“I found one bed bug but no others” – that’s what we get a lot from our readers. Though it can be a sign of infestation, it can also be a false alarm.
But for sure, you wonder, what does that mean? Let’s get straight to the facts and learn what you need to know when you find a bed bug but no others at home.
5 Things to Do if You Found One Bed Bug
1. Calm Down and Don’t Panic
It’s understandable why you get all panicky if you see a bug in your house. Thinking about what other things might be crawling in there can be unsettling.
Before you rush out of your house, take a deep breath. It might be a stray bed bug you picked up during a trip or on public transportation.
2. Check if It’s a Bed Bug
Confirm that what you’ve found is a bed bug. It’s easy to believe that any live bugs crawling are bed bugs. Sometimes, we can be wrong. It can be carpet beetles or spider beetles.
They are called bed bugs if they have six legs, are dark brown in color, and are as tiny as an apple seed.
Or, if you can’t identify it, you might want to seek help from pest control professionals who can identify bed bugs better.
3. Is It Dead or Alive?
When you found the bug, was it dead or alive? If it’s dead and you haven’t noticed any bed bug bites on your body, you might be bed bug-free.
But, if it was still alive, the probability of having more bed bugs in your living space is high, especially if you found an adult female bed bug.
Even if it’s just one bed bug, especially a pregnant female bug, there could have been enough time laying bed bug eggs, starting a full-scale infestation.
4. Examine the Surroundings for Other Bed Bugs
You need to do a thorough inspection to determine if you find only one bed bug or if it is a part of a larger tribe. Remove the shambles in your room, which forms more hiding spots.
Inspect your door hinges, bed frame, seams, and box spring encasements. These areas are usually where you can find bed bugs hiding.
If there are bed bugs found in any of these areas, especially in the box springs, you can place interceptor traps on your bed legs to stop bed bugs from crawling up to your mattress and feed their blood meal when you sleep at night.
5. Once Confirmed, Take Action.
When you see other signs of bed bugs like bite marks, blood stains, or drops, you probably have a very mild infestation, an established infestation, or worse, a large infestation.
So, before the bed bug infestation grows, seek help from pest exterminators to prevent it.
If you see a few bed bugs or even one bed bug at home, put traps, apply pesticides, or consult an exterminator to prevent additional bed bugs from infesting your perfectly good furniture at home.
Related Posts:
- How Do You Find Bed Bugs At Day Time?
- Will You See Bed Bugs With A Black Light?
- How Do You Identify Bed Bug Poop?
Is One Bed Bug Considered an Infestation?
What Could It Be?
It’s possible to have one bug, so there’s no infestation here. If it was found in your kitchen or hallway, then it’s most likely just a single bug.
But remember, you might probably bring bed bugs from a hotel you stayed at, a public transport, or a couch you sat on in a waiting room.
Another Bed Bug
This is an alarming scenario; when the bug you found is from a large bed bug population hiding within your space. Maybe the bug got lost or just roamed around alone.
So, it’s essential to check your house for other indications, like if you have skin reactions or blood splatters in your things. And if you find bugs, take the necessary steps to stop an epidemic.
Single, Pregnant Bed Bug
If you find a pregnant bug, your place is at risk of infestation. The life stages begin when the female bug lays eggs, like other insects.
Once the eggs turn to adult bed bugs, they will populate as much as possible, causing a massive infestation if not controlled early on.
Single, Male Bed Bug
Hopefully, the bed bug you find is a single male bug. If that’s a stray bug, you don’t have to bother that much. Just squish it then it’s done. Male bed bugs [1] don’t lay eggs, so you’ll be at peace.
FAQs
If I found a single bed bug, does that mean there are more?
No. One bed is not always a sign of infestation. If you found one bed bug, killed it, and can’t find more after a thorough check, wait a few days. If there are more bed bugs, they will try and find human blood every day.
Do males and female bed bugs look different?
Male and female bed bugs look almost identical. However, the difference is in the form of their abdomen. The end of a male bed bug’s abdomen is more pointed compared to a female.
Final Thoughts
Although a single bug can alarm you, it does not necessarily mean you have a severe bed bug problem.
If you are unsure if this is an isolated incident, it’s crucial to get in touch with a professional immediately to start taking the necessary steps to eliminate this reddish-brown pest or other bugs in your home.
Reference:
- https://www.wired.com/2009/10/male-bed-bug-fear/
Alene Schill is a property manager from Columbus, Ohio, who has dealt with numerous pest control agencies. She helps families find the perfect homes and knows very well that bed bugs are an ultimate deal-breaker. She enjoys cycling around Scioto Mile during her spare time.