While people sleep at night, bed bugs become active. So it gets really difficult to identify if you have bed bugs or not, as you’ll have to search for them at night.
For most people, it is not practical to do so after a hard day of work. This is the main reason you should learn how to search for bed bugs during the day and turn your suspicions into beliefs.
In this article, you’ll learn about the hiding places of bed bugs during the day, how you can search for them, how to identify bug bites, and much more. In short, we’ll tell you everything you need to know about finding bed bugs during the day.
Important Note: If you're tired of pests and want a reliable solution, then you should definitely consider seeking help from a professional pest control company. DIY solutions can be effective, but if you're dealing with a significant pest infestation, you don't want to rely solely on DIY methods. Pest control companies typically don't charge huge fees. You can fill out this form to receive free quotes from the top local pest control companies, and compare the quotes and see for yourself. Then, finally, your pest problems will be eliminated for good.
Where Do Bed Bugs Hide During the Day?
Once you know where these tiny insects hide in the day, it’ll become much easier to hunt them down and even eliminate them. Finding out that you have a bug infestation can be a horror story for many because they are not just limited to your mattress. They go all over your home in search of places to hide and it is back-breaking to find them!
Common places where they can hide include sofas and couches, upholstered furniture, nightstands, dressers, electrical outlet covers, and paintings. Other potential places they can hide are luggage, clothing, and bag packs.
They can also be found in rugs or carpets, but they do not stay for long in these areas as they can be constantly and easily disturbed, so they won’t be a good place for laying their eggs.
Bed bugs are so small that it is very hard to detect where they are hiding. They can get inside the smallest of cracks in your walls and furniture, the gap behind furniture or doors, which may go unnoticed.
You will need keen and constant observation to hunt bed bugs at these places, and we’ll tell you how you can do that!
Tools You Need to Hunt Bed Bugs in Daylight
While looking for bed bugs during the day, you’ll be needing a few partners that can make your journey easier and faster. You should know the methods to find bed bugs during the day easily, but before that, it is essential to gather some equipment!
First, you should have an ample amount of light in your home, you should carry a flashlight to monitor small spaces closely. A magnifying glass will help you in your search through small crevices. Lastly, take a credit or business card along with you.
How to Look For Bed Bugs During the Day
Once you’ve armed yourself with the equipment, you can start the process by following the steps given below.
Signs of Bed Bug Infestation
Before hunting for bed bugs, look for signs of infestation.
The signs include
- Bloodstains on your bed sheet or pillow covers.
- Tiny brown-red dots on your bed, couch, or any fabric.
- Tiny white spots on your furniture, especially on the corners of your bed.
- Bug bites when you wake up in the morning.
- There are infestations in your locality or surroundings.
If you’ve encountered any one of these symptoms frequently, you likely have bed bugs. To confirm this, follow the following steps!
Brighten Up
Before starting the process, you should know that it’ll only work if there is enough light in your room. Draw the curtains for daylight to enter, switch on all the lights in your house, even minor ones, and use a flashlight or headlamp.
Brightening up the room will make it easy for you to spot bed bugs. In addition, more light can make the bugs lazy after they’ve had their blood meal.
Inspect
Now once there is enough light, closely inspect your home, starting with your mattress, to spot any live bed bugs. Insect your beddings, rugs, carpets, clothing, cabinets, walls, etc. These are common places visited by bed bugs. If you have a serious infestation, you will most likely find live bed bugs in these places.
Do not overlook or leave any places, as bed bugs are adaptable creatures, they can live anywhere and everywhere!
Use Magnifying Glass and Flashlight
After inspecting, if you don’t find any live bed bugs, it is still possible that bed bugs may be hiding in small spaces. For this, closely observe your walls, furniture, the space behind your furniture, doors, and under your bed. Since these places are dark, use a flashlight to check all these places.
Point your torch inside cracks and crevices of the walls to get a proper look. In case of bed bugs are residing in these places, it will become easier to see them under torchlight. A magnifying glass will also help you spot the nymphs and eggs.
Use a Business or Credit Card
There might be cracks in your walls and furniture that are so thin that you cannot look inside even with the help of a flashlight. You will be fascinated to know that the width of bed bugs is as thin as that of a credit card. So, how can we use credit cards in our favor? Don’t worry, we’re not asking you to spend money!
If you locate any thin crack where you cannot even look inside, try inserting a credit card in the crack. This is because bed bugs are about the width of a credit card, So any narrow place in which your card can be inserted in the place bed bugs can easily get. Sometimes, if bed bugs are hiding in these cracks, you’ll notice that they stick to the card while taking it out.
Even if bed bugs aren’t living in them right now, there is a good chance that they will in the future, so seal these cracks using duct tape immediately!
Do Bed Bugs Feed During the Day?
Bed bugs are mostly nocturnal insects. They are attracted to us by the scent of a high amount of carbon dioxide, which we emit while we are sleeping. They are the most active an hour before dawn. It is also more convenient for these little vampires to feed on our blood at night, as their host is asleep, and so they can feed undisturbed.
Even if you have a mild infestation, there are chances that hundreds of bed bugs might be hiding in your mattress. However, this does not mean that they can only feed at night.
Bed bugs are opportunists. If you’re awake or working at night, they’ll adapt to your timing and feed on you during the day. But it is highly unlikely for bed bugs to bite when you’re awake. They are smart insects and they find a suitable time to bite you, a time when you are least active, be it in the day or at night.
How to Identify Bug Bites?
Bug bites are easily noticeable but it is easy to confuse them with the bites of other insects. If you notice bug bites, then it is the biggest sign of an infestation! Here is how you can identify them.
- Bug bites occur in the form of raised and red welts.
- The center area of these bites is dark red.
- You may experience burning, itching, or rashes.
- 3-4 bites occur in a single line and are clustered.
- Bug bites usually occur on the upper part of your body- face, neck, and arms.
- Bites may result in allergies, severe itching, or a burning sensation.
It is best to visit a doctor or any medical professional for treatment or even identification of the bite. Bug bites are very similar to the bites of other pests, so the right identification and treatment are essential.
Final Thoughts
Now, since you know how to look for bed bugs during the day, if you find any, then we strongly recommend that you act fast! Although bed bugs do not spread diseases, they can severely affect your mental health and even cause insomnia. So, take steps to get rid of them as soon as you spot one!
You can use DIY techniques like steaming or vacuuming, or you can call an exterminator. We have already educated you about where and how to look for bed bugs, so don’t delay and get to the task even if you slightly suspect an infestation.
