You May Have A Bed Bug Problem On Your Hands If You Smell This In Your Home

We all notice odd smells here and there in our homes. Usually, most lingering household odors we seek to get rid of center in the bathroom or the kitchen from garbage and old or spoiled food. However, if you notice an unexpected smell in your bedroom, it may indicate that you have bed bugs. The scent of these pests, like spices, can vary depending on the individual, but it has a few commonalities.

You may detect a sweet scent reminiscent of berries, coriander, or almonds or a rusty smell like when inhaling old blood or metal. The odor can also smell damp, like mildew or wet laundry. Oddly enough, people have also likened the stench to that of crayons. Though the scent may seem different to you than someone else in your home, if you smell an unusual fragrance comparable to some of these odors you can't explain, you should take this as a signal to check your beds.

Bed bugs use pheromones to communicate with each other. The insects may release these chemicals when disturbed or mating. If you find a bedbug and pick it up, it could feel threatened, much like a skunk, and emit an odor. However, this smell is not very powerful and unlikely to cause an ongoing stench in your home. It's much more likely that their body mechanisms are responsible for the scent.

Bed bugs defecate frequently, and their waste, made up of digested blood, can build up and give off a foul odor. When they feed, they suck up the blood of their host and then defecate a small amount of waste, which accounts for the rusty smell. Dead bed bugs and shed skin also contribute to foul odors. These materials contain bed bug pheromones, fecal matter, and lots of blood, which can increase the overall stench.

The most important thing to remember is that the intensity of the odor can vary depending on the severity of the infestation. A small infestation may not produce any noticeable scent, but a large infestation can have a powerful smell. Inspecting for bed bugs is essential if you notice an unusual odor in your home, especially in your bedroom.

Signs of a bed bug infestation include dark blood spots on sheets and bedding (per WebMD). These spots are caused by bed bugs feeding on blood. You may also find skin remnants since bed bugs shed their skin as they grow. This shed skin can appear on mattresses, bedding, and other furniture. Finally, you may get bed bug bites, which are usually red, itchy, and raised and can appear in clusters on exposed skin. If you suspect a bed bug infestation, contacting a pest control professional is best. They can inspect your home and help rid it of bed bugs for good.