Is It Possible To Have Just One Bed Bug
By this point, you’re probably wondering what your chances are of avoiding an infestation. If I’ve just found one bed bug on my couch, purse or suitcase, could it be the only bug? Is it possible that there isn’t an underlying infestation?
We can’t claim that it’s impossible for there to only be one bed bug. There is a chance that you’ve picked up one single male bed bug, and happened to notice it. It’s also possible that you’ve picked up a lone female, but she hasn’t laid any eggs yet.
However, it’s best to be on the safe side, and assume that there is an underlying infestation. Bed bugs are small, sneaky and good at hiding. The more bed bugs there are, the more likely it is that you’ll find one. So if you’ve spotted one, there could be many more that aren’t visible.
Not only that but the bed bug population snowballs. If there are any eggs hidden around your home, you’re in trouble. Females can and will mate with their own offspring. According to the University of Arkansas, one single pregnant bed bug can turn into an infestation of 500 bugs within two months.
Bear in mind, also, that just because you haven’t found any bites does not mean you don’t have bed bugs. Bed bug bites can take weeks to cause a skin reaction, and some people develop no reaction at all. You could be being bitten without realizing it.
I Found a Bed Bug Crawling On Me
So, let’s assume that you’ve identified your lone insect as a bed bug. What do you do next? How do you identify whether there’s an infestation, and deal with it?
After finding (and safely disposing of) your bed bug, it’s crucial that you follow these next steps. Don’t wait – remember, bed bug populations can grow quickly.
- Clear the area where you found it. Clutter and mess is a bed bug’s dream. It provides so many spaces for them to hide. They’re small and can fit into even the tiniest cracks and crevices. So, for your best chance of finding more bed bugs, thoroughly tidy your home. Focus particularly on the area where you found the bug, and of course the bedroom(s).
- Check for any signs of more bed bugs. Below, we’ll go into more detail about how to spot the signs of an infestation.
- Call an exterminator for a consultation. If you think that you might have bed bugs – or you’re not sure – it’s best to call an exterminator. They’ll examine your home thoroughly and may spot something that you didn’t.
- Start treatment, or safeguard your home. If the verdict is bad, you’ll want to start treatment for bed bugs straight away. If no signs of an infestation have been found, you can still take steps to safeguard your home. Again, we’ll go into more detail below.
How Do I Check for Bed Bugs at Home?
After thoroughly tidying and de-cluttering your home, the next step is to start the bed bug search. Your aim here is to hunt down not only live bugs but also the telltale signs of an infestation.
If you’ve never dealt with bed bugs before, you may be unaware of what you’re looking for. Other than the bugs themselves, there are five main signs to watch out for. We’re going to go over them now, and then guide you on where to look for them.
Fecal Spots
Bed bug fecal matter has a very distinctive look. Because they only eat blood, their excrement is completely liquid. It’s not red in color, however; it can range from dark brown to black. Bed bug fecal spots resemble small black dots, about the size of a marker point. Many people think that they look like spots of ink. They usually appear in clusters or rows where the bed bugs like to congregate.
On soft furnishings – such as mattresses, carpets or curtains – the dots will be flat, and cannot be wiped off. This is because the liquid soaks into the fibers. On hard non-porous surfaces, like varnished wood, the feces will dry as raised bumps.
Bed Bug Exoskeletons
Bed bugs go through five phases of molting (shedding their casings) throughout their lives. These correspond with the five life stages, from freshly-hatched nymph to full-grown adult. To grow into the next life stage, bed bugs must shed their exoskeleton.
Now that you know what a bed bug looks like, it should be easy to spot their exoskeletons. Though bed bugs can hide, their shells can’t. Bed bug shells look precisely like bed bugs – small, oval and segmented. The only difference is that they are pale and translucent in color.
Eggs and Egg Casings
Bed bug eggs are extremely small. They’re only about the size of a pinhead, so they’re tough to spot. As if that weren’t bad enough, they’re also translucent-whitish in color. To spot them, you’re going to need a strong magnifying glass, a flashlight, and patience.
Bed bugs like to lay their eggs in places out of the way of people, where they won’t be disturbed. They usually choose small cracks and crevices. Sometimes eggs appear in clusters, but they can also appear alone. The eggs are glued onto the surface, so they can even hang upside-down.
Blood Stains
If you’ve got a bed bug infestation, you may notice small blood stains in your bedding. Bed bugs produce an anticoagulant, to stop your wounds from healing while they’re drinking your blood. A side effect of this anticoagulant is that bite marks can continue to bleed after the bug has finished feeding.
Is It Possible To Have Just One Bed Bug
It’s a common misconception that bed bugs are always found in groups. In fact, it’s entirely possible to find just one bed bug in your home. This is because bed bugs are not social animals—they don’t live in colonies or hives like ants or bees. They’re more like bats, which live alone.
So how do you tell if your home has just one bed bug? Here are some signs:
The most obvious sign is that you see a single insect crawling around in your house. You may even be able to catch it and identify it as a bed bug by looking at its physical characteristics (shape, size, coloration).
If you find blood stains on your sheets or mattress after waking up from sleep, this could also be an indication of a single bed bug that was feeding on you while you slept. If you discover any blood stains on clothing or other items stored in drawers or closets, that’s another sign that there might have been a single insect feeding on these items before being killed off by pesticide treatments or heat treatment processes.
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