Early Signs of Bed Bugs

The sooner you can tell if you have a bed bug infestation, the better.

You can have bed bugs for up to 7 weeks and not even know it. By then, your home may be full of these terrible, blood-sucking pests. But if you can identify a bed bug infestation early, you can save yourself a lot of time and stress.

These are the top signs our bed bug exterminators look for when helping someone determine whether or not they have bed bugs.

Bed bug bites

Waking up itchy in the middle of the night is a telltale sign that bed bugs may have infested your home. Bed bug bites, or “breakfast” as they are sometimes called, can result in a red welt on your skin and an itchy feeling.

Bed bugs tend to bite more exposed areas of the body like arms, hands, and feet. These areas are usually exposed, so they’re accessible when you’re sleeping.

Blood spots on bedding or clothing.

Blood spots may also be a sign of bed bug bites. Since not everyone reacts to bed bug bites, you may not even notice them. But if you see tiny blood droplets staining your linens, you may want to check your home for bed bugs.

Bed bug feces.

Bed bug excrement is a mixture of blood and feces. It appears as rusty or brownish spots on sheets, mattresses, bed clothes, and walls. This excrement is often found in clusters around areas where the bug has been feeding.

The stains may also appear near the folds of the fabric where they have been protected from washing.

Bed bug eggs and casings.

Bed bugs will lay their eggs in crevices and cracks in the seams of mattresses, box springs, bed frames, and headboards. As bed bugs hatch and grow into maturity, they will leave their eggs and casings behind.