Bed bugs can be a nightmare for any homeowner. These pests are small but create significant discomfort. Detecting an infestation early is critical, and images can help identify the warning signs more effectively. This guide outlines 10 clear signs of bed bugs and includes visuals to aid in spotting them.
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Unexplained Bite Marks on Skin
If you’re waking up with small red welts that itch intensely, it could be due to bed bug bites. These pests often bite in a line or cluster during the night when you’re asleep. The bites usually show up on exposed skin areas like the arms, legs, and neck.
Bed bug bites can resemble mosquito or flea bites, but the pattern and frequency are distinctive. If the bites become swollen or you notice them frequently, it’s time to inspect your bedding for additional signs.
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What Bed Bug Bites Look Like
Bed bug bites are small, red, and often appear in straight lines or clusters. They may cause significant itching and sometimes lead to allergic reactions.
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Red or Rust-Colored Stains on Bedding
Finding reddish-brown stains on your sheets or mattress is one of the key signs of a bed bug infestation. These stains occur when bed bugs are crushed while feeding, usually during sleep. They release the blood they’ve consumed, causing rust-colored marks.
These stains can be small and may not be immediately noticeable. If you find such marks, inspect the seams of your mattress for further evidence of bed bugs.
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What Causes These Stains
The stains are caused by bed bugs that have been accidentally squashed during the night. The blood they’ve fed on leaks out, leaving telltale rust-colored spots on the bedding.
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Dark Fecal Spots on Mattresses and Furniture
Bed bugs leave behind small, dark fecal spots that resemble ink dots. These spots are found on mattresses, furniture, and other areas where bed bugs hide. The spots are digested blood that the bugs have excreted, and their presence is a clear sign of an infestation.
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Recognizing Bed Bug Droppings
The droppings are dark and can appear as small clusters or dots. They are often found along mattress seams, bed frames, and furniture joints.
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Itchy, Irritated Skin
Itchy, irritated skin can often accompany bed bug bites. The irritation is caused by the anticoagulants injected by bed bugs while feeding. If your skin is persistently itchy, especially after waking up, you may have bed bugs in your bedding.
Bed bugs inject chemicals that can cause allergic reactions, leading to redness, swelling, and even small blisters. It’s essential to avoid scratching the bites to prevent secondary infections.
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When to Seek Medical Help for Skin Irritations
If the skin irritation worsens or results in a rash, it’s best to consult a healthcare provider. While bed bugs don’t transmit diseases, scratching bites can lead to infection.
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Molted Bed Bug Skins Around the House
As bed bugs grow, they shed their exoskeletons. These discarded skins are pale and translucent and can be found near your bed, on furniture, or even around baseboards. The presence of these molted skins indicates an ongoing infestation.
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Where to Find Bed Bug Exoskeletons
You can find these molted skins around mattress seams, headboards, and other cracks and crevices where bed bugs hide.
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A Musty, Sweet Odor
A strong, musty odor often accompanies severe bed bug infestations. This smell is a result of the pheromones bed bugs release when their numbers increase. The scent is usually most noticeable in enclosed spaces like bedrooms.
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Odor Signs from Large Infestations
The musty odor is more prominent when a large number of bed bugs are present. If you notice an unusual, sweet-smelling scent in your home, inspect for other signs of bed bugs.
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Live Bed Bugs in Your Bed
Spotting live bed bugs is the most definitive sign of an infestation. These small, brownish, oval-shaped insects are usually found hiding in mattress seams, headboards, or nearby furniture. Though nocturnal, bed bugs can sometimes be seen during the day if the infestation is severe.
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Best Places to Check for Bed Bugs
Check mattress seams, behind headboards, and in furniture crevices for live bed bugs. They hide in cracks and folds during the day and emerge at night to feed.
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Small Eggs or Eggshells
Bed bug eggs are tiny, white, and difficult to see without close inspection. They are usually laid in hidden areas, like mattress seams or cracks in furniture. Finding these eggs or their empty shells is a sign of an active bed bug infestation.
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How to Identify Bed Bug Eggs
Bed bug eggs are about the size of a pinhead, white in color, and usually found in clusters. They can be tricky to spot without a magnifying glass.
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Presence of Bed Bug Nymphs
Nymphs are immature bed bugs that are smaller and lighter in color than adult bugs. Seeing nymphs is a strong indication that bed bugs are breeding in your home. These younger bed bugs are still able to bite and feed on human blood.
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Stages of Bed Bug Development
Nymphs go through five stages of development, molting at each stage. You might find both nymphs and adult bed bugs near the same hiding places.
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Unusual Pet Behavior
Bed bugs don’t just bite humans—they can also affect your pets. Dogs and cats may become unusually itchy or restless if they are being bitten by bed bugs. Inspect your pet’s bedding or sleeping areas for any signs of bed bugs or their fecal spots.
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How Pets Can React to Bed Bugs
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Pets may scratch or groom themselves excessively if they are being bitten by bed bugs. Check your pet’s bedding for small, dark spots or other bed bug signs.
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By understanding these warning signs and using the accompanying images as a guide, you’ll be better equipped to identify a bed bug infestation early on and take the necessary steps to address it before it worsens.
We recently visited and treated a home with a bed bug infestation in Laurel Canyon, CA – near Tianna & Laurel Canyon Road. Call us for help with your home or business!