Bed bugs are small, reddish-brown, flat, oval-shaped, wingless insects that feed on human blood at night. They are considered to be nocturnal insects, as they are active mainly at night. They have become very common in the United States, even more so than mosquitoes, and have penetrated homes across cities because they hide well during the day and emerge quickly at night to feed. After feeding, they leave traces of droppings where they walk.
What Does Bed Bug Poop Look Like?
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 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 size of 1 mm or even more.
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.
So you should do a thorough inspection of your bed, your furniture, clothes, ceiling, and hidden places in your house in search of bed bugs. Bed bugs hide very well and are difficult to control. The presence of black dots on any surface is one of the most frequent signs of bed bugs, along with bites on the skin.
When there is a bed bug infestation, it is possible to observe 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, you can also see the stains produced by the excrement.
Bed bugs feed every 5 to 10 days, and their saliva contains anesthetic substances. For this reason, most people do not feel their bite when they sleep.
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.
Bed Bug Poop Pictures
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, crevices, and box springs.
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.
Bed bugs can feed more than once. In addition, each female can lay 1 to 3 eggs per day and 200 to 500 eggs during her life. They can also survive and remain active in temperatures as low as 7 °C (46 °F), but die when their body temperature reaches 45 °C (113 °F).
In some cases, you can find the stains of excrement by accumulations of spots. 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.
Stains caused by bed bug feces are mainly seen on mattresses. This is because it is in bed that we lie down and where bedbugs prefer to attack. Also, you can find stains on sheets and even pillows. Sometimes it is possible to see exoskeletons next to excrement.
Every time you buy something second-hand, whether it’s furniture or clothing, you should check the item carefully for bed bug excrement stains. These types of items can transport bed bugs to your home. If you find any signs of the presence of bed bug droppings, you should not bring the item into your home.
It is also very common for bedbugs to form colonies in electrical outlets or plugs. It is an ideal place to maintain their body temperature and lay their eggs.
Bed Bugs Smell
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.
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.
In the following image, we can see a table stained with bed bug feces which smells bad due to the degree of infestation.
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.
