How to Spot Bed Bugs: Detection Guide
How to Spot Bed Bugs: Detection Guide
Fecal Spots: Look for tiny, dark brown/black spots that resemble ink marks, primarily found along mattress seams, tags, and bed frame crevices. This is the most reliable evidence.
Shed Skins (Exoskeletons): Find light brown, hollow, translucent "shells" of the bugs near their hiding places.
Blood Stains: Small, rust-colored smears on bedding, left when a feeding bug is accidentally crushed.
Live Bugs & Eggs: Adults are flat, oval, reddish-brown, and about the size of an apple seed. Eggs are tiny, white, and often glued to surfaces.
Immediate Steps to Take When Bed Bugs are Found
Stop Moving Items: Do not transfer mattresses, furniture, or clothes to other rooms, as this spreads the infestation.
Bag and Heat Treat Fabrics: Immediately seal all bedding and washable clothes in plastic bags. Wash in hot water and dry on the highest heat setting for at least 30 minutes to kill all life stages.
Vacuum Thoroughly: Use a stiff brush to dislodge eggs and vacuum the mattress, frame, and surrounding area. Immediately seal and dispose of the vacuum bag outside.
Isolate the Bed: Place a certified, zippered bed bug encasement on both your mattress and box spring.
Contact a Professional: Bed bugs are extremely difficult to eliminate through DIY methods and require specialized, targeted treatments for full eradication.
