You found a bed bug and squashed it. Now what should happen?
Does blood come out of a bed bug when you kill it?
When you smash that irritating bed bug, its body fluid will come out, but there might also be some blood:
- If it recently fed on someone
- Blood from the insect leaks into the hemolymph
- It is not always red fluid
Read on to learn the details what happens when bed bugs get squashed.
Does Blood Come Out of a Bed Bug When You Kill It? Do Bed Bugs Bleed When You Kill Them?
As previously mentioned, a bed bug will have blood inside it if it recently drank blood from a host. So, when you kill one and see the red tinge, it is likely blood you’re seeing.
You will also smell the bed bugs in the air if you kill them. There is a distinctive smell that only comes from them. But if you are used to the smell, it will not be easy to distinguish it from other smells around you.
A bed bug will have blood inside it if it recently drank blood from a host. So, when you kill one and see the red tinge, it is likely blood you’re seeing.
Our breath lures bed bugs, and they come for us when we are not aware of them when we are asleep!Â
Do Bed Bugs Have Blood?
The answer is no, bed bugs do not have blood as we know it, and the color of their fluids is not red. So the red you see when you squash one of them is the blood of a host. The bug likely recently fed.
You may see occasional fecal stains in the areas where they live as proof that they are there, but not the bed bug. They are masters when it comes to hiding from you, so these are the only proof you will get if they infested an area.
You can only get to them by using a stiff brush to lift the bugs and their eggs, then vacuum them. Keep a lookout for those tiny splotches, which are digestive blood they excrete which is a sure sign of an infestation.
If not treated immediately, you could face a huge infestation in no time, with the mother laying up to 500 eggs. The infestation can easily last for years, as bedbugs are able to hibernate for long stretches, even in vacuum-sealed bags.
You will also find that they leave marks on the sheets and pillow case where they have invested that area.
Can You Kill a Bed Bug?
Bed bugs are easy to kill and can be killed by squashing. But it would be impossible to get rid of an infestation that way. There are various methods to get rid of these pests from your mattress or any other furniture.
If the infestation is too severe, it is best to get rid of the furniture and burn it to be on the safe side. Here are some methods you can use to get rid of them before their population grows too big to control yourself.
Simple Steps To Get Rid Of Bed Bugs
Step 1: Identify
The first step is to identify the bug that you found in your bed or any type of fabric and wood furniture. The following section will help you to identify those nasty little creatures that cause sleepless nights and a lot of worries.
Use a high-powered light or LED flashlight and go over every inch of your bed, carpets, furniture, cracks in the walls, etc. to seek them out for the next step.
Step 2: Clean Up
Now that you have located them and are sure it is bed bugs, the next step is to start the cleanup process. If you live in a warm area, you can take the infested furniture and put it outside in direct sunlight.
It must be at least 100 degrees Fahrenheit and leave the furniture there for the day. The sheets and other bedding can be washed in high heat. These creatures cannot handle high heat, so they will die.
Wash the sheets in hot water and dry them in a dryer for at least 20 minutes or even more just to ensure. If you do not live in a warm place, you can also use a hair dryer or even steam cleaner to kill off the bugs. Just make sure it’s working properly, as you don’t want to spread your infestation!
It would be best if you repeated this more than once to make sure all the bugs are dead and the eggs will not breed.
Step 3: Prevent Infestation
Now that you got rid of all the bugs and eggs, it is time to take preventative measures so your home will stay clean. Bed bug traps and natural bed bug repellent products are a safe approach and do not expose you and your pets to harmful chemicals.
Use both the traps and repellent products for a few weeks to make sure they do not come back.
What Do Bed Bugs Look Like?
Because bed bugs move around so quickly, it is quite hard to spot them, so you need to be careful when looking for them. You will not be able to spot the smaller ones or the eggs that easily, and they are easily concealed.
Because bed bugs move around so quickly, it is quite hard to spot them, so you need to be careful when looking for them.
Here is what you can look out for to find where they are hiding out when you are not sleeping.
- Depending on how the light catches them, they may appear black but are light brown
- They have small oval-shaped bodies that are flat if seen from the side, expert when they have just fed
- Bed bugs that just fed will look round, and a bit larger, and also appear a bit darker
- They have six legs and two antennae and are covered with tiny hair that gives them a striped appearance
- Small bed bugs are semi-transparent and look light brown and even whitish
Now you know how they look, so you can use the right methods to get rid of them when you find them.
Conclusion
Bed bugs do not have blood unless they’ve recently fed. If you squash one and it doesn’t squirt out blood, that doesn’t mean it’s still alive. But if you see blood, it’s safe to say it’s dead.
Unfortunately, this is probably just the beginning of your bed bug saga. It’s best to call a professional to help, they’re really hard to get rid of!
