If you’re having trouble seeing the color of the feces, try doing the smear test. Take a baby wipe or an alcohol swab and gently wipe the feces up. If the color on the wipe is red or reddish-brown, then it’s probably from a bed bug. As you look around, be sure to check the seams of your mattress, box spring frames, behind your headboard, and along any baseboards in the room.
It might be helpful to use a magnifying glass when you search for bed bugs or their droppings.
Experts describe bed bug feces as similar to letting a ballpoint pen leak for a while, then drying into a stain.
Bed bug feces is sometimes mistaken for mold or mildew, especially on a mattress. However, if you look closely, you’ll be able to see the reddish-brown color instead of pure black.
If you are squeamish about touching bed bugs or their feces, wear gloves as you search.
If the bed bug droppings are dry on a wall, they might look crunchy and slightly brown-colored.
Bed bugs can stay hidden easily, but their feces is usually a little more prominent. You might see reddish-brown smears strewn around your outlets or near your curtain rod.
Bed bugs have small, flat, oval-shaped bodies. They don’t have any wings, and they are usually reddish-brown in color. Bed bug eggs are usually around the size of a pinhead. [12] X Expert Source Kevin CarrilloMMPC, Pest Control Specialist Expert Interview. 22 October 2019.
The best way to get a positive bed bug identification is to bring an expert in. If you do have a flea infestation, start treating the source by giving flea medicine to your pets. You can also wash their bedding with hot water to kill any fleas or eggs that might be living there.
If DIY methods don’t work, consider calling a professional. They can use chemical treatments to treat your home and kill the bed bugs quickly.
