Tell-tale Signs

A bed bug infestation in New York City can be recognized by blood stains from crushed bugs or by rusty (sometimes dark) spots of excrement on sheets and mattresses, bed clothes, and walls. Fecal spots, eggshells, and shed skins may be found in the vicinity of their hiding places. An offensive, sweet, musty odor from their scent glands may be detected when bed bug infestations are severe.

Bed bug bites

The bite is painless. The salivary fluid injected by bed bugs typically causes the skin to become irritated and inflamed, although individuals can differ in their sensitivity. A small, hard, swollen, white welt may develop at the site of each bite. This is accompanied by severe itching that lasts for several hours to days. Scratching may cause the welts to become infected. The amount of blood loss due to bed bug feeding typically does not adversely affect the host.

Bed bugs bite with piercing and sucking mouthparts. Bites result in local swelling and irritation like a bad mosquito bite. While digesting a blood meal bed bugs excrete black fecal material that accumulates where they hide and is characteristic of an infestation. Rows of three or so welts on exposed skin are characteristic signs of bed bugs. Welts do not have a red spot in the center such as is characteristic of flea bites.

Some individuals respond to bed bug infestations with anxiety, stress, and insomnia. Bed bugs are not known to transmit disease.

Bed bugs bite at night and hide during the day. Because of this behavior they tend to hide in, and around, bedding. Since adult bed bugs can live 6-12 months infestations build slowly and last a long time if not treated. Heavily infested rooms often have a distinctive "sickly sweet" odor which is produced by scent glands on the insects.

Hotels, motels and inns have been the first to experience this new bed bug invasion because of reduced insecticide use. Infestations are usually confined to one or a few rooms and if handled promptly rooms can be effectively cleaned and the infestation eliminated. As you might guess, however, establishments are often reluctant to admit that a bed bug outbreak is underway so sometimes the infestation grows and spreads to other rooms. You should always report bed bug bites to the management because this may be the only way they can detect a problem early.