Pest Library · West Texas
Bed Bugs
Bed bugs can show up in any home, hotel or apartment. They have nothing to do with how clean you are. Here is how to know for sure and what to do next.
Quick answer
Adult bed bugs are flat, oval and brown, about the size of an apple seed. They hide in mattress seams and cracks near the bed and feed at night. Bites alone can't confirm them. Look for rusty stains, dark spots and tiny white eggs on the mattress, and act fast, because small cases are much easier to treat.
What Do Bed Bugs Look Like?
The EPA describes adults as:
- About the size of an apple seed, 3/16 to 1/4 inch long
- Brown, flat and oval when they haven't fed
- Swollen, longer and redder right after a meal
- Wingless, so they crawl but can't fly or jump
Young bed bugs, called nymphs, are smaller and lighter in color. Eggs are tiny, white and glued to surfaces. A cluster of eggs is easy to miss without a flashlight.
The EPA also notes that carpet beetles and other small insects get mistaken for bed bugs. A wrong ID gives bed bugs time to spread, so have a sample checked if you are unsure.
How They Behave
Bed bugs feed on blood, mostly at night while people sleep. After a meal they crawl back into hiding. The CDC says they can live several months without feeding, which is why an empty guest room or a stored couch can still have them.
They travel by hitching rides. Luggage, used furniture, backpacks and laundry bags are common ways in. In apartments, they move between units through walls and shared spaces. Texas A&M AgriLife says bed bugs have spread faster than any other city pest in recent years.
Hiding spots include:
- Mattress seams, tags and the piping along the edges
- Box springs and bed frames
- Cracks in headboards and nightstands
- Couch seams and cushions
- Behind outlet covers and along baseboards
The EPA's rule of thumb: if a crack can hold a credit card, it can hold a bed bug.
Bed Bug Bites
Bed bug bites are a poor way to confirm a problem. The EPA says they can look like mosquito or chigger bites, a rash or even hives. Some people don't react at all, so one person in a bed can have bites while the other has none.
As far as is known, bed bugs do not pass disease to people. The harm is itchy bites, lost sleep and stress. Scratching can open the skin, so keep bites clean. See a doctor if bites look infected or you have a strong reaction.
Signs of Bed Bugs
Check the bed when you change the sheets. The EPA lists these clues:
- Rusty or reddish stains on sheets or the mattress from crushed bugs
- Dark spots about the size of a pen tip, which are droppings that may bleed into fabric
- Eggs and eggshells, pale and about the size of a pinhead
- Shed skins from growing nymphs
- Live bugs in seams and folds
Some people also notice a musty, sweet smell in a room with many bed bugs.
What to Do Next
Don't toss the mattress or move to the couch. That can spread bugs to new rooms. Instead:
- Put bedding and clothes through a hot dryer.
- Vacuum seams and cracks, then empty the vacuum outside.
- Use a zippered cover made for bed bugs on the mattress and box spring.
- Skip bug bombs. AgriLife says they miss bugs hiding in cracks.
Most homes need professional help to get every egg. See bed bug treatment for heat and product options. Landlords and managers can see commercial pest control for building wide plans.
Bed Bug FAQs
Can I tell bed bugs from bites alone?
No. The EPA says bed bug bites can look like mosquito bites, chigger bites, a rash or hives, and some people don't react at all. You need to find the bugs, their eggs, shed skins or the small dark spots they leave on the mattress to be sure.
Do bed bugs mean my house is dirty?
No. Bed bugs feed on blood, not crumbs or trash. They ride in on luggage, used furniture and clothing, so they can turn up in spotless homes and nice hotels. Clutter does give them more places to hide, which makes treatment harder.
How long can bed bugs live without feeding?
The CDC says they can live several months without a blood meal. That means leaving a room empty for a few weeks won't starve them out. Treatment has to reach the bugs and eggs where they hide in the bed, furniture and cracks.
Should I throw out my mattress?
Usually not. Dragging an infested mattress through the house can drop bugs in other rooms. Many mattresses can be treated and then sealed in a zippered bed bug cover. Ask your technician before you toss anything, and mark discarded items so no one picks them up.
Same Day Service Available
Get Help With Bed Bugs
Finding stains or bugs in the seams? Request a free inspection. Your technician will confirm what you have and explain your treatment options.
Odessa Pest Control connects you with a local pest control technician. Ask for their Texas license number before work starts.
Pest Library
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Sources
- EPA, Bed Bugs Appearance and Life Cycle: https://www.epa.gov/bedbugs/bed-bugs-appearance-and-life-cycle
- EPA, How to Find Bed Bugs: https://www.epa.gov/bedbugs/how-find-bed-bugs
- CDC, About Bed Bugs: https://www.cdc.gov/bed-bugs/about/index.html
- Texas A&M AgriLife Extension, Bed Bugs: https://citybugs.tamu.edu/factsheets/biting-stinging/bed-bugs/