Identifying Bed Bugs

When in their adult stage, bed bugs are about 1/8 inch long, the size of an apple seed, and their shape appears oval and flat. After a feeding, their bodies will swell considerably and grow in length and circumference. Their color depends upon when they last fed, but tends to be reddish-brown. When they are in the early nymph stage bed bugs are smaller and lighter in color. They do not fly but they do walk fast. The female bed bugs lay eggs in secluded areas, and so often require careful searching to be found. The female adult bed bug may lay daily as many as 5 eggs. And the eggs are so small as to be almost impossible to see without magnification. On a dark surface, eggs may look like a speck of dust. A flashlight and a magnifying glass may be quite helpful in finding them.

Where should you look for bed bugs? By nature, bed bugs hide. They seek safe places, or harborages, such as cracks and crevices—as in a bed frame, bed headboard, or even picture frames on the wall. They can be found in hotel rooms, airplane seats, cruise ship cabins, drapery, behind the molding along a floor, in desks, and even in entertainment centers. Since mature bed bugs can move fast and will quickly move off to hide when the light is turned on for a room, enter the room at night with lights off and use a flash light.

What should you look for? Using the pictures provided on these pages, look for crawling insects, particularly near a bed or chair, for blood spots, as on sheets and pillow cases, and for bed bug excrement, as shown when clicking on the hot spots above.

Not sure, need help with the search. Give us a call at (513) 531-7848.