Project Look for bed bugs. If there are no signs or symptoms of bed bug bites, you can relax—you most likely don’t have them in your home. However, they are nocturnal and often nest in dark crevices, so spotting them can be difficult. There’s also the fact that a third of people often aren’t affected by bed bug bites and are fed upon without even knowing. But look for bed bug bites. They often appear similar to other insect bites, such as those from mosquitoes, and can cause severe itching. The bites are usually on the arms or legs and often appear in lines or clusters.
The first place to start looking for bed bugs is your bed. However, they may also infest places near your bed. Remove bedclothes and set them aside. Remove your mattress and box spring and stand them up separately against the wall. Examine your mattress and box spring closely, looking for bed bugs and/or their molted exoskeletons. You may also see dark spots of bed bug excrement or their small, white, adhesive eggs on the bed components. Use a flashlight for a more detailed search. Also check the crevices of your bed frame for any signs of the insects. Remove and check items stored underneath your bed for signs of bed bug activity.
Go through your dresser, nightstand or any other adjacent furniture. Set the contents aside to examine it. Look inside the furniture and drawers for any visible signs. In cases of extreme infestation, you may also need to check for bugs in other rooms—in the carpet, couches, chairs, and between baseboards. Bed bugs like to hide in seams and crevices; basically any small space where they can stay until nighttime.
Helpful Tip
Use bed bug glue traps to attract and capture any bed bugs that may be in your home. These can be used as an early detector for a bed bug infestation.
