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Signs of a bed bug infestation
Stains, shed skins, eggs, odour: the concrete clues to look for, and in what order.
A bed bug rarely shows itself. It is the traces it leaves that give it away, often weeks before you ever see a live insect.
The six signs to know
1. Clustered bites on waking
Often in lines or small clusters, on skin left uncovered during sleep. Note: some people do not react to bites at all. The absence of marks proves nothing.
2. Small black spots
These are droppings. You find them on sheets, mattress seams, the box spring, behind the headboard, sometimes on the wall. They look like dots made with a fine marker and smear slightly if rubbed with a damp cloth.
3. Blood stains
Small rust-coloured marks on sheets or pillowcases, from a bed bug crushed during sleep.
4. Shed skins
Translucent amber casings shaped like an empty bed bug. Each individual moults five times before adulthood: their presence means a population is developing on site.
5. Eggs
White, about 1 mm, glued in clusters inside cracks, seams and joints. Very hard to spot without a light.
6. An odour
In heavy infestations, a sweetish, slightly sugary smell can hang in the room.
Where to look, in order
The bed
Mattress seams and folds, box spring corners and straps, screws and joints of the frame, headboard — especially the side against the wall.
Around the bed
Night tables (including underneath and behind the drawers), bedside lamp, electrical outlets, baseboards.
Fabrics and seating
Sofa and armchairs, cushion seams, curtains touching the floor, rugs.
The rest of the room
Door and window frames, mouldings, loose wallpaper, picture frames on the wall.
Important: if you find traces, do not start emptying furniture and moving bedding into the living room. That is how an infestation limited to a bed spreads through the whole home.
Found something?
Photograph it, note where it was, and call us at 514-570-1072. An inspection will confirm the real extent.
Not sure? Let's talk today.
Tell us what you have seen: we will tell you honestly whether it is bed bugs and what the best course of action is.