Something feels off. You wake up with a few unexplained bites. There’s a tiny dark smear on your pillowcase that wasn’t there before. You’re not sure if it’s bed bugs — and honestly, you’re a little afraid to find out.

That uncertainty is worse than knowing. So here’s how to actually check.

This guide walks you through a proper bed bug inspection — what to look for, where to look, and how to read what you find. No guesswork.

What Do Bed Bugs Look Like?

Before you start pulling back mattress seams, it helps to know what you’re looking for. Bed bugs are small — roughly the size and shape of an apple seed. Adults are flat, oval, and reddish-brown. After feeding, they swell up and look more reddish and elongated.

Nymphs (juveniles) are smaller and nearly translucent or pale yellow. Eggs are white, about 1mm long, and look like tiny grains of rice tucked into fabric folds.

People frequently mistake them for:

• Carpet beetles (similar size, but rounder with a different color pattern)
• Bat bugs (nearly identical — a professional can tell the difference)
• Spider beetles (rounder body, longer legs)

If you’re not sure what you’re looking at, photograph it and call a professional. Misidentification is one of the biggest reasons DIY treatments fail.

The 4 Signs That Show Up Before You Ever See a Live Bug

Here’s something most people don’t know: you’ll often find evidence of bed bugs before you ever spot one in person. They’re expert hiders. But they leave traces.

1. Dark or Rusty Spots on Bedding and Mattress Seams

These are fecal spots — digested blood. They look like someone pressed the tip of a black marker against the fabric. You’ll find them on mattress seams, box spring fabric, pillowcases, and the area around the headboard. A cluster of these, even without any bugs, is a red flag.

2. Bloodstains on Your Sheets

Tiny reddish-brown smears on sheets usually mean you rolled over a fed bug in your sleep. Not pleasant to think about. But it’s useful information.

3. Shed Skins (Exoskeletons)

Bed bugs molt five times before reaching adulthood, leaving behind hollow, pale-yellow casings. You’ll find these in the same places bugs like to hide — mattress folds, along baseboards, behind outlet covers. They’re fragile and papery.

4. A Musty, Sweet Odor

A heavy infestation can produce a distinct smell — often described as sweet or musty, similar to almonds or overripe raspberries. If a room smells off and you can’t explain why, add it to your list of things to investigate.

How to Check for Bed Bugs: Room by Room

You don’t need special equipment. Grab a flashlight and a credit card or thin piece of cardboard to scrape along seams. Latex gloves are a smart addition.

The Bedroom (Start Here)

The mattress and box spring are ground zero for most infestations. Here’s where to look:

• Mattress seams and piping — run your credit card along every fold and check with the flashlight
• The box spring fabric, especially where it meets the frame
• Inside the frame joints of the bed
• Behind and along the headboard
• Nightstands — inside drawers, along the back, underneath
• Behind electrical outlets on walls near the bed (they’ll use the wall void as a highway)

Pull the mattress off the frame if you can. Get a good look at the underside of the box spring. Bed bugs cluster in tight, dark spots — the folds and joints of furniture are exactly what they’re looking for.

The Living Room

Any upholstered furniture is fair game. Check:

• Couch and chair seams, especially along the back cushions and under the frame
• The fold where the cushion meets the armrest
• Under the couch — flip it over if you can
• Behind wall art and mirrors if they hang near seating areas

Guest Rooms and Luggage

Bed bugs travel. If you’ve had overnight guests or recently returned from a trip, your guest room and luggage are worth checking. Inspect luggage seams and pockets, especially after staying in hotels. Even nice hotels can have bed bugs — it has nothing to do with cleanliness.

What to Do If You Find Evidence of Bed Bugs

Don’t panic. But don’t wait, either.

A few things NOT to do:

• Don’t immediately bag up your mattress and throw it away — that can spread the bugs to other rooms
• Don’t start spraying random insecticides — most store-bought sprays don’t penetrate hiding spots or affect eggs
• Don’t move items from the infested room to other rooms before treatment

What you should do is contact a professional for a bed bug inspection. A pest control technician can confirm the infestation, identify how widespread it is, and recommend a treatment plan that actually works.

At Prestige Pest Control, we use a three-part treatment process — superheated dry steam at 365°F, vacuum removal, and an application of Aprehend® biopesticide — backed by a 90-day warranty. If bugs come back within 90 days, we return at no additional charge.

Our bed bug control service page has everything you need to know about how the process works and what to expect. Or you can keep learning by checking out our top 10 tips on preventing bed bugs.

When a Self-Inspection Isn’t Enough

If you’ve checked and aren’t sure what you found — or if you found something but aren’t certain it’s bed bugs — a professional inspection removes all doubt. Our team serves the Savannah, Pooler, Hinesville, and Statesboro areas, and we respond quickly.

Don’t sit on it. Bed bug populations double roughly every 16 days under the right conditions. A small problem becomes a big one faster than you’d expect.

Frequently Asked Questions About Checking for Bed Bugs

What are the first signs of bed bugs?

Most people notice small, itchy bites first — though bites alone aren’t conclusive since reactions vary. The more reliable early signs are dark fecal spots on mattress seams or bedding, tiny bloodstains on your sheets, or shed exoskeletons near the bed frame. Any one of these warrants a closer inspection.

Can I check for bed bugs myself, or do I need a professional?

You can do a basic self-inspection using a flashlight and this guide. However, because bed bugs are small and hide well, it’s easy to miss a developing infestation. If you find anything suspicious — or if you’ve had bites but can’t find a source — a professional inspection is the most reliable way to get a definitive answer.

Where do bed bugs hide most often?

Mattress seams and box springs are the most common hiding spots, but they also nest in headboard joints, behind electrical outlets, inside nightstand drawers, along baseboards, under couch cushions, and in any tight gap or fold near where people sleep or sit regularly.

Do bed bugs only live in bedrooms?

No. The bedroom is the most common location because that’s where people are still for long periods — which makes feeding easier. But bed bugs will establish themselves anywhere people spend time: living room couches, recliners, office chairs, even public transit seating if an infestation is severe.

How long does it take for a bed bug infestation to become noticeable?

That depends on how many bugs were introduced and the temperature of the environment. A single fertilized female can lay 200–500 eggs over her lifetime. Under warm conditions (above 70°F), populations can double roughly every 16 days. You might not notice anything for several weeks after the initial introduction.

Can bed bugs live in my car?

Yes, though it’s less common. If luggage or infested items were transported in the car, or if the car is parked for long periods without use, bed bugs can survive there temporarily. Check the seams of seats and floor mats if you have reason to suspect exposure.

Are bed bugs only active at night?

They prefer to feed at night when hosts are still, but they’ll bite during the day if they’re hungry and an opportunity presents itself. Light alone doesn’t deter them. If you’re a day sleeper, you’re just as susceptible.

What does a bed bug bite look like?

Bites are small, red, and often itchy. They frequently appear in clusters or a zigzag line on exposed skin — arms, neck, shoulders, legs. The reaction varies significantly from person to person. Some people have no visible reaction at all, which is one reason infestations can go undetected for a while.

I found a bug but I’m not sure it’s a bed bug — what should I do?

Photograph it against a white surface with something for scale (a coin works well), then call a pest control company. At Prestige, we can often identify from a clear photo. If not, we’ll come out and confirm in person. Knowing what you’re dealing with is the first step to dealing with it correctly.

How soon should I call a professional if I think I have bed bugs?

As soon as possible. Waiting even a few weeks allows the population to grow significantly. The earlier professional bed bug control is applied, the smaller the infestation and the easier it is to eliminate. Our service comes with a 90-day warranty — if they’re not gone, we come back.