How to check for bed bugs — and what to do if you find them

Bed bugs are a worldwide nuisance and have become a growing problem.

Bed bugs: What they are and where they hide

Bed bugs are small, parasitic insects that feed on the blood of humans or animals. They do not transmit diseases, but their bites can cause itching, discomfort, and allergic reactions.

Bed bugs are experts at hiding in small spaces; spotting them requires close inspection — particularly of sleeping areas. Bed bugs are most active at night when people are sleeping. During the day, they hide in dark, concealed places such as the seams of mattresses, bed frames, furniture crevices, baseboards, and even electrical outlets.

Bed bugs are reddish-brown in color. They do not have wings. They are small (about the size of an apple seed or smaller) and flat, which allows them to squeeze into tiny spaces.

Bed bugs can survive for months without feeding, which allows them to remain hidden until the conditions are right for them to emerge. For this reason, many people may have an infestation without realizing it until it becomes active.

Even when the bugs are active, low-level infestations are hard to detect, and most people only see signs of bed bugs rather than the bugs themselves. If you have a large number of bed bugs, you may see the bugs.

Early signs of bed bugs

The first signs of bed bugs are often small, itchy bites on your skin, face, neck, arms, hands, or other body parts that you notice after arising from sleep. Bed bug bites typically occur in clusters rather than as individual bites. However, some people may not show any marks or experience any itching at all.

Other signs that suggest you may have bed bugs in your home include:

• blood spots, which may look like rusty or reddish stains, on sheets or mattresses from crushed bugs
• tiny, pale yellow eggs or eggshells, about the size of a pinhead, often found near seams and crevices
• black dots the size of a period (this is bed bug excrement)
• shed skins, which look like the bugs themselves
• live bed bugs in the folds of mattresses or sheets
• a sweet, musty odor around your sleeping area.

How to perform a thorough bed bug inspection

The only way to stop bed bug bites is to eliminate the bugs. Identifying and eliminating the infestation early can prevent the bugs from spreading and causing further discomfort.

Dermatologists and pest control experts recommend carefully looking for signs of bed bugs in and around areas where people sleep. To perform a bed bug inspection, follow these steps:

• Prepare your tools. A flashlight, magnifying glass, gloves, and a credit card or a flat-edged tool to inspect small crevices can all help reveal bed bugs.
• Inspect your bed. Bed bugs like to hide in and around beds, hence their name. Start your inspection by examining the mattress and box spring. Remove all bedding and check for the signs of bed bugs described above. Pay special attention to seams, piping, and tags on the mattress and box spring. Use your flashlight and flat-edge tool to investigate cracks and crevices where bed bugs might hide.
• Remember the bed frame and headboard. Use the flashlight to examine the bed frame and the headboard. Bed bugs are often found in small cracks and crevices. Don't forget to check screw holes, joints, and any gaps where bed bugs can hide.
• Check nearby furniture. Inspect bedside tables, dressers, and other furniture near the bed. Look at seams, drawer joints, and under furniture. Bed bugs can hide in the smallest of spaces, so be thorough.
• Examine upholstery. Bed bugs can also hide in chairs, sofas, and other upholstered furniture. Use the flashlight and flat-edged tool to inspect seams, tufts, and under cushions.
• Inspect the room's perimeter. Check baseboards, electrical outlets, light switches, and cracks in the walls. Bed bugs can hide in wall voids, so look for any signs of infestation.
• Use bed bug traps. Bed bug interceptors are traps that you can make or buy and place under the legs of furniture to catch bed bugs and keep them from climbing the legs. Place bed bug interceptors under each leg of the bed and other furniture to catch any bugs that may be attempting to climb up.

What to do if you find bed bugs

If you suspect a bed bug infestation, act quickly to prevent it from getting worse. Female bed bugs lay one to three eggs per day.

• Start by thoroughly cleaning your living space.
• Wash all bedding, linens, curtains, and clothing in hot water and dry them on the highest setting to kill bugs and eggs.
• Vacuum your mattress, bed frame, furniture, and floors, focusing especially on cracks and crevices where bed bugs can hide. Seal vacuum bags immediately after use to prevent them from spreading further.
• Encase mattresses and box springs in bed bug–proof covers to trap any remaining bugs and prevent new ones from getting in.
• Declutter your home. Bed bugs are experts at hiding in small spaces.

If you choose to handle a bed bug infestation on your own, there are more than 300 products approved by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to control bed bugs. You can use the EPA's Bed Bug Product Search tool to find the best pesticide for your needs.

Consider hiring a professional pest control service experienced in bed bug eradication for severe infestations. They may use heat treatments, insecticides, or other methods to eliminate pests effectively.