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 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. Zippered plastic bag

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 wall hangings (eg mirrors, pictures, pictures, etc.) and inspect them.

B. If there are framed photos 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 a 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 perimeter of the room (walls, trim, and rugs) and will hide on the floor and under the bed.

I. Inspect trim and where the floor meets and examine the walls closest to the bed. Slide corner tool in an upward motion behind trim to drive bed bugs out of shelter.

j. Carefully fold the edges of the carpet from wall to wall and look for pests. Pay attention to the tack strip on the carpets.

k. Inspect under the edges of the area rugs.

l. Remove the electrical switch plate and outlet and telephone jack plate with a screwdriver and inspect behind them.

Inspect unusual locations

to. Inspect the TV and the battery compartment in 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 the 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.

Bed bug inspection 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.