PEST EVIDENCE GUIDE US HOMESOBSERVE COMPARE DOCUMENT
Pest EvidenceGUIDE / US HOMESStart with a clue

PEST EVIDENCE GUIDE / PEST FAMILY

Physical signs of bed bugs

EPA recommends looking for physical evidence because bites alone are a poor indicator. Accurate identification is important before taking action.

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Bed bug beside pale eggs around a recessed screw hole in a wooden bed
From the guide: Bed bug eggs: appearance and hiding placesPhoto: Thomas Oldani / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 3.0. Source version cropped and brightness-adjusted by Soerfm; used without further changes. Source-described bed bug with eggs in a wooden bed; no scale shown. · CC BY 3.0
OBSERVE THE SIGNCOMPARE THE POSSIBILITIESDOCUMENT WHAT CHANGES

THE RELEVANT EVIDENCE

Guides in this collection

03 / GUIDES
EGGS & LARVAE

Bed bug eggs: appearance and hiding places

Compare bed bug eggs and other physical signs using EPA guidance before assuming an infestation.

Read guide DROPPINGS

Bed bug stains and dark spots

Compare dark spots and reddish stains with other physical bed bug evidence using EPA guidance.

Read guide COMPARISONS

Bugs that look like bed bugs: what to compare

Compare bed bugs with carpet beetles, booklice, and closely related bat bugs without relying on bites.

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FROM THE JOURNAL

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01Travel and secondhand itemsChecking a hotel room for bed bug evidenceA travel checklist for documenting a suspected finding and reporting it clearly to hotel staff.02Travel and secondhand itemsChecking used furniture for bed bug evidence before bringing it homeA pre-move observation checklist focused on physical evidence, inaccessible areas, and when to pause the purchase.03Working with professionalsQuestions to ask a pest professional before agreeing to treatmentUse the evidence record to discuss identification, scope, alternatives, and follow-up with a pest-control provider.04Field methodsA household pest observation checklist you can reuseSeparate direct sightings from assumptions and build a concise record for an inspector or extension office.