Are There Bed Bugs in My House? 7 Early Signs To Watch Out For

What are the signs that there are bed bugs in my house?

1. An unusual, musty odor
2. Small, red, itchy bites and bumps
3. Bloodstains on sheets or pillowcases
4. Dark or rusty spots on sheets or pillowcases
5. Eggs that are loosely stuck on various surfaces
6. Shell casings
7. Live bed bugs

If you’re here, then you’re probably wondering “are there bed bugs in my house?”

Bed bugs are a common household pest that has the habit of hiding in your bed, and feeding on your blood as you sleep. These pests often latch onto items and can end up wherever these items are taken — which is why it is so easy for them to spread and infest a new area. 

Unfortunately, it is often hard to identify a bed bug problem, as some of their warning signs can easily be confused with signs of a different pest. As a result, most homeowners don’t even know they’re dealing with an infestation, allowing this pest to go unnoticed. 

To help you identify whether or not you have a bed bug problem, keep reading. We cover what early signs to watch out for, and how to determine if they’re caused by bed bugs! 

How do bed bugs get into my home?

Bed bugs are sort of like hitchhikers. They come from infested areas and latch onto things like your shoes, bags, clothes, and other items placed on soft or upholstered surfaces.

Once they latch on, they can easily travel, undetected, back into your home, where they will begin a new infestation. They can also easily travel between rooms in multi-unit buildings, such as apartments, hotels, and condominiums. 

Signs of bed bugs

Here is how to identify whether there are bed bugs in your house — we ranked them in order of how much certainty these signs give when it comes to confirming this pest problem. 

An unusual, musty odor

If you’re smelling an unusual odor that doesn’t come from an obvious source (such as dirty laundry), then you might be smelling bed bug pheromones. These smell sweet and musty. Most people compare it to the scent of old raspberries, coriander, cilantro, or almonds. 

Small, red, itchy bites and bumps

If you’re experiencing small, red, and itchy bites and bumps around your arms, hands, and legs, then it might be caused by bed bugs. 

One thing to check is if they seem to appear at night since bed bugs prefer to feed on blood when we are asleep. Another thing to check is if the bites are in clusters of 3 or 4 bites, which is another bed bug feeding habit. 

However, bites alone might not be enough to conclude you have a bed bug problem. This is because people can react very differently to pest bites, so there’s no 100% sure way to distinguish them from one insect to another. Some people also don’t have any skin reactions to bed bug bites. 

Bloodstains on sheets or pillowcases

Another thing to look out for is small blood stains or smears on your bedding. 

We might not notice when bed bugs are biting us at night, but they don’t always get away with it unharmed. When they feed on blood, they become bloated. If you suddenly move or roll over while you sleep, you may crush or squeeze them.

This can cause some of the blood that they fed on to leak out — resulting in small bloodstains on your sheets. 

That said, always check if you have any other wounds that might be the cause of the bloodstain. If there is no other explanation, then this might be a sign of a bed bug problem.

Dark or rusty spots on sheets or pillowcases

Seeing tiny dark or rusty spots on your sheets? These might be fecal spotting from bed bugs. 

Compared to bloodstains, these are much smaller and darker. These marks can come from bed bug droppings and can be difficult to wash out. When washed, they leave dark smears. 

Aside from your bed sheets, you might also find them on your pajamas, mattresses, headboards, and even on curtains and rugs. 

Eggs that are loosely stuck on various surfaces

Bed bug eggs are pinhead-sized, white in color, and oval. They look a lot like small grains of rice. 

If you see clusters of them stuck on a surface, then they might have come from a bed bug. You’ll often find them near what we call bed bug harborage areas, which are places where they can hide and breed without being detected. These are the gaps beneath your furniture, crevices between fabrics and wood surfaces, and any cracks or holes along your flooring and walls. 

Shell casings

Bed bugs, like many other insects, have a molting cycle. They shed off yellowish-brown casings. If you find them near your bed or furniture, then this is a reliable early sign of a bed bug problem. 

However, identifying whether the casings come from a bed bug or some other pest can be tricky, because it’s hard to differentiate the different sizes and shapes of bed bug stages from other pests. 

That said, one way to rule out other pests is if you find these casings near common bed bug hiding places, on top of seeing other warning signs on this list. 

Live bed bugs

And of course, the sure sign of a bed bug problem is if you see live ones around your home. 

Here’s how to identify if the bug you found is a bed bug:

• Adults are reddish-brown, while nymphs are pale.
• They are small, about the size of flaxseeds.
• They have a narrow head and thorax, with a flat and oval-shaped abdomen.
• They have 6 legs and 2 antennae.
• They have vestigial wings — meaning they can’t fly. If they fly, it’s not a bed bug.

Normally, these pests don’t like to go out in the open unless they’re feeding or laying eggs. They find a place to hide — and they stick to it. So if you find a live one in your home, chances are their population is growing, and you need to act fast. 

How do I solve a bed bug problem in my home?

There are a few things you can do to control the situation, such as cleaning up the infested areas and their hiding places. 

However, the best and most effective way of getting rid of a bed bug problem is by using pesticides, which should only be used by experts to ensure that the product is safely applied in your home.

That said, if you think you’re dealing with a bed bug infestation, contact an experienced pest control professional: Topbest. We are experts in bed bug control and prevention in the Philippines, and can help you quickly identify and select the best solution for extermination! 

Key Takeaway

If you’re asking yourself “are there bed bugs in my house,” then consider the seven warning signs above. If you’re experiencing any combination of the above, and want to know if bed bugs have invaded your home, contact Topbest today. We offer free consultations!