Determining whether you have bed bugs or another type of pest infesting your bed can be confusing at first. However, there are key signs to look for that can help you identify if you have bed bugs, dust mites, or other mites.
Signs of Bed Bug Infestation
Here are some of the most common signs that point to bed bugs:
- Red, itchy bite marks on your skin – Bed bug bites often occur in lines or clusters on exposed areas of skin and commonly itch and appear red.
- Dark stains on your sheets or mattress – This could be a sign of bed bug droppings or blood stains from crushed bed bugs.
- A sweet, musty odor – Bed bugs release pheromones that can smell sweet and musty.
- Seeing live bed bugs – You may actually see the oval-shaped, reddish-brown bed bugs, especially around the tufts and seams of your mattress.
- Eggs and eggshells – You may find white, sticky bed bug eggs or empty tan eggshells in crevices and cracks around your bed.
If you have several or all of these signs, there is a strong chance you have bed bugs. The bite marks alone aren’t enough to confirm it’s bed bugs, as other types of bug bites can look similar.
Signs of Dust Mite Infestation
Dust mites are microscopic creatures that feed on dead skin cells regularly shed by people and pets. Here are some signs that point to dust mites:
- Itchy nose, eyes, or throat – Allergic reactions to inhaled dust mite droppings can cause these symptoms.
- Unexplained rashes or irritation – High dust mite exposure can cause skin redness, inflammation, and itching.
- Asthma or difficulty breathing – Dust mites can trigger asthmatic reactions in sensitive people.
- Dirty or dusty environment – Dust mites thrive in carpets, bedding, upholstered furniture and other fabric-heavy areas that aren’t cleaned regularly.
Dust mites don’t bite humans. So if you’re getting mysterious bites or seeing blood stains, it’s likely bed bugs rather than dust mites.
Signs of Other Types of Mites
Other types of mites like bird or rodent mites and scabies mites can also infest bedding and bite humans. Here are signs of other mites:
- Itchy bites away from your bed – Bird and rodent mites generally bite people when they migrate away from an animal’s nest. The bites often occur on the body rather than when sleeping.
- Burrows under the skin – Scabies mites burrow and lay eggs under the skin, causing intense itching, small bumps and a rash.
- Pets or wildlife nesting indoors – Bird or rodent mites may appear if you have a bird or rodent nest in or near your home.
- Recent contact with someone who has scabies – Scabies spreads quickly between close contacts and through contact with infected clothing, towels or bedding.
Bird mites, rodent mites and scabies mites can all cause itchy bite marks. But with bird and rodent mites, the bites usually won’t occur while sleeping or be concentrated on the upper body. Scabies also causes a distinct rash and skin burrows.
Inspecting Your Bed for Signs of Bugs
Thoroughly checking your entire bed and surrounding area can help reveal clues about what type of pest you may be dealing with:
- Use a flashlight to look for bugs in crevices and seams of your mattress, box spring, bed frame, headboard, and other furniture near the bed. Look along the edges, undersides, tags, and tufts.
- Pull back the sheets and check the mattress and box spring seams and edges. Look for blood spots, eggs, dark droppings, or a sweet musty smell.
- Check carpeting, baseboards, picture frames, switch plates, curtains, clothing, cluttered areas, and any cracks or crevices near the bed.
- Vacuum thoroughly around the bed to capture any bugs or eggs.
This will allow you to find telltale signs like live bugs, eggs, droppings, or skin casts. You may need to use a magnifying glass to spot eggs or skin casts shed by the mites or bugs.
Capturing a Specimen
Catching a live bug specimen can help get a definite identification from a pest control expert. Here are some tips for capturing a specimen:
- Use clear packing tape to pick up any bugs you find on furniture or walls near your bed.
- Intercept bugs traveling between bed and wall by putting climbing barriers like doublesided tape on furniture legs.
- Install pitfall-style traps made with cups or jars around bed legs to catch dropping bugs.
- Place a thin layer of baby powder along areas where you see signs and check for insect tracks.
Put any specimens you capture into a sealed plastic bag or jar. Avoid crushing them. Even crushed bug specimens can still provide clues when viewed under a microscope.
When to Call a Professional
If your investigation confirms that bed bugs, dust mites, or other pests have invaded your bed, it’s best to call in a pest management professional. Professionals have the tools and expertise to fully inspect, identify, and treat the pest problem.
Getting a professional inspection is recommended if:
- You have bite marks or rashes with unknown causes.
- You find dark stains, eggs, droppings or live bugs around your bed.
- Pest control efforts on your own haven’t solved the problem.
- Multiple rooms are affected, indicating a widespread infestation.
Professionals have access to powerful insecticides and methods like steam treatments and heat chambers that effectively kill bed bugs and mites on contact. They can provide thorough treatments to your bed as well as other infested areas in your home.
Preventing Future Infestations
After dealing with any pest infestation, you’ll want to take proactive steps to avoid future problems. Here are some tips that can help prevent bed bugs, dust mites, or other mites from invading your bed again:
- Inspect rental furniture, beds, and bedding carefully before bringing into your home. Check for signs of bugs or eggs.
- Vacuum and sanitize mattresses before wrapping in protective covers. Covers help block pests.
- Use mattress and box spring encasements to trap any remaining bugs and prevent new infestations.
- Reduce clutter and keep linens, clothes, and fabrics off the floor to limit hiding spots.
- Clean and vacuum thoroughly and regularly to remove dust mite habitat.
- Seal cracks and crevices where pests may enter and hide.
- Inspect beds, furniture and walls regularly for early signs of infestation.
- Act quickly if signs reappear by calling a pest management professional.
Conclusion
Discovering that your bed has become infested with bed bugs, dust mites, or other pests can be upsetting. However, identifying the type of pest you’re dealing with is the critical first step in addressing the problem. Examining your bed and surroundings closely for telltale bite marks, droppings, bugs, rashes, and other signs can help provide clues if it could be bed bugs, dust mites, or another pest. Calling in a pest control professional at the first signs of an infestation can help eliminate the issue quickly and prevent prolonged problems.