Signs of Bed Bugs - A Complete Guide

Bed bugs will hide in very small cracks and crevices and will usually visit their hosts a few hours before dusk to feed on their blood. Signs of bed bugs are very easy for pest control professionals to spot, but for the untrained person, it can be more difficult.

Here are some common signs of bed bugs.

Sign of bed bugs 1: The presence of live or dead bed bugs

Adult bed bugs are approximately ¼ - inch long (6.35 mm) – about the size of an apple seed – and
reddish-brown in color. Nymphs, or young bed bugs, can be translucent to pale yellow or tan in color, and smaller than their adult counterparts. All are visible to the naked eye.

Sign of bed bugs 2: Fecal smears

When bed bugs defecate, they leave behind “smears” of black fecal matter (in layman’s terms – poop). These smears may resemble what would happen if you touched a permanent marker to a piece of fabric.

Sign of bed bugs 3: Bed bug eggs

Bed bug eggs are pearly white and visible to the naked eye, although harder to detect because of their size – about 1/32-inch long (0.79375 mm), or approximately half the size of a grain of rice. They are typically found grouped together in clusters.

Sign of bed bugs 4: Odor

In extremely large infestations, a musty smell or odor similar to coriander or cilantro may indicate the presence of bed bugs.

Sign of bed bugs 5: Cast skin

Bed bugs molt as they grow, and when they do, they shed their skin and leave behind a “cast skin,” either as a whole shell or flakes of their previous skin.

Sign of bed bugs 6: Blood Stains

Small blood stains can be left behind on sheets or fabric when bite sites ooze or when humans unknowingly smash a bed bug.

Where Will I Find Bed Bugs?

• On the bed frame and mattress: Bed bugs tend to breed in all areas of the bed, mainly on the bedpan, mattress and mattress seams. You can check the cracks in the bed frame and headboard, the seams around the edges of the mattress and inside the headboard, and the bottom of the mattress itself. In addition, the seams of mattresses and pillows can be a hotbed for bed bugs.
• Around the floor: Bed bugs can breed on carpets or mats, in wood floors, and even in skirting.
• On walls: inside cracks in damaged walls, behind peeling wallpaper, or behind wooden decorative frames.
• Inside closets and cabinets: inside drawers and cabinets and inside closets. The main thing you need to pay attention to is the location of the gap.
• Inside electrical outlets or their accessories
• Furniture joints: including gaps between cabinets and between walls and floors.
• Sofa: Bed bugs can be found on sofa seams, the back of sofa covers and zippers.

Checklist for Finding Bed Bugs

What Should I Do After Finding Bed Bugs?

If you're not sure how to deal with bed bug-infested furniture in your home, you'll need to clean thoroughly and keep these areas sanitary and ventilated if you want to get rid of bed bugs quickly.

• Washing - Take out the cushion coverings of any other removable components from the bed, chair, sofa, couch, etc. and put them in the washing machine, disinfect bedding at 60°C for 90 minutes.
• Heating – Put bedding and cushions in a dryer. Run them on high heat for at least 30 minutes to completely eradicate bed bugs in all life stages. Regular bed bugs are dried at 60°C for 30 minutes or more, while "super bed bugs" recently discovered in Japan and Korea are more resistant and may require 90°C drying to get rid of.
• Vacuum - Vacuum beds, mattresses, and other areas where bed bugs may be found. Use a vacuum hose to clean the walls and edges. Then, go outside of the house and empty the vacuum cleaner dust bin.

What To Avoid When Dealing With Bed Bugs？

Bed bugs are resistant to many chemicals, and many of the chemicals available on the market have not performed well in practice. Recent discoveries of "super bed bugs" in various countries have even been reported to be completely immune to commonly prescribed bed bug chemicals.

The following protocols should be avoided as they may cause further spread of the infection and pose a risk to your family and pets.

• Do not spray insecticides or pesticides indoors. Commercially available pesticides and insecticides do not penetrate deep enough into the furniture and may not kill all the pests. Spraying indoors may cause health hazards to your family members by inhaling the pesticides.
• Do not dispose of infected furniture, as this will not only spread the infestation to other areas of the house as the furniture moves but also spread bed bugs to public areas. 

Damage and Consequences of Bed Bugs Infestation

1. Health Issues: While bed bugs are not known to transmit diseases, their bites can cause itching, redness, and swelling. Some individuals may experience severe allergic reactions requiring medical attention. The psychological impact can also include anxiety, stress, and sleep disturbances, I mean, heavily disturbed.

2. Spread and Infestation: Bed bugs reproduce quickly, A single bed bug can convert into an infestation in just 10 weeks (and by then will have started to invade neighboring rooms), so the need is to discover any infestation as soon as possible so that the risk of bed bug bites can be reduced. Without prompt treatment, a small problem can escalate into an outbreak throughout a home or building, making it more difficult and expensive to eliminate. 

3. Economic Costs: The longer bed bugs are present, the more costly it can be to eradicate them due to their growing numbers and the potential need for more extensive pest control measures, including professional extermination services, replacement of furniture, and sometimes even temporary relocation costs.

4. Property Damage: Over time, bed bugs can infest mattresses, furniture, curtains, and even walls and electrical outlets, leading to damage and decreased property value. Infested items often must be discarded to fully address the problem.

5. Reputation Damage: For businesses, especially in the hospitality industry, bed bug infestations can damage reputation, deter customers, and result in negative reviews, which can have a long-term impact on business and revenue.

Have You Noticed These Signs?

An inspection by Rentokil will help to confirm a problem and enable our Service Technicians to offer the best solution.

As part of our bed bug pest control services, Rentokil also passes on our expertise in the form of training for your staff on bed bug early warning signs. Contact our team to find out more.