You may have noticed itchy bumps on your skin, blood stains on the sheet, or seen an insect in the house that you suspect is a bed bug. The first thing to do is to correctly identify the pest and do 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 heavy infestation, the pests tend to move away from the bed to other locations.
what to look for
has. blood stains
b. dark fecal spots
against Eggs, eggshells, discarded skin
d. Bed bugs (adults and nymphs)
me. Pungent moldy shoes or sickening sweetish odor of an oily fluid discharged from glands in the thorax
inspection tools
has. a strong flashlight
b. Magnifying glass
against Plastic bag with zipper
d. crevice tool
me. Compressed air
f.screwdriver
gram. small tool kit
H. Alcohol, cotton swabs/baby wipes
Yo. sticky traps
d. Gloves, soapy water, cloth and sponge.
k. mirror with handle
I. a notepad
Mister. on camera
not. Wrench
Y. hammer
Inspect the perimeter of the room.
has. Remove all wall hangings (eg mirrors, paintings, pictures, etc.) and inspect them.
b. If there are framed photos or artwork on the wall, open the frames and inspect the inside and under the paper backing.
against Check behind loose wallpaper and peeling paint.
d. Remove the curtain rods and examine them carefully.
me. Check under the hardware on the walls.
F. Inspect all door frames within the room, including the bathroom, closet, and other door frames.
gram. Inspect the inside of the latch hole in each door.
H. Inspect ceiling lights and fixtures. If bed bugs are found in ceiling lights, it may indicate that they are moving from the upper floor unit.
If you find bed bugs on 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 carpet) and hide on the floor and under the bed.
Yo. Inspect the trim and where the floor meets and examine the walls closest to the bed. Slide the crevice tool in an upward motion behind the trim to scare away bed bugs from the shelter.
d. Gently fold back the edges of the wall-to-wall rug and look for the pests. Pay attention to the tack strip on the rugs.
k. Inspect under the edges of area rugs.
I. Remove the electrical switch plate and the telephone socket and outlet plate with a screwdriver and inspect behind them.
Inspect unusual locations
has. Inspect the TV and the battery compartment in the remote.
b. Inspect cell phones and cordless phones.
against Inspect lamps 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.
Yo. Inspect the air conditioning unit, ductwork, and heating unit.
d. Inspect wheelchairs.
In a severe infestation, the insects sometimes make their way into adjacent rooms or units via electrical ducts, heating ducts, and telephone lines. They can also crawl under doors and through hallways. In this case, it is important to extend the bed bug inspection to the rooms.
Evidence to suggest that insects are moving through rooms includes:
has. The pests are found in the ceiling lamps.
b. Pests get in and out of electrical switch plates on walls and droppings on the side of switch plates or near ductwork.
against Pests are often found in the bathroom or kitchen.
In this case, the pests may come from a severely infested room adjacent to the kitchen and bathroom. They make their way into the kitchen and bathroom along the water pipes.
Bed bug inspection is time consuming, especially in severe infestations. You must be very patient to locate all the ports to remove the pests.
