How to check if bedbugs have infested? - briefly
Inspect mattresses, box springs, furniture seams, and wall cracks for tiny reddish‑brown bugs, dark fecal spots, and discarded skins; use a flashlight and place interceptor traps to confirm their presence.
How to check if bedbugs have infested? - in detail
Bedbugs leave tell‑tale signs that can be identified through a systematic visual inspection and simple tactile tests. Begin by removing all bedding, towels, and clothing from the suspect area. Examine the mattress seams, especially the stitching, for tiny, rust‑colored spots that are fecal stains. Look for small, translucent eggs or shed skins, which appear as pale, oval shells about 1 mm long. Use a flashlight held close to the surface; the angled light will highlight dark specks and reveal the insects themselves, which are about 5 mm in length, flat, and reddish‑brown when unfed.
Next, focus on the headboard, footboard, and any nearby furniture. Check cracks, crevices, and upholstery seams, pulling back cushions and lifting fabric to expose hidden spaces. Pay particular attention to:
- Baseboard joints and wall–floor intersections
- Behind picture frames, mirrors, and wall hangings
- Underneath loose floorboards or carpet edges
- Inside the folds of drapes and curtains
If an insect is found, gently press a piece of clear tape over it and lift; the bug will adhere to the tape for easier identification. For confirmation, place a small piece of white paper beneath the suspected area and leave it overnight. Bedbugs tend to move toward darkness and will leave dark spots or excrement on the paper.
In addition to visual cues, employ a “bedbug sniff test.” Lightly run a white cotton swab across seams and corners; any reddish smears indicate blood‑stained excrement. Finally, use a portable heat detector or a calibrated thermographic camera to locate warm clusters, as active infestations generate localized temperature rises of 1‑2 °C.
Combining these visual, tactile, and instrumental methods provides a reliable assessment of whether a space is infested. Prompt identification allows targeted treatment before the population expands.