What Do Bed Bugs Look Like?
| Feature | Bed Bug |
|---|---|
| Size | Adults 4–5mm - roughly the size and shape of an apple seed |
| Colour (unfed) | Flat, mahogany brown |
| Colour (fed) | Swollen, reddish-brown - noticeably plumper after feeding |
| Shape | Oval, flat when unfed - swells to balloon-like when engorged |
| Wings | None - bed bugs cannot fly or jump |
| Antennae | Short, 4-segmented |
| Nymphs | 1–4mm, translucent to pale yellow - nearly invisible unless recently fed (then appear red) |
| Eggs | 1mm, white, sticky - glued to surfaces inside harborage, extremely difficult to spot |
Where Bed Bugs Hide
- Mattress seams and tufts - the primary harborage in most infestations. Run a credit card along the seam and inspect for dark spots, shed skins, and live bugs.
- Box spring interior - particularly the dust cover fabric on the underside, which bed bugs will tear through to access the wooden frame
- Bed frame joints and screw holes - wooden and upholstered bed frames, especially in crevices and joints, are prime harborage
- Headboard - wall-mounted headboards with hollow sections often harbour large populations
- Behind baseboards and picture frames - particularly within 1–2 metres of the bed
- Electrical outlets and switch plates - bed bugs hide behind outlet faceplates and can travel through wall voids between rooms and units
- Upholstered furniture - sofas, armchairs, and cushioned chairs near sleeping areas, particularly in the seams and under cushion covers
Signs of Bed Bug Infestation
- Bites on exposed skin - typically in a line or cluster on arms, shoulders, neck, and legs. Not all people react to bed bug bites - absence of bites does not mean absence of bugs.
- Blood spots on bedding - small rust-coloured spots on sheets and pillowcases from crushed bugs or post-feeding drips
- Dark faecal spotting - small dark ink-like spots on mattress seams, bed frame crevices, and wall surfaces near the bed. Smear when wiped with a damp cloth.
- Shed exoskeletons (cast skins) - pale, papery, hollow skins shed as nymphs grow through 5 moult stages. Found in harborage areas.
- Live bugs - flat, brown, oval insects in mattress seams, frame joints, and baseboards. Most active 1–3 hours before dawn.
- Sweet musty odour - a heavy infestation produces a distinctive sweet, musty smell from the bugs’ scent glands
Bed Bug Bites vs Other Insects
| Feature | Bed Bugs | Fleas | Mosquitoes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bite pattern | Line or cluster on exposed skin | Clustered, often on lower legs and ankles | Random, single bites |
| When they bite | Night (pre-dawn peak) | Any time | Dawn and dusk primarily |
| Itch onset | Hours to days after bite | Immediate | Minutes |
| Location on body | Arms, neck, shoulders | Ankles, lower legs, waist | Any exposed area |
DIY vs Professional Treatment
What you can do immediately
Wash and dry all bedding, clothing, and soft furnishings at 60°C or higher and the highest dryer heat for 30 minutes. Bag and seal items that cannot be washed. Vacuum the mattress, box spring, and bed frame thoroughly - immediately dispose of the vacuum bag in a sealed bag outdoors. Apply a mattress encasement rated specifically for bed bugs to the mattress and box spring.
Why professional treatment is required for elimination
DIY products do not penetrate into wall voids, outlet boxes, or the interior of furniture where populations establish. Bed bugs exposed to repellent sprays scatter into new areas. Effective elimination requires whole-room treatment reaching every harborage - either professional heat treatment (raising the room to 49–57°C for a sustained period, killing all life stages including eggs) or a targeted chemical treatment protocol using non-repellent insecticides applied directly into harborage locations. Guardian conducts a full room inspection before recommending the appropriate treatment method.
