Waking up with itchy red marks and no idea where they came from is unsettling. Bed bugs are small, secretive, and good at hiding, so by the time most people notice them, there are often hundreds breeding in and around your mattress. This guide covers the early signs, how to confirm them, and what to do straight away.
What do Bed Bugs Look Like?
Adult bed bugs are about 5 mm long, flat, oval and reddish-brown, roughly the size of an apple seed. After feeding they become swollen and darker. Young bed bugs (nymphs) are smaller and paler, almost translucent, which makes them harder to spot.
Common Signs of Bed Bugs
- Itchy bites in lines or clusters. Bites often appear on exposed skin such as arms, shoulders, neck and legs, usually in rows or small groups. Bites to warmer regions of the body is common such as groin, armpits and the back.
- Small rusty or red spots on sheets. These are marks from crushed bugs or blood from a host.
- Tiny dark spots. Bed bug droppings look like small ink dots on mattress seams, bed frames and walls, and smear when wiped.
- Shed skins. Moulting bed bugs leave pale, empty casings behind.
- Eggs. Tiny, pale, rice-shaped eggs in cracks and crevices.
- A sweet, musty smell. A strong infestation can leave a noticeable odour in the room.
- Live bugs. Check mattress piping and seams, bed frame joints, headboards, bedside tables and behind skirting boards.
Where Bed Bugs Hide
Bed bugs hide within a few metres of where people sleep. Check:
- Mattress seams, tags and piping
- Bed frames and headboards, especially timber joints
- Behind picture frames and skirting boards
- Curtain folds, power outlets and the edges of carpet
- Luggage, soft furnishings and couches
Bed Bug Bites or Something Else?
Bed bug bites look similar to mosquito, flea and spider bites, so it is easy to misjudge them. The sign that points to bed bugs is evidence in the bed itself: spots, shed skins or live bugs. If you have bites but find nothing, a professional inspection can rule bed bugs in or out.
What to do if you find bed bugs
- Stay calm. Bed bugs are a nuisance and do not spread disease, and they are not a sign of poor hygiene.
- Do not move the items in the room Leave every item in the room as is, including clothing. You may sleep in another room as the bed bugs live in the mattress and surrounding items, no in or on your body. Moving items from the room will easily spread the infestations to other rooms in the house.
- Avoid cleaning: You can remove the clothing you are wearings and wash on the hottest setting the fabric allows, then dry on high heat. You must achieve over 60 degrees heat to kill bed bugs. Do not remove or clean items in the infested room until the first treatment is complete. Doing so can spread the infestation around the property.
- Avoid vacuuming – vacuuming will spread eggs and send adults into cracks and crevices. Leave the room undisturbed and get in professionals on the day you see them.
- Avoid bug bombs and DIY sprays. They often scatter bed bugs into new areas and make professional treatment harder. Bed bugs are resistant to most products the general public can purchase over the counter. Entomologists recommend professional treatment only.
- Call a professional. Bed bugs are hard to combat because eggs are sticky and difficult to see and remove. Reinfestation rates are high.A licensed technician will find the extent of the problem and treat it properly, thoroughly and monitor for reinfestation. Expect to need repeat treatments to ensure hidden eggs do not hatch and reinfest the building.
How Bundilla Treats Bed Bugs
Our technicians inspect the bed, furniture and surrounding areas, then treat them with approved effective products that are safe when used as directed. We also advise on preparation and follow-up so the problem does not come back. Read about our bed bug treatment service, see how to get rid of bed bugs off your body, or call (07) 5475 4660 to speak to our family-owned local team.
