Page: Identifying Bed BugsHow do I know if I have bed bugs?There are several signs of an active infestation. Most often, a person (referred to as the “host”) will be the victim of bites. The telltale bite marks can appear on the face, neck, arms, hands, or any other part of the body while sleeping. More than one person in a household may experience bites, some may not have as strong a reaction as others. Bites may appear as red bumps on the skin. It can be difficult to know if you have been bitten by a bedbug unless you find bedbugs or signs of infestation. Bed bug bites can be confused with another cause or rash. When bed bugs bite, they inject an anesthetic and anticoagulant to prevent the person from waking up and realizing they are bitten while feeding. Most people don't realize they've been bitten until bite marks appear, which can take anywhere from one to several days after the initial bite. These red bumps are often small, flat or raised. Symptoms of these lumps include redness, swelling, and itching. Bedbug bite marks may look like those of a mosquito or flea: a slightly swollen, red area that is itchy and irritated. They may appear random or appear in a straight line. Other symptoms of bed bug bites may include insomnia, anxiety, and skin problems from scratching the bed bug bite area. However, these bed bug bites can take up to 14 days to develop in some people, so it is important to check for other signs of bed bugs. These signs include: • bed bug exoskeletons that shed when molting into another state of their life cycle, • live bed bugs or their eggs in the folded area of ​​mattresses and sheets, or on or in any other area of ​​the bed or carrying points. ..... middle of paper ...... or shells in the following places: Seams, folds, tufts and folds of mattresses and box springs Cracks, crevices and joints of the bed frame and headboard Under chairs, sofas, beds, protective covers Between and on the cushions of sofas and chairs Under rugs and the edges of rugs Between folds and folds of curtains In the drawers of all furniture Behind, on and under skirting boards and around windows and door frames Behind electrical plates and under wallpaper, paints and posters In cracks and crevices in walls. Bed bugs can also travel from apartment to apartment along pipes, electrical wires, and other openings. Additionally, during early infestations, some of these visual signs may not be clear. Surveillance should be conducted in suspected cases of bed bugs and as part of prevention efforts. Learn more about bed bug monitoring products and programs..