Bedbugs probably got their name because they hide close to a bed. During the night, they bite the people as they sleep. It surprises many people to discover that the bedbugs do not wake their victims when they bite.
The bedbug seems to prefer biting the host in areas where the body hair is sparse. People usually discover bites on their hands and feet and on their head and neck.
The bedbug breaks the victim's skin to draw a blood meal. The bedbug uses two tiny tubes during the feeding process. The first tube injects bedbug saliva into the victim's skin. The saliva keeps the blood from clotting during the feeding. The bedbug uses the second tube to draw blood into its mouth.
Immature bedbugs, called nymphs, can finish feeding in 3-4 minutes. An adult bedbug may take more than 10 minutes to feed. When the feeding is finished, the bedbug simply walks away. It finds a hiding place where it waits for a few days until it is time to feed again.
The question “what do bedbug bites look like?” is often hard to answer. Many people do not have a reaction to bedbug bites. However some people are allergic to the bedbug's saliva. Each person reacts differently to the saliva.
The most common reaction is skin irritation and itching. People who react this way may scratch until the break the skin and get an infection. When there is an infection, it is extremely difficult to determine the original problem.
Some people react to the bedbug saliva by developing red welts. These people often assume that a flea, a mosquito, or a spider has bitten them. A few sensitive people develop swelling that goes beyond the bite area.
Since bedbugs stay out of sight, it may be more reliable to watch for signs of bedbugs. When bedbugs are active, they often leave small blood spots on the sheets. These spots happen when the bedbug “overeats” and blood spills. Sometimes the sleeping victim rolls over and crushes a bedbug and causes a blood spot.
Bedbugs leave dark fecal stains near the crevices where they hide. These stains can be found on the mattress and box spring, on the bed frame, and even on the baseboard behind the bed.
These signs are only clues. A thorough inspection will reveal whether bedbugs are in the area. Many people call pest control professionals when they suspect bedbugs. These people can make an inspection, identify the pest, and prescribe the proper treatment.