You may have noticed itchy bumps on your skin, blood stains on the sheet, or have seen an insect in the house that you suspect is a bed bug. The first thing to do is correctly identify the pest and conduct a bed bug inspection. Inspect the bedroom first. Pests tend to stay as close to the host’s resting area as possible.
If after inspecting the bed you discover that the infestation is severe, the next place to inspect is the perimeter of the room. In a severe infestation, pests tend to move away from the bed to other places.
What to look for
to. Blood stains
B. Dark fecal spots
vs. Eggs, eggshells, peeling skin.
D. Bed bugs (adults and nymphs)
me. Pungent moldy shoes or nauseating sweet smell from an oily fluid coming from the glands of the chest
Inspection tools
to. A strong flashlight
B. Magnifying glass
vs. Plastic bag with zipper
D. Crevice tool
me. Compressed air
F. Screwdriver
gram. Small tool kit
h. Alcohol, cotton swabs / baby wipes
I. Sticky traps
j. Gloves, soapy water, cloth and sponge.
k. Mirror with handle
l. A notepad
Mister. On camera
not. Wrench
or. Hammer
Inspect the perimeter of the room.
to. Remove all tapestries from the walls (eg mirrors, pictures, pictures, etc.) and inspect them.
B. If there are framed photographs or artwork on the wall, open the frames and inspect the inside and bottom of the paper support.
vs. Check behind loose wallpaper and peeling paint.
D. Remove the curtain rods and examine them carefully.
me. Check the hardware under the walls.
F. Inspect all door frames within the room, including bathroom, closet, and other door frames.
gram. Inspect the inside of the hole for the latch on each door.
h. Inspect the ceiling lights and fixtures. If bed bugs are found in the overhead lights, it may indicate that they are moving from the upstairs unit.
If you find bed bugs in the wall, they may be hiding under crown molding, in smoke detectors, and in thermostats.
In an established infestation, bed bugs will spread around the entire perimeter of the room (walls, trim, and rugs) and will hide on the floor and under the bed.
I. Inspect the trim and where the floor meets and examine the walls closest to the bed. Slide the corner tool in an upward motion behind the trim to drive the bed bugs out of the shelter.
j. Gently fold back the edges of the wall-to-wall carpet and look for pests. Pay attention to the tack strip on the carpets.
k. Inspect under the edges of area rugs.
l. Remove the electrical switch plate and outlet and the telephone jack plate with a screwdriver and inspect behind them.
Inspect unusual locations
to. Inspect the battery compartment and television on the remote.
B. Inspect cell phones and cordless phones.
vs. Inspect the lamp and alarm clocks.
D. Inspect computers and other electronic devices.
me. Inspect children’s toys and stuffed animals.
F. Inspect jewelry boxes.
gram. Inspect books, magazines, newspapers, and files.
h. Inspect brick walls and textured ceilings.
I. Inspect the air conditioning unit, ducts, and heater unit.
j. Inspect wheelchairs.
In a severe infestation, insects sometimes enter adjacent rooms or units through electrical, heating, and telephone lines. They can also crawl under doors and across hallways. In this case, it is important to extend the bed bug inspection to the rooms.
Evidence that suggests insects move through rooms includes:
to. Pests are found in ceiling lamps.
B. Pests enter and exit electrical switch plates on walls and droppings found on the side of switch plates or near ducts.
vs. Pests are often found in the bathroom or kitchen.
In this case, the pests can come from a severely infested room adjacent to the kitchen and bathroom. They reach the kitchen and bathroom along the water pipes.
Inspection for bed bugs is time consuming, especially in cases of severe infestation. You must have a lot of patience to locate all the shelters to eliminate the pests.