What do bedbug stains look like on a mattress? - briefly
Bedbug marks appear as small, dark‑red to brown spots, often 1–3 mm in diameter, resulting from crushed insects or their excrement. The stains may be accompanied by faint, rust‑colored lines where the insects have fed on blood.
What do bedbug stains look like on a mattress? - in detail
Bed bug excretions appear as small, dark spots that range from reddish‑brown to black. The coloration results from digested blood and may fade to a lighter rust tone as the stain ages. Spots are typically 1–3 mm in diameter, but clusters can merge into larger irregular patches.
In addition to fecal stains, you may notice faint, rust‑colored lines where the insects have been crushed. These smears are usually linear and follow the contour of the mattress surface, often near seams, tufts, or folds where bugs hide.
Another indicator is a translucent, white‑ish residue left by molted exoskeletons. These shed skins are delicate, easily brushed off, and may be found in the same areas as the dark spots.
A practical checklist for visual inspection:
- Dark, speckled dots (reddish‑brown to black) up to a few millimetres across.
- Linear or irregular rust‑colored smears from crushed insects.
- Tiny, translucent shell fragments, especially near seams or edges.
- Presence of live insects or eggs, which are about 5 mm long and white‑cream in color.
When the mattress cover is removed, examine the underlying fabric and padding for the same signs. Stains often seep through the top layer, leaving a faint discoloration on the inner layers that can be detected by shining a flashlight across the surface.
These visual cues together provide a reliable method for confirming bed bug activity on a mattress.