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Many people are familiar with the popular refrain, “good night, sleep tight, don’t let the bed bugs bite,” but not many of us can actually identify bed bug bites. This article will walk you through how to identify bed bug bites on your skin and confirm that you're dealing with a bed bug infestation (and not something else). [1] X Research source
Steps
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Look for slightly discolored, pin-like raised red dots. These dots are usually about 0.2 cm to 0.5 cm in diameter, and may be in a line. You may also see hives or wheals that are significantly redder than the surrounding skin. [2] X Expert Source Kevin Carrillo
Pest Control Specialist Expert Interview. 22 October 2019.- Note that 1 centimeter is equal to 0.4 inches.
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See if you have new bug bites when you wake up. If you wake up with fresh bug bites or itchy welts, you likely have bed bugs. See if they look and feel like mosquito or flea bites—bed bug bites are often red and slightly swollen, itchy, and irritating like other bug bites. Look for a series of bites that appear in a line or a random grouping of bites, as a single bed bug may bite several times in a row.. [3] X Research source
- If you’re experiencing new bites during the day, it’s likely not bed bugs.
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Watch out for signs of an allergy. If you’re allergic to bed bugs, you might find that you develop hives or a rash similar to eczema or a fungal infection. [4] X Expert Source Kevin Carrillo
Pest Control Specialist Expert Interview. 22 October 2019. Also check to see if the bites are getting larger, are painfully swelling, or even exuding a pus. These are also common signs of an allergy to bed bug bites. [5] X Trustworthy Source Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Main public health institute for the US, run by the Dept. of Health and Human Services Go to source- Note that it can take up to 2 weeks for your body to fully react to a bed bug bite.
- Consult a doctor if you develop a severe reaction to the bite.
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Look for live bugs in your bed. Check for reddish-brown, wingless, flat insects that are about 0.1 cm to 0.7 cm. Examine the folds of mattresses and sheets for the bugs. [6] X Expert Source Kevin Carrillo
Pest Control Specialist Expert Interview. 22 October 2019. Also look for exoskeletons that bed bugs might have shed. Search for tiny white eggs or eggshells or white bed bug larvae. [7] X Research source- Recall that 0.4 cm is the equivalent of 1/10th of an inch.
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Examine your sheets. Look for reddish or rusty stains on your sheets. These might be caused either by crushed bugs or by the bugs’ fecal matter. Wipe any dark or red dots you see on your bedding. If they smear or spread, they are likely bed bug excrement. [8] X Trustworthy Source United States Environmental Protection Agency Independent U.S. government agency responsible for promoting safe environmental practices Go to source
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Inspect your bed frame. Look for any signs of bed bugs in your bed frame and in the space between your bed frame and the wall. Also look for bed bugs around your headboard. Check for them in the piping, seams, and tags of your sheets, mattress, and box spring. [9] X Expert Source Kevin Carrillo
Pest Control Specialist Expert Interview. 22 October 2019. Be sure to look inside pillow cases and on any throw pillows you might have on your bed. -
Look for bed bugs in other furniture. Check under chair cushions, look in the seams of chairs and couches, and examine the joints of drawers. [10] X Expert Source Kevin Carrillo
Pest Control Specialist Expert Interview. 22 October 2019. -
Search other small spaces. Look for bed bugs under loose wallpaper and wall hangings. Peer into electrical outlets, and in the spaces where the wall meets the ceiling and the floor. Also look for the bugs in the folds of curtains. [11] X Trustworthy Source United States Environmental Protection Agency Independent U.S. government agency responsible for promoting safe environmental practices Go to source
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Check for a slightly sweet, musty odor. If the area where you suspect bed bugs has a funky smell, it’s a good indication of an infestation. Bed bugs release chemicals to help them communicate, which may lead to a sweet scent in your bedroom. [12] X Trustworthy Source American Academy of Dermatology Professional organization made of over 20,000 certified dermatologists Go to source
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What Are Early Signs Of Bed Bugs?
Join the Discussion...
I truly, deeply hate to say it...but I'm afriad that I have bed bugs. I haven't found a beg bug YET, but I've been waking up itchy all week. I'm concerned there could be an infestation because I've heard if there's one there's usually many. How do I check for bed bugs? More importantly, what do I do?? Thank you so much!
There are all kinds of treatment options, but I think the heat treatments are probably the best if you want to do it yourself. The trick is you have to heat up each room as fast as possible. And the reason I say this is because, you know, bedbugs, they can travel, I believe, 10 to 14 feet per minute. So, your average room is 12 by 12. You know, so once you start heating something up, if it's not fast enough, the bedbug could go into a cold pocket or wall outlet, etc. But once you get the heat high enough, you only need to leave it on for 2-3 hours to get rid of the bedbugs.
Now, what we like to do and what you can use yourself is a direct forced air heater. Direct heaters are better because you're heating up the areas where you’re likely to have bedbugs. Let's say you're doing a bedbug treatment in a bedroom. You strip down the bed, you check the dressers, and you say, holy smokes, there's a lot of bedbug activity. What you will do is you'll use a heat gun to heat up that specific area, and it will heat it up so quickly that nothing can survive.
Now, what we like to do and what you can use yourself is a direct forced air heater. Direct heaters are better because you're heating up the areas where you’re likely to have bedbugs. Let's say you're doing a bedbug treatment in a bedroom. You strip down the bed, you check the dressers, and you say, holy smokes, there's a lot of bedbug activity. What you will do is you'll use a heat gun to heat up that specific area, and it will heat it up so quickly that nothing can survive.
If bedbugs are detected early on, and it's a low-level isolated infestation, it's completely treatable on your own. The first step is always going to be a thorough inspection of your home. Starting at the bed and working your way out from there. Ideally, you want to have a good high-powered flashlight with you to look in all the cracks and crevices.
Whenever you're able to find bedbugs, you can simply remove them either by vacuuming and disposing of a vacuum bag. You can use Isopropyl rubbing alcohol with at least 80% concentration. Steam is also hot enough to kill bedbugs if you apply it directly to the area for a couple of seconds.
There are a couple of different types of "bedbug traps" on the market that emit CO2, which is what we breathe out all day long, and there's also usually a backup bed bug pheromone. You open the trap and put it in a box and ideally, a bed bugs will get trapped. Just make sure you're not in the room at the same time, or else the bed bugs may be attracted to you instead.
Whenever you're able to find bedbugs, you can simply remove them either by vacuuming and disposing of a vacuum bag. You can use Isopropyl rubbing alcohol with at least 80% concentration. Steam is also hot enough to kill bedbugs if you apply it directly to the area for a couple of seconds.
There are a couple of different types of "bedbug traps" on the market that emit CO2, which is what we breathe out all day long, and there's also usually a backup bed bug pheromone. You open the trap and put it in a box and ideally, a bed bugs will get trapped. Just make sure you're not in the room at the same time, or else the bed bugs may be attracted to you instead.
Expert Q&A
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QuestionHow do you treat bed bug bites?Kevin Carrillo is a Pest Control Specialist and the Senior Project Manager for MMPC, a pest control service and certified Minority-owned Business Enterprise (MBE) based in the New York City area. MMPC is certified by the industry’s leading codes and practices, including the National Pest Management Association (NPMA), QualityPro, GreenPro, and The New York Pest Management Association (NYPMA). MMPC's work has been featured in CNN, NPR, and ABC News.Treat the bites the same as you would any other insect bite. Use something soothing like calamine lotion while you wait for them to heal. If you're having a bad reaction and the bites aren't going away, talk to a dermatologist. They'll most likely recommend some kind of steroidal cream to apply to the bites.
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QuestionWhat bugs can be mistaken for bed bugs?Kevin Carrillo is a Pest Control Specialist and the Senior Project Manager for MMPC, a pest control service and certified Minority-owned Business Enterprise (MBE) based in the New York City area. MMPC is certified by the industry’s leading codes and practices, including the National Pest Management Association (NPMA), QualityPro, GreenPro, and The New York Pest Management Association (NYPMA). MMPC's work has been featured in CNN, NPR, and ABC News.The most common bugs that are mistaken for bed bugs include carpet beetles, cockroach nymphs, Shiny Spider beetles, and book lice.
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QuestionCan you see bed bugs with the naked eye?Kevin Carrillo is a Pest Control Specialist and the Senior Project Manager for MMPC, a pest control service and certified Minority-owned Business Enterprise (MBE) based in the New York City area. MMPC is certified by the industry’s leading codes and practices, including the National Pest Management Association (NPMA), QualityPro, GreenPro, and The New York Pest Management Association (NYPMA). MMPC's work has been featured in CNN, NPR, and ABC News.Absolutely. Bed bugs, nymphs, and all of their forms are 100% visible as long as you have proper lighting. Bed bug eggs are also visible to the human eye and are usually the size of a pinhead.
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Tips
- Bed bugs aren’t known to spread disease, so don’t worry about that. [13] X Trustworthy Source PubMed Central Journal archive from the U.S. National Institutes of Health Go to sourceThanks
- Do you have bed bugs? Take steps to get rid of them before the infestation gets worse! You can also treat your bed bug bites to make them less itchy.Thanks
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References
- ↑ https://www1.maine.gov/dacf/php/gotpests/bugs/documents/bed-bug-harvard.pdf
- ↑ Kevin Carrillo. Pest Control Specialist. Expert Interview. 22 October 2019.
- ↑ https://www1.maine.gov/dacf/php/gotpests/bugs/documents/bed-bug-harvard.pdf
- ↑ Kevin Carrillo. Pest Control Specialist. Expert Interview. 22 October 2019.
- ↑ https://www.cdc.gov/bed-bugs/about/
- ↑ Kevin Carrillo. Pest Control Specialist. Expert Interview. 22 October 2019.
- ↑ http://ipm.ucanr.edu/PMG/PESTNOTES/pn7454.html
- ↑ https://www.epa.gov/bedbugs/how-find-bed-bugs
- ↑ Kevin Carrillo. Pest Control Specialist. Expert Interview. 22 October 2019.
- ↑ Kevin Carrillo. Pest Control Specialist. Expert Interview. 22 October 2019.
- ↑ https://www.epa.gov/bedbugs/how-find-bed-bugs
- ↑ https://www.aad.org/public/diseases/a-z/bed-bugs-prevention
- ↑ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3617843/
About This Article
Article Summary
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To identify bed bug bites, look at your skin first thing in the morning. Check places that are exposed when you sleep or covered by loose clothing. If you see fresh bites in a line or grouped together, they’re likely from bed bugs, which bite several times a night. Additionally, check the color and size of your bites. If your bites are raised, red, and about 0.2-0.5 cm in diameter, they’re probably from bed bugs. For information from our Medical reviewer on how to check your bed for bed bugs, read on!
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