Few things are more disconcerting than waking up to find a bug sharing your bed! Naturally, most people immediately jump to the conclusion that they have bed bugs, but that may not actually be the case. Many tiny pests could invade your bedroom, and if you don’t know what you are looking for, it is easy to mistake them for something else. With that in mind, Otis Pest Control, one of the best pest control companies in Knoxville, TN, has made a list of some of the common bugs found in the bedroom and how to identify them!
Bed Bugs
Let’s start with the thing most people will think of when discovering a critter in their bed - bed bugs! These nighttime feeders survive by drinking human blood while you sleep. As a result, they prefer to live close to where you sleep, including the seams of your mattress and headboard. However, they are not confined to these places and will generally make their home in any dark and narrow space, including cushions, luggage, electrical outlets, and even under wallpaper. They can breed rapidly, so pest control companies in Knoxville, TN, advise taking action promptly if you encounter bed bugs in your home.
You can identify bed bugs by their appearance and by the presence of unexplained blood stains on your sheets or nightwear. Bed bugs are tiny - no bigger than a small apple pip! They are red-brown in color, appearing more red following feeding. They are oval shaped and flat, although they do become bloated after feeding. They do not spread disease to humans, but their bites can be quite uncomfortable. They are one of the most challenging pests to eliminate, so it is essential to work with a reputable pest control company in Knoxville, TN, that offers thermal heat treatment, since it remains the most reliable and efficient way to eliminate bed bugs completely.
Fleas
One of the pests most often mistaken for bed bugs is the flea. These tiny, blood suckers have a few things in common with bed bugs, but they primarily feed on animal blood rather than humans. However, if your pets often sleep on your bed with you, they could leave fleas behind! They will bite humans if that is the closest option to feed from. Fleas don’t carry disease, but the bites can be red and itchy. They often show up near the ankles, typically arranged in small clusters or straight lines.
Fleas are much smaller than bed bugs, but can be similar in size to baby bed bugs. They are also wingless and oval shaped, so the confusion between them and bed bugs is easy to understand. A good indicator that you are dealing with fleas is that your pet is scratching incessantly. However, if you are unsure, pest control companies in Knoxville, TN, will be able to carry out an inspection and identify exactly which type of pest you are dealing with.
Ticks
It is rare to find a tick loose in your bedding since they are firmly attached to their host, but it is not impossible. Ticks may be carried in on your clothing or in a pet’s fur and get dropped in your bed before they have a chance to latch on. Like bed bugs and fleas, ticks drink blood, but they are far more dangerous, as they are known for carrying blood-borne diseases, including Lyme and Rocky Mountain Fever. Ticks are a little larger than bed bugs, and especially when engorged, they have a much larger and more noticeable abdomen. Depending on the species, the tick can range in colour from brown or black to red, and even exhibit some translucent shades. Fun fact - Ticks are actually arachnids and the adults have 8 legs like a spider!
Book Lice
Book lice are another commonly mistaken pest when bed bugs are suspected. Interestingly, despite their name, they aren’t true lice at all! They are also the only bug on our list that is not a blood drinker! Book lice are attracted to mold, fungi, and the glue commonly used in books and wallpaper. Book lice are very small and typically have a pale color, ranging from a translucent gray to light brown. You can differentiate them from bed bugs by the shape of their body, which is elongated with flat antennae. They thrive in high humidity areas.
In conclusion, while bed bugs are often the first suspect when you find an unwelcome visitor in your bed, they are far from the only tiny intruders that could be making themselves at home in your bedroom. From fleas and ticks to harmless book lice, several pests can be mistaken for bed bugs if you’re not sure what to look for. Correct identification is key to effective treatment, which is why it’s important to call on the expertise of professional pest control companies in Knoxville, TN, like Otis Pest Control. Their trained technicians can assess the situation, pinpoint the pest, and recommend the most effective treatment, giving you peace of mind and a pest-free place to rest your head.
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Otis Termite & Pest Control is a full-service pest control company with a focus on outstanding service. We have been serving the East Tennessee area for over 56 years and our reputation is built on prompt and effective service. We’re good at what we do and we’re fast. We do the job right the first time – and that’s an actual guarantee!
Call 865.690.1662 or visit www.otispestcontrol.net.
112 Hayfield Road 
