Bed bugs are a major concern in homes, hotels, and travel hubs across Maryland. These small bugs are expert hitchhikers, often spreading through luggage, clothing, furniture, and even public transportation.
Once inside, they reproduce quickly and can be difficult to eliminate without professional treatment. Identifying the signs of an infestation early is essential to prevent bed bugs from spreading and causing greater damage.
The good news is that spotting them is something you can do yourself, but you’ll need professional bed bug control to clean them up. Nevertheless, with a close eye, flashlight, and maybe even a credit card, you can spot the signs of bedbugs on your own.
How to Check for Bed Bugs
While bed bugs are easily identifiable, they don’t always hide where you might expect. The real trick is knowing where to look.
While they most commonly dwell in beds, they aren’t exclusive to them. They can be found hiding on many surfaces throughout any dwelling, especially in places where humans typically rest.
This step-by-step guide will help you locate these annoying pests.
Step 1: Inspect Mattresses and Box Springs
As the name suggests, bed bugs love to make their homes in box springs and mattresses.
Start by removing any sheets and checking the bed surfaces thoroughly. Using a flashlight, look closely at these areas:
- Seams, tufts, and folds of the mattress.
- The underside of the mattress and any fabric labels.
- Along the edges and corners of the box spring.
Simply looking might not be enough. A thin credit card can be used to push out any bed bugs, eggs, or droppings hidden in tight spots.
If you see reddish-brown stains, tiny black spots (fecal matter), or shed skins in these areas, they are strong signs of bed bugs.
Step 2: Check Bed Frames, Headboards, and Footboards
Bed bugs don’t limit themselves just to beds and soft surfaces. They can often be found lurking in crevices and cracks throughout any dwelling.
In your hunt for bed bugs, you should be sure to inspect the following spots of your bed frame:
- Joints, screw holes, and connection points.
- The back of the headboard, especially if it’s attached to the wall.
- The base of the footboard and side rails.
Step 3: Look Along Baseboards and Wall Cracks
Moving away from the bed, inspect areas you might least expect to find bed bugs. They’ll often hide in baseboards, wall cracks, and many other surprising places. Using a flashlight, check these areas around your home, keeping an eye out for any signs of bed bugs.
Step 4: Examine Furniture and Upholstery
Any piece of furniture in your home can provide a perfect hiding place for bed bugs, giving them plenty of opportunities to latch onto humans. Just like with a mattress or box spring, it’s important to be thorough when inspecting couches, chairs, and sofas.
Use a flashlight and a credit card to check seams, flip cushions, look underneath and between joints, and carefully examine fabric folds, tufts, and edges for any signs of activity.
Step 5: Inspect Curtains, Carpets, and Rugs
More than just furniture, bed bugs can be found in curtains, rugs, and carpets. They won’t live in the fibers like fleas, but can be found in the cracks and edges. Pay attention to the following:
- Seams of curtain panels.
- The edges of rugs and carpets near walls and furniture.
- Underneath rugs where fibers meet flooring.
Step 6: Check Electrical Outlets and Light Switches
Again, bed bugs can be found in the least likely areas. In extreme infestations, they may hide in electrical outlets and light switches. If you find bed bugs in these areas, you should call professional help immediately.
Step 7: Use Flashlights and Bed Bug Detection Tools
In addition to a flashlight and a credit card, you can also place sticky traps and interceptor cups at suspected hiding spots to capture any that travel around those areas.
In extreme cases, professionals may even use canines and CO2 monitors to track bed bugs. You likely won’t need to go this far for a DIY inspection, but it goes to show how thorough you need to be as you perform the aforementioned steps.
Signs That Indicate a Bed Bug Infestation
When searching for bed bugs, simply spotting the insects themselves isn’t the only indicator to watch out for. They’re small and sometimes hard to see.
The fact that they hide in tight spots and dark areas makes things even more challenging. Thankfully, other clues indicate a bed bug infestation. As you check your home for bed bugs, you should look for the following signs:
- Red or brown stains on sheets and mattresses from crushed bugs.
- Tiny black spots (fecal droppings) along seams or on walls.
- Shed exoskeletons or translucent shells near hiding places.
- Eggs, which are pearly white and about the size of a pinhead.
- Bites on your skin, often appearing in clusters or lines.
When to Call a Pest Control Professional
Treating your home for bed bugs can be frustrating and difficult. It becomes more so as the severity of the infestation increases. If you’ve spotted bed bugs in multiple areas throughout your home, it’s best to bring in a professional to take care of the problem.
You should feel comfortable calling a pest control specialist at any point when you suspect a bed bug infestation. Even if you haven’t found them yet, you can lean on a pro’s expertise to help you with that if you don’t feel comfortable doing it yourself.
From there, they can use swift and effective methods to get the problem under control and get you back to sleeping worry-free as soon as possible.
FAQs
Where do bed bugs hide during the day?
They can hide in many places in your home, usually around beds and furniture. Typically, they’ll lurk in the cracks, crevices, and seams.
Can bed bugs live in couches and chairs?
Yes. Bed bugs can be found in couches, chairs, and any other piece of furniture. They also often hide in wall cracks, baseboards, and even electrical outlets.
How small are bed bugs and their eggs?
Bed bug eggs are very small, typically around 1mm in length. Adult bed bugs are much larger. The average adult measures 4 to 5mm in length, about the size of an apple seed.
Do bed bugs only live in dirty homes?
No. This is a myth. Bed bugs can be found in any home, regardless of how clean it is. They’re attracted to humans, warmth, and carbon dioxide.