymphs) range from the size of a pinhead after coming out of the eggs to a little smaller than adults, and they look like miniature adult bedbugs. When they first hatch, they’re pearl white in color.

If you have found bedbugs, call a local pest control company and take the following actions from keeping the insects from spreading.

Place items you need to remove from the room in sealed, plastic bags. This keeps any bedbugs on the items from escaping and spreading. Also, if you vacuum, empty the cleaner after each use. If you use a bag vacuum, seal and throw out the bag into an outdoor container after each use. Also, do your best to limit exposure to the infested area to make sure the insects don’t escape.

If you’ve found bedbugs in your home or business or are concerned that you might have bedbugs, Yes Pest Control can help you identify and exterminate the pests to help create a clean living environment.

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