How to Inspect for Bed Bugs

When you suspect there is a bed bug infestation present, a thorough inspection should be done in all areas where people sleep or rest. Check all possible hiding spots and be mindful that bed bugs can fit into tiny cracks and crevices. Any nook or cranny that a credit card can fit into, a bed bug can fit into as well. Make sure you also check your pets because bed bugs will prey on animals when sufficient human hosts are not available.

In the early stages of an infestation, bed bugs will be found around the seams and tufts of the mattress so this is where you should begin your search. Later on, they’ll spread to cracks in the bed frame and then to gaps behind baseboards, pictures, window and door casings, wallpaper, carpet edges, peeling paint, and other similar shelters. Pay close attention to the 10-20 foot radius around where you sleep or rest. That’s the most common distance that bed bugs travel from their host.

Check for spots of blood left on bed sheets that indicate bed bug biting. Check for brownish black specks that are the bed bug feces and bed bug shells that are the bed bug exoskeletons.

Some areas that you should focus on during your search are:

• Seams, creases, tufts, and folds of the mattress and box spring
• Cracks in the bed frame and headboard, and all screw holes
• Between the cushions of upholstered furniture
• Edges of carpets, especially behind the bed
• Between the folds of drapery or curtains
• In the drawers of night stands, dressers, etc
• Behind the baseboards
• Around door and window casings
• Behind electrical switch and outlet covers
• Under loose wallpaper, peeling paint, paintings, posters, etc
• In cracks in the plaster
• In telephones, radios, clocks, and similar places

Keep a written record of every room and location where you find signs of bed bugs. Even though the infestation likely goes far beyond what you’re able to see, it’s good information to have handy when you contact a pest control professional to deal with the infestation.