5 Early Signs of Bed Bugs (With Pictures)

Worried you might have bed bugs? Spotting signs of bed bugs early can make a significant difference in the severity of an infestation. 

In this post, we’ll break down five of the most common early signs of bed bugs to help you spot an infestation before it gets out of hand. From bed bug bites to blood stains and shed skins, these warning signs can help you determine when it’s time to take action. If you notice any of these red flags, it’s important to contact a pest control professional to inspect your home and recommend the right treatment plan.

First Things First— Check These Bed Bug Hiding Places

Bed bugs tend to stay hidden in crevices in nearby furniture like mattresses (particularly mattress seams), headboards, bed frames, box springs, and couches until they emerge at night to feed. Some homeowners have even reported seeing bed bugs living in cracks in their baseboards or behind loose wallpaper. Though bed bugs can hide in a variety of places, they won’t want to stray far from their food source. You’ll want to check rooms and areas where people spend a lot of time staying still, especially your sleeping space.

First Sign of Bed Bugs:

Live Bed Bugs

The most obvious sign of bed bugs is spotting a live bed bug, as you can see in this photo. Bed bugs are tiny reddish-brown insects about the size of an apple seed. They are sometimes mistaken for fleas and other tiny pests. Due to their sneaky nature and small size, it’s not particularly common to spot a bed bug. If you find bed bugs, you can attempt to retrieve one of the insects using a plastic bag. That way, if you need to call a pest control company, you can show them a live sample.

Second Sign of Bed Bugs:

Bed Bug Bites

Bed bugs feed on blood by biting victims while they sleep. When bed bugs bite, they leave behind tiny itchy welts that resemble hives. Because everyone’s body is different, physical appearance and symptoms of bites can vary. Bites aren’t necessarily indicative of a bed bug problem — flea bites and even mosquito bites can be similar. If you’ve woken up with skin irritation due to bite marks alongside other signs of bed bugs, you may want to call a pest control company to provide an inspection.

Third Sign of Bed Bugs:

Blood Stains & Droppings

Most people don’t notice bed bugs when they’re being bitten–but they will notice aftermath like bloodstains on their sheets. In addition, bed bugs will leave behind fecal matter. If you notice tiny reddish brown or rusty spots on your linens, you could be looking at bed bug excrement. Feces may get smudged from movement while sleeping. Smears on sheets could be either droppings or blood, but both may be early indicators of the presence of bed bugs.

Fourth Sign of Bed Bugs:

Shed Exoskeletons or Eggs

As bed bugs mature and move through their different life stages, they will begin to shed exoskeletons on bedsheets and other surfaces near their food source. This process is called molting. These casings are even smaller than adult bed bugs, but since they are stationary, they can be easier to spot than live bed bugs.

Bed bug eggs may also be present. Once a female bed bug has grown from a nymph to an adult, she will begin to lay eggs. A female can lay anywhere between 3-8 eggs per week. Bed bug eggs are very small and look like tiny creamy-white specks.

Fifth Sign of Bed Bugs:

Unusual Odors

Experts have mixed opinions on whether or not bed bugs have a smell. That said, if you’re experiencing any of other potential signs of bed bugs, and you’re noticing unexplained musty smells, you may have more reason to believe you’ve got an infestation on your hands. Bed bugs, like most creatures, emit pheromones. These pheromones will smell different from person to person, and some people don’t notice any kind of odor when bed bugs are present. We don’t typically consider this a telltale sign unless it’s coupled with other evidence, but it can certainly be something you pick up on in the early stages of a bed bug problem.