Bed bugs are small, reddish-brown, flat, oval-shaped wingless insects that feed on human blood at night. Bed bugs are considered to be nocturnal insects, as they are active mainly at midnight. Bed bugs feed every 5 to 10 days and their saliva contains anesthetic substances. For this reason, most people do not feel their sting when they sleep.
What Does Bed Bug Poop Look Like
Bed bugs leave droppings on trails where they walk. The spots are round in shape and a rusty dark brown color, almost black due to digested blood. These spots can have an average of 1 mm or even more.
In this post, we share with you the best images and tips about how looks the bed bugs poop.
In the first image, you can see the size of the drops in better detail. The finger of the person in the picture makes it possible to see the size, shape, and color of bed bug feces more clearly.
Bed bug feces are difficult to collect; they have the consistency of toothpaste. As a stain, it is easy to mistake for dirt or ink. As a stain, it is easy to mistake for dirt or ink. But if you look closely, you will soon discover that you have a bed bug problem just from the droppings they leave behind.
In the following image, you can see the black drops on the boards of a bed. Stains look like small ink stains and are difficult to remove. However, some non-absorbent surfaces such as wood can be cleaned more easily when they dry.
When there is a bed bug infestation it is possible to observe the droppings in different places. The most common areas are the pillow and sheets. However, it is also possible to see the stains of excrement on the edges of the mattresses, on the walls, and even on the ceilings. If your bed has wooden boards, there you can also see the stains produced by the excrement.
In the third image, you can see the droplets of excrement on a pillow. It is also possible to see bed bugs at different stages of development.
Bed bugs do not get diseases from their own droppings, therefore they will drop their feces everywhere, especially in the areas where they digest under mattresses. For this reason, the use of bed bug mattress covers is recommended to prevent and treat bed bugs in addition to treating cracks and crevices in addition to box springs.
In the fourth image, you can see the bed bugs in their small nest under the edge of a mattress. When discovered, bed bugs will try to hide again quickly.
Also, the fecal matter is smooth compared to the cockroach waste which feels very granular. Bed bug feces will stain like toothpaste and can also soak into sheets or mattress fabric to leave a small stain.
The fifth image shows the back of a bed infested with bed bugs and cockroaches. A large amount of bed bug excrement is seen in the image. It is possible to see some bed bugs and a large cockroach, indicating that this place is infested with different pests.
It is relatively impossible to collect bed bug feces as they are liquid and not solid like human feces or excrement. These stains can be permanent and almost impossible to remove from surfaces, especially sheets, pillows, and mattress fabric.
In the following image, you can see bed bugs with their droppings on a mattress. Some spots are bright, indicating that they are recent.
In some cases, you can find the stains of excrement by accumulations of points. These clumps of spots are the areas where bed bugs tend to gather. In other cases, you may notice more significant bright red spots (also on sheets) that are irregularly shaped. These spots occur when you squash the bed bugs after they have ingested fresh blood.
The image below compares the head of a match to bed bug feces. A great comparison tool as the droplets are similar in size to the match heads.
The Smell of bed bugs
You can also recognize bedbugs by their smell. A place that has a lot of bed bugs has that nasty, musty, odorous smell that bed bugs release. You can find this smell under your headboard and mattresses. If there is a cracked sofa or old wooden chair on the site, check for bed bug odor.
In the following image, we can see a mattress stained with bed bug feces which smells bad due to the degree of infestation. The smell is similar to rusty iron similar to blood.
The smell of bed bug feces is comparable to the smell of blood when the skin is cut. However, the smell of bed bug droppings will be outweighed by other bed bug odors.
Bed bugs by themselves have this type of droppings disposal. However, the smell of bed bugs comes from the scent gland of the bed bugs. They release the scent for the brood and it also functions as a protective boundary.
What Should I do in the Case of Infestation?
Bed bug eggs should not be crushed or crushed. Bed bug eggs must be destroyed with insecticides. When you crush bed bug eggs, several eggs may not be crushed, giving you another chance to breed more generations of bed bugs in your home.
Discover the best spray to kill insects. Use specifically those intended for bed bug eradication. By using the chemical spray for bed bugs, the eggs and nymphs will die along with the adults. Although countless say that these bed bug-killing chemicals are ineffective in ridding your home of bed bugs, they are nevertheless the best substitute for physical bed bug extermination.
So if you suspect bed bugs in your home, we recommend conducting the correct searches to make sure you do not have bed bugs or any other pests.
How to clean bed bug droppings
As we mentioned earlier, bed bug poop isn’t very hard to clean. This is because bed bug droppings contain digested blood which has destroyed red blood cells and hemoglobin stains fabrics. Producing a stain impossible to clean.
depending on where they’ve pooped and how long that poop has been sitting there for, it can be easier or harder.
Some authors have suggested different methods and today we want to share with you 3 of them:
1. Using Soap and Water
The first method is the least invasive of all, but it is the first choice. This method is effective on solid surfaces such as wood, plastic, or metal. This method is not effective on materials such as clothing or fabric.
Prepare a soap and water solution and wipe the stain with the help of a sponge. Try to remove the stains without rubbing them, but if necessary rub until the stain disappears. It may take longer, but it is the safest way to clean it.
2. Using Hydrogen Peroxide
If soap and water don’t work, it’s time to try a hydrogen peroxide solution. Be careful with this method as it could be dangerous for children or pets.
To do this, you only need to mix 2 parts of hydrogen peroxide and 1 part of dish soap. Then you must apply the mixture with a toothbrush and let it rest for a couple of minutes. Once this is done, you should scrub the stain until it disappears.
Once the stain is removed, you will need water to clean up the soapy mixture. Pour in some water from a spray bottle and pat dry until the soapy mixture is completely off the fabric.
If you’re wondering where to buy hydrogen peroxide, this is the one we generally recommend:
3. Using STEAM CLEANING
The last method is a bit more sophisticated. It’s all about steam cleaning. This will almost certainly work for any surface, but it is especially effective against bed bug stains on walls or fabrics.
If you’re looking for a steam cleaner that works great for your home, this is the one I would recommend. We chose one with a hose because it’s the only way to actually clean all the walls.
Conclusion
As you have seen, the spots produced by bed bug droppings are easy to identify, as long as you have the correct information.
We hope this guide is useful not only to identify stains but also to treat them.
