Bed Bug shells are the skins that bed bugs leave behind as they grow. Finding these shells most often means that bed bugs are close by and still growing.
Ever seen teeny weeny, transparent shells around your bed? These are bed bug casings, and this can indicate that these pests are coming along and feeding. Ever wondered what they mean or how to deal with them before the problem gets worse?
Bed Bug shells are shed skins of a bedbug. It is a tiny, translucent insect that appears around your bed or furniture in case it has already been infested. That simply means they are still on the premises and feeding. That’s one sign that you have to act fast to eliminate them.
What Exactly Are Bed Bug Shells?
The bedbug shells, also called casings, are the empty skins that bed bugs leave behind during their growth. Like other insects, bed bugs have a hard exoskeleton that they must outgrow as they mature. Bed bug casings are clear or brownish and are often found in areas where bed bugs hide.
As the nymphs developed into adult bed bugs, they molted many times and, each time, shed their skin with the casing left over from that molt. The presence of the shells left behind can, at times, indicate the actual place where you may be harboring the bedbugs in your house, which should be acted upon instantly.
Why Bed Bug Shells Are Important
Being able to find the shells of bed bugs is an unnerving thing, but they are a highly critical sign of an active infestation. Each is deposited by a bedbug that has fed and shed its exoskeleton. When several of these shells have been found, then that means more bed bugs are growing and feeding in your house.
Bed bugs reproduce rapidly, so you will have noticed this shell if you had looked for it in good time to prevent a much bigger headache. The sooner you notice this sign, the better your chances of controlling this infestation. Then you’ll avoid sleepless nights and anxiety in the future. This is a sign, which if detected soon, means your chances of controlling this infestation are higher. That way, you shall avoid sleepless nights and anxiety in the future.
How to Identify Bed Bug Shells
To view bed bug shells, look for:
Appearance: Bed bug shells are small, empty, and translucent with a light brown color. They are similar in shape to the mold of an adult bed bug, so can easily be confused with live insects.
- Texture: While live bed bugs are plump, shells are fragile and lightweight, typically crushed if squished.
- Location: Because bed bugs prefer the mattress seam for hiding, cracks in furniture, and baseboards, look in these areas. The more severe the infestation, the more shells you’re likely to find clumped together.
Where Bed Bug Shells Are Commonly Found
Finding bed bug shells is not easy, but knowing their hiding place makes the work much easier. This is the take-off point:
Mattress Seams and Headboards:
This is a place where they love to hang around as close to sleeping as possible. Inspect mattress seams, headboards, and box springs since these are your favorite hiding spots.
Baseboards and Furniture Joints:
To begin with, baseboards and furniture joints are the normal hiding places for bed bugs. Look at tight-gapped areas on the perimeter of furniture, especially around your bed or couch.
Folds of curtains or carpet edges
Bed Bug exoskeletons can also be found in the folds of curtains or carpet edges. Dark and lesser-perturbed regions are ideal hiding grounds and shedding places for bed bugs.
Keep a flashlight or magnifying glass handy as you inspect these areas because bed bugs can be hard to spot sometimes.
What to Do If You Find Bed Bug Shells
Being exposed to bed bug shells can be distressing, but you can quickly take action against the problem:
- Confirm the Infestation:By confirming shells, that means you have an infestation. But check for other possible signs of infestation, such as active bed bugs, reddish stains, or droppings.
- Clean and Vacuum:Start cleaning and vacuuming the affected area, especially the beds, furniture, and cracks. This will remove shells, eggs, and even a few live bugs.
- Seek Professional Help: Visit a pest control professional to treat the pests effectively. Most professionals can remove both bed bugs and their eggs with environmentally friendly methods like heat treatment other than chemicals:
How to Prevent Bed Bug Infestations and Shells
The best defense against bed bugs is prevention. What you can do to protect your home from contacting bed bugs includes the following precautions:
Inspect second hand furniture
Before bringing it into your room for signs of bed bugs. Inspect the seams and crevices of the furniture for small shells, dark stains, or live bugs. So take your time to check; otherwise, bed bugs may enter undetected into your space.
Use mattress covers
Specialized bed bug-proof mattress covers form a protective barrier that is tough for the bugs to find anywhere. If you put such a mattress cover on your mattress and the box spring, then you minimize the chances of infestation in your bed. The covers are even easy to clean, thus forming an extra layer of defense.
Regular Cleaning
Clean your bedroom and sleeping places, and vacuum around beds, baseboards, and along furniture. All of this gets rid of all the chances of hiding from bed bugs. This makes it much more difficult for them to settle and multiply in your home.
FAQs
What are bed bug shells?
Bedbug shells can be described as empty exoskeletons left behind once a bedbug grows. They shed every time a bed bug goes through a life stage change.
Why do bed bugs shed their shells?
Bed bugs tend to shed as they grow through molting. They have this process five times to be considered an adult.
Where can I find bed bug shells?
You are likely to find them near sleeping areas too, for example, mattress seams, headboards, and baseboards where the bedbugs will hide.
Do bed bug shells mean that I have an infestation?
Yes, the presence of shells means that you are having active bed bugs around. When you see several shells, it may mean that the infestation is getting worse.
What should one do if they observe bed bug shells?
Clean up that area and vacuum it and consider consulting a pest control service. This curbs further infestation and also saves your abode.
Conclusion
Bed Bug shells are signs of an active infestation, indicating that bedbugs are feeding and growing. Such signs are disturbing; however, proper actions must be taken promptly as one acts to move towards riding them. Steps toward the removal of bed bugs might bring about comfort and peace once again in your homes.
Then if you find a few bed bug shells, clean those up too and seek help. The sooner you address the problem, the less likely it will spread, and you’ll prevent serious problems from arising that could disturb your family’s sleep once more.
