How to Know if You Have Bedbugs
First AidBedbugs

How to Know if You Have Bedbugs

How to Know if You Have Bedbugs
Pavel Krasensky/Shutterstock
By
and
Updated on November 26, 2025
by

Bedbugs are a long-standing pest in the United States. The insects are not known to spread disease, but they are responsible for itchy, irritating bites.

Bedbugs have made a comeback in recent decades because of increased travel, pesticide resistance, ineffective pest control, and lack of knowledge about preventing infestations.

 Recognizing the signs of bedbugs can help you get rid of infestations quickly and prevent them in the future.

Do You Have Bedbugs?

You may not know that you have bedbugs until you see a bite on your body, as the insects themselves are notoriously hard to spot. The biting usually happens while you are sleeping, typically an hour or so before dawn, from bedbugs hiding in your bed.

“Bedbugs want to be as unnoticed as possible, which is why they retreat to the deepest, darkest crevices in your home, your apartment, or your hotel,” says Eric Braun, an Entomological Society of America–certified entomologist and technical services manager at the pest-control company Rentokil Terminex. “If they’re observed or spotted, they don’t have any means to escape quickly, with the exception of crawling back to the cracks and crevices where they came from.”

Bedbugs feed on blood. They target humans, though they also will bite other animals.

 They’re incredibly resilient and can go months without feeding, which makes them difficult to get rid of. Usually, however, they need to feed every 5 to 10 days. The bugs will usually feed for about five minutes, then retreat back to their hiding place.

What Do Bedbug Bites Look Like?

It’s easy to mistake bedbug bites for bites from fleas or mosquitoes. That can make it tough to know if you have bedbugs in the first place.

Not all bedbug bites look the same, and you may not have a reaction to one. You may not even feel it, as bedbugs inject fluids into your skin when they bite. If you do notice a bite, it may have these characteristics:

  • Small mark
  • Slightly swollen red area
  • In a straight line
  • Random positioning
  • Itching and irritation
You might also experience insomnia and anxiety. In severe cases, bedbug bites may cause an allergic reaction. They are not known to spread disease.

Where Do Bedbugs Bite You?

The bites can show up on any part of your body that bedbugs can get to while you’re sleeping, including your back, neck, face, arms, hands, and legs. That’s a key difference between bedbug bites and flea bites, which tend to show up only around the lower legs and ankles.

The bite marks can take as long as 14 days to develop. This can make it difficult to identify an infestation quickly.

Do Bedbugs Leave a Trail?

Because bedbugs are slim and hard to spot on their own, you may end up noticing other signs that you have an infestation:

  • Shedded skin that is translucent or light-colored, says Jerry Lazarus, owner of Braman Termite and Pest Elimination in New England
  • Brown or red fecal spots, especially on mattresses or sheets
  • Bedbug carcasses

Do Bedbugs Smell?

Bedbugs may have an odor, which Lazarus describes as sickly sweet, like the smell of rotting raspberries. Braun says that this smell usually only accompanies a serious infestation.

Some dogs may be trained to detect bedbugs, just as they sniff out drugs or bombs, he says.

What Do Bedbugs Look Like?

Adult bed bugs are flat and mahogany brown when unfed. They turn reddish-brown after feeding.

Bedbugs are small but visible to the eye. Adults can be as long as 0.25 inches, though young bedbugs (nymphs) are smaller. They have six legs and a flat oval shape that makes it easy for them to hide in crevices and cracks.

Nymphs are clear and about the same shape as adults. They shed their skin about five times until they reach full size. This takes about a month, if the temperature is between 70 and 90 degrees F.

How Do Bedbugs Spread?

Bedbugs do not fly, so they spread by moving or attaching to moving things. Their small flat bodies and tendency to live in confined spaces mean that they may get transported in luggage, travel bags, folded clothing, and other items with crevices. Because they often hide, and in places you don’t expect, it can be difficult to discover them when they are hitchhiking.

“If you travel, bedbugs may hitch a ride in your luggage or get on your clothing if you visit an infested area,” Lazarus says.

Once they are situated, bedbugs can reproduce at room temperature. They live as long as 300 days, and a female bedbug can lay as many as 113 eggs in a lifetime.

 The eggs are white and hard to see without magnification, Lazarus says. The eggs are sticky and can easily remain attached to different surfaces.

What Can You Do if You Spot Bedbugs?

If you have confirmed bedbugs, act quickly to get rid of them and prevent the infestation from spreading.

You may want to contact an exterminator who is experienced in bedbug removal. Exterminators typically treat the area with insecticides to eradicate the bedbugs. These chemicals can be dangerous, and using them may be best left to professionals.

Because bedbugs reproduce at room temperature, exterminators may use heat treatment in excess of 125 degrees F to get rid of existing bedbugs and their eggs.

 Freezing areas may work but only if extremely cold temperatures are held for a long time.

You may be tempted to vacuum, throw away affected belongings, and otherwise clean your living space to eradicate the bugs. But having bedbugs is not necessarily a cleanliness issue, Lazarus says.

“Bedbugs can lurk in the cleanest of homes, the highest-quality hotels, as well as the transportation you take to get there and back, including planes, trains, and automobiles,” he says.

If you are looking to take precautions or prevent bedbugs in the future, you can take these steps:

  • Reduce clutter to uncover hiding places.
  • Use bedbug covers on your bed.
  • Wash and fully dry sheets, blankets, and any clothes that touch the floor.
  • Clean hampers and laundry containers.
  • Vacuum rugs, floors, furniture, cracks, and crevices regularly, including changing or disposing of vacuum receptacles.

The Takeaway

  • Bedbugs feed for short periods while you sleep and immediately find a place to hide, making them hard to find and identify as a cause of bites.
  • Bites may be the most telltale signs of a bedbug infestation, though they are not always uniform and may resemble other bug bites.
  • Bedbugs may be visible to the human eye, and they could leave behind shedded skins or a fruity odor.
  • Once you find an infestation, contact an exterminator to remove it, limiting your exposure to pesticides.

Resources We Trust

EDITORIAL SOURCES
Everyday Health follows strict sourcing guidelines to ensure the accuracy of its content, outlined in our editorial policy. We use only trustworthy sources, including peer-reviewed studies, board-certified medical experts, patients with lived experience, and information from top institutions.
Resources
  1. Introduction to Bed Bugs. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. September 15, 2025.
  2. Bed Bug FAQs. Cornell Integrated Pest Management.
  3. About Bed Bugs. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. April 26, 2024.
  4. Bed Bug Identification & Biology Guide. National Pest Management Association.
  5. Miller DM et al. Bed Bug Biology and Behavior. Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.
  6. Managing Bed Bugs. Cornell Integrated Pest Management.
  7. Top Ten Tips to Prevent or Control Bed Bugs. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. August 22, 2025.
Meet Our Experts
See Our Editorial PolicyMeet Our Health Expert Network

Ross Radusky, MD

Medical Reviewer
Castle Connolly Top Doctor

Ross Radusky, MD, is a practicing board-certified dermatologist at the Dermatology Treatment and Research Center in Dallas. Originally from New York City, he graduated summa cum laude from the City University of New York and then received his MD from the New York University School of Medicine. There, he was inducted into the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society and served as chapter president for two years. He completed his residency in dermatology at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital and Weill Cornell Medical Center, and at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.

Dr. Radusky practices general and cosmetic dermatology with a focus on the early detection of skin cancer, and provides patients with a personalized approach to looking their best at any age. He has authored articles and textbook chapters on the clues that our finger- and toenails may provide us about internal disease, as well as on comprehensive therapies for cosmetic dermatology and reversing the signs of skin aging.

Complementing his medical practice, Radusky has a strong passion for the cultural arts, particularly in expanding access to youths and seniors. He previously served as an artist instructor for the Rockaway Artists Alliance, a New York City nonprofit arts and education organization, and then served as both a board director and treasurer of the organization throughout his medical school training.

Radusky enjoys spending time outdoors with his wife Robyn, son Oliver, and poodle Lucy, where he can usually be found preventing photoaging and reducing the risk of skin cancer beneath an umbrella in a wide-brimmed hat. He is also the proud inventor of Sunshotz, the world’s only sunscreen measuring cup, designed to help patients of all ages apply the proper amount of sunscreen needed to enjoy all the sun without the burn.

See full bio

Moira Lawler

Author
Moira Lawler is a journalist who has spent more than a decade covering a range of health and lifestyle topics, including women's health, nutrition, fitness, mental health, and travel. She received a bachelor's degree from Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism and lives in the Chicago suburbs with her husband, two young children, and a giant brown labradoodle.
See full bio
Jenna Fletcher

Jenna Fletcher

Author

Jenna Fletcher is a writer with many years of experience in the health and wellness space. She is based in Coopersburg, Pennsylvania, where prior to transitioning to writing, Jenna taught group fitness classes, Pilates mat classes, and dance classes, and was a personal trainer. She is very interested in general health and wellness, but since experiencing a stillborn twin, Jenna has written extensively about women's health issues, including pregnancy complications and mental healthcare. Her work has appeared on a variety of outlets across the web including HuffPost, Insider, Medical News Today, Healthline, and more.

See full bio
See Our Editorial PolicyMeet Our Health Expert Network