![bed bug signs](https://www.bedbugbarrier.com.au/wp-content/uploads/bed-bug-signs-1.jpg)
Catching bed bugs early makes a world of difference in getting rid of them. Here’s how to spot the bed bug signs and understand their sneaky habits.
Bed Bug Signs
The 6 bed bug signs to look for
- Live or dead bed bugs
- Bite marks on your skin
- Blood stains on your sheets or mattress
- Black fecal spots on your skin, sheets, mattress, or bed frame
- Bed bug nests with bed bugs, eggs and castings
- A musty odour in the room
Bed Bug Bite Marks and Skin Reactions
First off, if you wake up with itchy, red spots that look like a connect-the-dots game gone wrong, you might have bed bugs. These bites usually show up in lines, clusters, or a zigzag pattern and can be super itchy. They’re often confused with other bug bites, but bed bug bites have their own unique style.
Symptom | Description |
---|---|
Appearance | Small, swollen red spots |
Pattern | Zigzag or “breakfast, lunch, dinner” pattern |
Itchiness | Super itchy |
Size | Smaller than a quarter-inch |
These bites usually pop up on your face, neck, arms, and hands—basically, anywhere that’s not covered while you sleep. They might not hurt at first, but they can stick around for days. If you’re itching to know more about how to get rid of bed bugs at home, check out our detailed guide.
![bed bug bites on leg](https://www.bedbugbarrier.com.au/wp-content/uploads/bed-bug-bites-on-leg-300x300px.jpg)
Bed Bug Bites
Bloodstains and Excrement
Other telltale bed bug signs? Bloodstains and bed bug poop on your sheets and furniture. Yep, it’s as gross as it sounds. Bed bug excrement looks like tiny black spots and can be found on mattresses, couches, and other furniture.
Sign | Description |
---|---|
Bloodstains | Small, round, reddish-brown spots |
Excrement | Tiny black or rusty-colored spots |
After a midnight snack, bed bugs leave behind sticky, black spots on your mattress or nearby furniture.
![Bed Bugs Droppings on Mattress](https://www.bedbugbarrier.com.au/wp-content/uploads/poo-on-mattress-300x300.jpg)
Bed Bug Excrement
Shed Skins and Eggshells
Bed bugs grow up fast, shedding their skins as they go. You’ll often find these shed skins and eggshells in the same places bed bugs like to hide—mattress seams, crevices, and furniture joints.
Sign | Description |
---|---|
Shed Skins | Translucent exoskeletons |
Eggshells | Tiny, white, and hard to see without magnification |
Finding these shed skins and eggshells is a strong bed bug sign that you have an active infestation.
By spotting these signs early, you can take quick action to kick those bed bugs to the curb.
![Bed Bug Eggs & Shell Castings](https://www.bedbugbarrier.com.au/wp-content/uploads/Bed-Bug-Eggs-and-Shell-Castings.jpg)
Bed Bug Eggs and Shell Castings
Bed Bug Detection Methods
Spotting bed bug signs early is key to kicking them out for good. There are a few ways to catch these sneaky pests, each with its own level of accuracy and ease.
Visual Inspections
One of the go-to methods for finding bed bugs is simply looking for them. This means getting up close and personal with your mattress seams, bed frames, and furniture nooks.
When you’re on the hunt, keep an eye out for live bugs, eggs, and droppings. Bed bug eggs are tiny, white, and usually found in clusters. Bloodstains on your sheets and shed skins are also red flags.
Canine Detection
Dogs aren’t just man’s best friend—they’re bed bugs’ worst enemy. Specially trained dogs can sniff out bed bugs with impressive accuracy, hitting up to 97%. However, their sensitivity can range from 44% to 95%.
These dogs are trained to smell live bed bugs and their eggs, making them great for catching even small infestations. Just remember, false positives can happen, so it’s best to call in the pros for a reliable canine inspection.
How To Get Rid of Bed Bugs on a Bed Frame
Step 1: Secure the Mattress
Cover your sleeping mattress with a mattress cover. This will trap and kill by starving them.
Step 2: Treat the bed frame
Use a Steamer to steam the entire bed frame to kill them instantly.
Dust the entire bed frame with Diatomaceous Earth (Killer powder) using a powder duster.
Step 3: Set Up Barriers or Tape
To protect yourself from bed bugs in the room, use our barriers:
Floor Barriers:
Place bed legs in the Floor Barrier, dusting powder inside the tray and barrier.
Barrier Tape:
For bed legs larger than 65mm, use our barrier tape and dust the powder around the bed leg and floor.
Keep your bed at least 30cm away from walls and other furniture.
How To Get Rid of Bed Bugs on an Ensembe Bed
Step 1: Secure the Mattress
Cover your sleeping mattress with a mattress cover. This will trap and kill by starving them.
Step 2: Treat the Ensemble Base
Stand the base on its end, remove the wheels, and cover it with an ensemble base cover. Screw the wheels back into the base.
Step 3: Set Up Barriers
To protect yourself from bed bugs in the room, use barriers:
Screw-in Barriers: Attach the Screw in Barriers to the legs of the ensemble beds. Apply Kiler powder inside and outside the barriers and on the wheels.
Floor Barriers: Place bed legs in the Floor Barrier, dusting Killer powder inside the tray and barrier.
Keep your bed at least 30cm away from walls and other furniture.
Following these steps will ensure they are effectively eliminated from your bed and room, allowing you to sleep peacefully, knowing you’re protected.
How to Prevent Bed Bugs
Stopping bed bugs before they start is the best strategy. Here’s how to keep them at bay:
- Check Hotel Mattresses When Traveling: Always inspect the mattress and bedding for bed bug signs. Look for small blood spots, dark fecal stains, and live bugs.
- After Traveling: Wash all your clothes in hot water and disinfect your luggage upon returning. For items you can’t wash, place them in a sealed plastic bag and freeze them for four days to kill any them.
- Avoid Second-Hand Furniture or Mattresses: Refrain from bringing second-hand furniture or mattresses into your home.
- Diatomaceous Earth: Apply DE to power points and electrical outlets to prevent them from entering your home from neighbouring units.
- Apply Diatomaceous Earth to your bed frame. It’s a great prevention method because, unlike all other chemicals, DE works to kill them indefinitely unless it’s removed.
- Traveling Guests: Guests who have recently travelled may inadvertently bring them into your home. Wash their clothes in hot water and disinfect their luggage.
- New Housemates from Backpacker Hostels: New housemates staying in backpacker hostels might carry bed bugs. Wash their clothes in hot water and disinfect their luggage.
Frequentlty Asked Questions:
- Will I notice if I have bed bugs?
Yes, you will notice if you have bed bugs if you react to their bites, but if you don’t react, you may not know until you notice other bed bug signs such as bite marks on your skin, blood stains on sheets, fecal spots on your mattress, eggs and shells on the bed frame, or a musty odor in the room. - How to check for bed bugs in Australia?
To check for bed bug signs, examine the mattress, piping, and tags; inspect the joints and cracks of your bed; check nearby furniture and behind picture frames; look behind loose wallpaper, in wall cracks, and under carpets. - Do I have bed bugs or am I just paranoid?
Bed bug paranoia is real. Here’s how to determine if your fears are justified: look for physical evidence like bed bug bites in clusters or lines, examine the mattress, inspect the bed frame, and check nearby furniture, loose wallpaper, cracks in walls, and carpets.
Sources:
Department of Health WA (Bed bugs), Oxford Academic (Perspectives on Biology and Management of Bed Bugs ), National Library of Medicine (Bed Bugs: Clinical Relevance and Control Options )
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