What bed bugs (or bedbugs) look like depends partly on their life stage and whether they’ve just had a blood meal or not. You need to know that the adults are about the size of an apple seed, and the youngest nymphs can be the size of a speck of dirt. In other words, very difficult to see. The unfed nymphs are light-colored, whereas a bed bug that has fed will be red, rust, or brown in color. Here is a photo of a colony of bed bugs of various stages.
They also hide well. They can be very thin (like a piece of paper) and can slip into cracks. They may be hiding in places you do not think anything can get into. Though they prefer to feed late at night (around 3-5 am seems to be ideal), they may bite you without your knowledge, during the night or day, in bed or while you sit in a chair or on a sofa. You can be bitten for months and months without seeing an actual bug dead or alive. And the bites can be hard to identify, and can look like several other conditions–and they don’t look the same on everyone. Our bed bug bites photos page gives you some idea of the variations. (More on some of the other conditions you might have instead are below.)
Here is a photo used with permission from Stephen L. Doggett, Senior Hospital Scientist in the Department of Medical Entomology at the University of Sydney and Westmead Hospital. This is their bed bug site. He’s also the principle author or the Code of Practice for the Control of Bed Bug Infestations in Australia, which can be downloaded from the same site. We thank Stephen L. Doggett for giving us permission to post this helpful photo!
Where can I learn more?
This is a highly informative PowerPoint presentation by Harold Harlan, a well-known bed bug researcher. You will be able to gain a lot from it even though it is obviously meant to accompany a presentation. Warning, if you click the following link, a PPT presentation will be downloaded. You need PowerPoint, or a compatible program, to view it. Harold Harlan’s PowerPoint.
These are some links to Bed Bug Fact Sheets from university extension services and entomology departments:
University of Sydney (warning: link will open PDF )
Harvard University Public Health site on Bed bugs and Harvard’s environmental services department’s Bed Bugs page (for photos of eggs, bugs and so on).
Armed Forces Pest Management Guide to Bed Bugs (written by Harold Harlan)
Other things that might be bothering you
Bed bugs are rapidly spreading right now, but these other closely related species may also be the source of your woes:
Bat Bugs (Wikipedia entry with photo). More bat, bird, rat bug information to come when we find it.
Less closely related are bird mites (U of Sydney page on bird mites) and scabies mites. Many of us are erroneously treated for scabies in the first instance; doctors can test for scabies and you should get them to do this before treatment if at all possible. You’ll be praying it’s scabies anyway, and hey, if you’re lucky, you’ll be right. (I wasn’t.)
This PDF from the University of Kentucky outlines a number of insect and non-insect causes for unexplained itching. Click to load PDF.
Non-insect causes include: allergies to cosmetics, animals, chemicals of all kinds may cause similar symptoms. There will, obviously, be no bed bug feces, bugs, or cast of shells in this case. See dermatologist and/or allergist.
Hot-tub folliculitis: apparently time in a hot tub can lead to a special bacterial infection that also looks a bit like these other conditions. Again, see your doctor.
Delusional Parasitosis is a condition in which people think that insects are crawling on them and biting them, when they are not. Although this American Entomologist article by Nancy C. Hinkle is entitled “Delusory Parasitosis” (click here to load a PDF), it also outlines how very real environmental, physical, and other conditions can cause similar symptoms to a bed bug infestation, including itching, crawling sensations (formication), skin conditions and rashes. While it is true that people are occasionally mistakenly diagnosed with Delusory Parasitosis (and later discover their symptoms to have been caused by bed bugs or another cause), it is a common condition.
If you think you have bed bugs but have not got a bed bug specimen, you should take steps to verify whether you do have bed bugs or another medical, pharmaceutical, or environmental cause. Enlist the help of PCOs and entomologists in identifying any insects or cast-off shells you find. You should at the very least see some bed bug feces (which can appear as small black specks or sometimes stains on the bed). Experienced PCOs can often identify the presence of bed bugs by such evidence. In the absence of any bed bug evidence, be persistent about seeing your physician and preferably a dermatologist as well, until someone is able to help you.
If you think you have bed bugs but the Pest Control Operator cannot find obvious signs, they may use an active bed bug monitoring tool like the CDC 3000 (which can be purchased by anyone, but is running about $950 as of 4/2009). Read more about the CDC 3000 here.
A second active bed bug monitor, the Nightwatch, is also now available for around $430. Both are new technologies and we hope people will share their experiences with them. You can read about the Nightwatch on Bedbugger or on the Biosensory (manufacturer’s) website. Or click the following links to read Bedbugger Forum discussions of the Nightwatch and CDC 3000.
Your PCO may also decide to employ a passive bed bug monitor. Right now, the most common is probably the Climbup (TM) Interceptor. You place disks under the legs of beds, sofas, chairs, etc. They run about $60 for a dozen, and so are affordable. Anyone can purchase them.
Climbup (TM) Interceptors will not necessarily trap a bed bug sample — bed bugs have to leave or climb onto the piece of furniture in order to be caught. However, they will be a helpful detection device in many cases. And they are great for people who don’t have bed bugs yet, as they would detect bed bugs which come in to feed on you via attached apartments or houses. You can read more about this product here.
Finally, dogs are now being trained to sniff out bed bugs. Canine scent detection can be an effective option. They are not 100% effective, but can be better than a human visual search. It is crucial to understand that training methods vary. Canine dog handlers should know how to carefully search for a bed bug or egg in the vicinity after a dog alerts. Otherwise, you have no way of verifying whether you might have a false positive.
If you are looking for a canine scent detection unit, please come to the forums, though keep in mind that competing schools of dog training may have different perspectives; bedbuggers who have hired dogs in your area may be able to make suggestions about reputable firms.
“Detecting Bed Bugs Using Bed Bug Monitors,” written by Changlu Wang, outlines options for detecting bed bugs, including instructions on how to implement the dry ice monitor Wang’s office developed. You can download it for free from the Rutgers website.
You may also find these FAQs useful in trying to figure out if you have bed bugs:
What do bed bug bites look like? Where can I see pictures of bed bug bites?
Comments are now closed. Please post a message on our Bedbugger Forums if you have questions or need support. If you have suggestions for improving the FAQs, you can contact me here.
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- Bed Bug Bites
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Marlene,
I think you are confusing bed bugs with dust mites (though as I understand it, while dust mites do feed on dead skin cells, they are an allergen and not considered in any way “good for you”).
I suggest you read a bit of our website, so you can be alert should you encounter bed bugs. You might want to educate your teacher about them as well.
Is it possible for 2 people sleeping on the same bed to receive different treatment. I do no thave any rashes/ itching but my wife is developing red nodes every other day.
I am not able to find any bug, and doc has advised anti-allergy.
Pl suggest
AJ, yes, it is. There is a FAQ just on that issue you should read.
See: FAQ: Why am I being bitten and my housemate / partner / friend isn’t?
You should read the other FAQs, like this one, to get some suggestions about how to detect the problem. Get someone who is experienced in to inspect.
So then it is possible. It surprised me that one night I made sure to go to bed completely covered, socks, sweatpants, t-shirt, and sweatshirt over the t-shirt. How did they feast on my thighs? Then I must have bedbugs. I thought the cause may have been fleas, mites, spiders, mosquitoes, or gnats. *Sad* One last thing, how long does it take for the diatomaceous earth to work?
I hear ya…. It’s so nerve wracking not to know the cause of the bites. I too am in limbo just wondering. I have overturned the sofa and bed looking for those cruel jokes of nature and have yet to find any evidence at all.
afraidtosleepinmybed22,
Diatomaceous earth takes 10 days, we are told, to kill bed bugs ONCE they come in contact with it (by walking through it).
If they don’t come in contact with it, then they will never be killed. While many have told us they found it a useful tool, on its own, it often is not enough to get rid of bed bugs — and certainly isn’t often enough to get rid of them quickly — for this reason.
I wish I had found this site sooner!! My mom was getting bites like crazy a month ago or so and yes shame on me I scoffed at her a couple times telling her she probably had a rash or something. She used a fogger if I had known I would have told her not to but she did and the bugs have spread. I am getting bitten after doing some research I am convinced it’s bedbugs, bummer. I thought it was a spider bite at first they weren’t round lie normal bug bites but odd shaped like spider bites. We were so upset we fogged the whole house and we weren’t getting bitten fora couple days then this morning I wake up and low and behold I’ve been bitten 5 times by the cheeky little pests and I found one in my comforter was too freaked to even think of saving it (I have a serious fear of anything with more than 4 legs) I don’t know how to go about convincing my mom to call exterminator (money is a big issue) but really anything is worth eliminating the vile critters. Also I have a lot of yarn and such how do I go about cleaning it? I am so distressed and annoyed I can’t sleep too creeped out I don’t even want to sit on soft surfaces in my house. How do I convince my mom not to fog again? I do not want to just push them about.
I am glad I found this website. on the windowsill I thought I had found a bedbug but after looking at your bedbug pictures, it was not that but a carpet beetle. I found another one in a tissue box later. But the bug I found was IDENTICAL to the carpet beetle. Anyone know how to make sure no more carpet beetles take over my house?
Oh and I did check the bed sheets for signs and saw no fecal matter or casings and noone has gotten bitten (and I react to every bug bite known to man
)
I have lots of stains on my mattress. The stains look like dry blood, The tag on the bottom of the mattress has that same brown color. I thought it was rust, but could not figure out how it could have gotten there. DO YOU THINK THAT IS BEDBUGS. I had this mattress for 15 years, is that a factor in getting the bedbugs. I do not see any bites, but I am afraid.
1tworeal,
The length of time you had the mattress is not a factor. Bed bugs are a transmittable pest. Anyone can get them.
The marks you mention may be a sign. Please read the FAQs and come to the forums if you want to discuss this further.
I found out this morning that the apt. next to me has a bedbug infestation from the previous tenants. It’s been vacant for a week or so. The pest professionals came and did a walk through, checked matress, etc. They told me to move everything away from the common wall, which I did. They also said that they were spraying the apt. that is infested and that the bugs might migrate through the wall into my apt. I am freaked out and wishing that they would just spray my apt. to help prevent possible infestation. I haven’t seen anything and have no bite marks. But I am so worried. Should I demand that my landlord spray my apt. anyway? I hate the idea of having to “wait” for the bugs to come and get me to do anything proactive.
Allie84,
The City of Boston Inspectional Services Division orders landlords to inspect the entire building and TREAT all units adjacent to an infested one. You may be able to use this to help convince them to treat.
That said, in some areas it is illegal to treat if they have not found evidence of bed bugs.
And evidence can be tricky to spot.
If they will treat — especially with a dust — it may catch any migrants. It is best for pros to do this since they will do it safely and effectively. We hear people often do not follow safety precautions and often misapply or overapply dusts.
Keep in mind also that although your stuff is moved away from the common wall, bed bugs can walk, far. If they get to your side of the wall, they will infest your home.
I hate to sound negative also, but keep in mind you may not react to bed bug bites and signs may be difficult to spot at first. Try to get the PCO to set you up with some Climbup Insect Interceptors (which are little traps you put under the legs of the bed or chair) to help you monitor. More effective than more commonly used glue traps…
Please come to the forums if you need more support: http://bedbugger.com/forum/
Added new section:
Detecting Stealthy Bed Bugs
If you think you have bed bugs but the Pest Control Operator cannot find obvious signs, they may use an active bed bug monitoring tool like the CDC 3000 (which can be purchased by anyone, but is running about $950 as of 4/2009). Read more about the CDC 3000 here [link to CDC 3000 review].
Your PCO may also decide to employ a passive bed bug monitor. Right now, the most common is probably the Climbup (TM) Interceptor. You place disks under the legs of beds, sofas, chairs, etc. They run about $60 for a dozen, and so are affordable. Anyone can purchase them.
Climbup (TM) Interceptors will not necessarily trap a bed bug sample — bed bugs have to leave or climb onto the piece of furniture in order to be caught. However, they will be a helpful detection device in many cases. And they are great for people who don’t have bed bugs yet, as they would detect bed bugs which come in to feed on you via attached apartments or houses. You can read more about this product here. [link to Climbup TM review.]
Finally, dogs are now being trained to sniff out bed bugs. Canine scent detection can be an effective option. They are not 100% effective, but can be better than a human visual search. It is crucial to understand that training methods vary. Canine dog handlers should know how to carefully search for a bed bug or egg in the vicinity after a dog alerts. Otherwise, you have no way of verifying whether you might have a false positive.
If you are looking for a canine scent detection unit, please come to the forums [link to forums], though keep in mind that competing schools of dog training may have different perspectives; bedbuggers who have hired dogs in your area may be able to make suggestions about reputable firms.
How long does it take for bed bugs to die in a controlled enclosed area at 120 degrees?
Does any one know the answer.
Thanks
boomer,
All stages of bed bugs are killed by 7 minutes exposure to temperatures of 114.8 degrees F (46 degrees C) (Quarles 2007). (You can find the relevant article — “Bed Bugs Bounce Back” — by searching on the Armed Forces Pest Management Board,
Defense Pest Management Information Analysis Center Literature Retrieval System, with the input “Quarles 2007 bed bugs.”)
Here’s the problem: this temperature must be reached and maintained throughout the item (at its core). So a room temperature of 114.8 F will not do it in seven minutes. Only close monitoring of the core temperatures of the densest items will ensure bed bugs are killed.
The Packtite is often used to heat treat small items. The manufacturer recommends heating the contents to 120 degrees F at their core (using a temperature probe) and then leaving the unit running for an additional hour. (You can read more about that in our Packtite FAQ.)
We understand that professionals undertaking thermal treatments of a home or apartment quickly get the temperature up to 120 degrees F and keep it there or higher for hours longer, in order to ensure bed bugs do not remain in the space. (Reaching the temperature quickly appears to be important.) We caution anyone against trying to treat their own home with thermal heat, because of the difficulty of ensuring all bed bugs and eggs are killed, and for safety reasons.
Comments are now closed. Please post a message on our Bedbugger Forums if you have questions or need support. If you have suggestions for improving the FAQs, you can contact me here.
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