Possible Bed Bugs? The Signs Worth Checking

Look for more than a single clue

Check accessible mattress seams, the bed frame, and nearby furniture for physical evidence. EPA identifies live bugs, shed skins, small dark spots, and reddish stains as useful signs to investigate. A mark or speck on its own is not confirmation; context and identification matter.

• Photograph an insect clearly if you can do so without spreading belongings.
• Note exactly where possible evidence was found.
• Keep a dated record if you notice additional signs.

Appearance changes with the life stage

Adult bed bugs are generally brown, flat, and oval when they have not recently fed, and are roughly the size of an apple seed. Young bed bugs are smaller and paler. Eggs are very small. Those differences are one reason a single online image cannot identify every insect you may find.

Do not rely on a blurry photo or body size alone. Similar-looking insects exist, and an identification error can send you toward the wrong treatment.

Consider where belongings have been

Bed bugs can travel on luggage, used furniture, clothing, and other belongings. Recent travel or a secondhand purchase is useful history to share, but neither proves where a problem began. Ask other occupants about sightings without assigning blame.

Avoid moving loose items from a suspected room to another room while seeking advice. If you live in a property with shared walls or common spaces, tell the relevant property contact so the concern can be coordinated.

Turn observations into a useful service request

Tell AML which rooms are involved, when you first noticed evidence, and whether you have already applied any product. Explain if the concern comes only from skin marks or if an insect has been found. AML offers bed bug treatment and can discuss what evaluation is needed.

Questions about a skin reaction belong with a healthcare professional. This guide is for recognizing possible pest evidence, and it cannot diagnose a bite, a rash, or an infestation.