How can I know that bedbugs have disappeared from my house? - briefly
Conduct a thorough visual examination of seams, mattress edges, and hidden cracks, looking for live insects, «shed skins», or small dark spots. Supplement inspection with passive monitors or a professional assessment to confirm the absence of activity.
How can I know that bedbugs have disappeared from my house? - in detail
To verify that an infestation has been eliminated, follow a systematic inspection and monitoring routine.
Begin with a visual examination of typical hiding spots: mattress seams, box‑spring folds, headboard crevices, bed frame joints, baseboards, outlet covers, and furniture cracks. Use a bright flashlight and a magnifying lens to detect live insects, shed skins, or dark‑red fecal spots. Any sighting indicates remaining activity.
If visual checks reveal no evidence, implement a passive detection method. Place interceptors under each leg of the bed and furniture. These devices trap wandering bugs and provide a clear indication of ongoing presence. Leave interceptors in place for at least two weeks; an absence of catches suggests the population is no longer active.
Complement physical inspection with canine detection, if available. Trained bed‑bug detection dogs can locate live specimens and eggs with high sensitivity. A negative result from a certified canine sweep adds confidence to the assessment.
Conduct repeated checks at regular intervals. Perform the visual and interceptor inspections weekly for a month, then monthly for an additional two months. Consistent negative findings across multiple cycles confirm eradication.
Document all observations, dates, and locations of any findings. A comprehensive record supports the conclusion that the problem has been resolved.
«No signs of live insects, exuviae, or fecal stains after thorough, repeated inspections and the absence of captures in interceptors over an extended monitoring period constitute reliable evidence that the bed‑bug population has been eliminated».