Detect bed bugs
How do I know if I have bed bugs? Which insects resemble bed bugs?
Signs of bed bugs may include itchy bites, small blood stains on sheets, a sweet odor, and traces such as shed skins or black specks of feces.
Be attentive to these clues to detect a possible infestation.
The five common signs of bed bugs
Bites and Rashes from Bed Bugs - The Ultimate Guide
What Do Bed Bug Bites Look Like? How can I tell if bed bugs bit me? How soon will I notice the bites? Are bed bug bites dangerous? How should I treat bed bug bites? Can my pets get bed bug bites?
How do you find bed bugs?
In 9 out of 10 cases bed bugs hide in furniture, mainly beds, in which humans rest, which means you should start to search for signs of bed bugs there.
Where to find bed bugs?
Start by checking sleeping areas!
I have found a bed bug, what do I do?
Try to capture it in a container, so you can verify that it is a bed bug.
Does dog search for bed bugs work?
Dogs have an incredibly keen sense of smell, and when properly trained for bed bug detection, they can detect the scent of bed bugs and their eggs.
Can bed bugs infest childrens toys?
Bed bugs may hide in children’s stuffed animals/toys.
Do pets spread bed bugs?
Normally not, they can carry bed bugs in their fur, but are not a primary host for bed bugs and not a major way of spreading them.
Detect bed bugs
To detect bed bugs, start by checking areas where people rest, especially mattresses, bed frames, and furniture joints. Look for reddish-brown bugs, white eggs, shed skins, or dark fecal spots. Bed bugs hide in dark, undisturbed places like cracks in walls, behind picture frames, or electrical outlets. If you find a bed bug, capture it for verification and inspect the room for further signs.
Bed bug bites usually appear in rows and cause red, itchy welts. They are not dangerous but can lead to irritation or allergic reactions. It can take up to two weeks for bite marks to appear. While the risk of disease transmission is low, bed bugs may carry pathogens like Chagas disease or antibiotic-resistant bacteria.
Pets are unlikely to get bed bug bites but may carry them in their fur. Dogs can be trained to detect bed bugs through their scent, offering a non-invasive detection method. Bed bugs can also infest children’s toys, but they do not spread through pets.