If unexplained traces of feces appear in the bedroom, there is great concern. Many harmless insects can be responsible for the waste. A closer examination of the feces and the locations where they were found provide clues.
How do you recognize bed bug feces?
Bed bug droppings appear as deep black to brownish, liquid stains that act like ink on textiles and beds and dry up later. The traces of excrement can also appear on wooden frames and wallpaper as irregular, dark, raised masses or flat areas of excrement.
What does bed bug feces look like?
Bed bugs are nocturnal bloodsuckers that pierce human skin with their stinging tools. The proboscis also serves to take in food and thus takes on a sucking function. Within ten minutes they gorge themselves, consuming seven times their own body weight.
Typical poop stains in bed
Stains from bed bugs are reminiscent of ink
Immediately after a meal, they produce watery excretions that dry out over time. Their appearance differs due to the composition of uric acid and absorbed blood and depends on the absorbency and type of substrate:
- Bedsheet: black spots reminiscent of ink
- Wooden frame: irregular dark mass that becomes hard and slightly raised
- wallpapers: flat areas of feces often appear
Distinguishing feces from bed bugs and other insects
The droppings of the blood-sucking pests resemble fly or spider droppings. The location where it was found often gives a clear indication of the cause, as every insect prefers different locations. While flies usually hang out on ceiling lights or walls, spiders can be found in niches and corners. Bed bugs like dry hiding places behind ledges and cupboards during the day. The overall impression of the traces of excrement in the room is decisive for an assessment.
| color | Location | Size | Consistency | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spiders | graywhite | on windows and walls | extended stripes | thin liquid |
| Flying | light to dark | always in bright places, often on hanging objects | similar to bed bug droppings | fest |
| Cockroaches | blackbrown | often run in a trail on walls | few millimeters tall | crumbly |
| Bed bugs | deep black to brownish | mainly textiles and beds | comparable to a particle of coffee powder | initially liquid, later drying |
Locating bed bugs
Bed bug droppings often go undetected because they usually only accumulate in hiding places. Itchy bite marks on the body are the first indication of a pest infestation, although there could be several possible causes. Small details to pay attention to provide further clues.
Bettwanzen: Sie sind wieder da! - Gut zu wissen
Where bed bugs live
During the day, the insects stay in crevice-shaped hiding places that ensure a dry environment. If you have discovered suspicious traces of feces, you should check all options for retreat. The unwanted guests can often be found under mattresses or floor coverings and behind skirting boards. Occasionally, those affected come across stains behind the wallpaper on the wall.
Excursus
The bed bug as a survivor
The insect, which is between three and five millimeters in size, can grow up to nine millimeters long after it has been sucked full. In this state the body appears dark red or jet black. At around 13 degrees, bed bugs can survive for a maximum of twelve months without sucking blood again. Your chances of survival decrease as temperatures rise. Without feeding, the pests die after two to three months when exposed to normal room temperatures.
Watch out for traces of scent
The tiny traces of droppings are often overlooked because they can often only be found in typical hiding places. A sweet smell in the room only occurs when there is a severe bedbug infestation. However, an aroma reminiscent of coriander is occasionally noticeable. It is the smell of messenger substances that the bugs secrete when disturbed. In this way, the insects communicate with each other and cause a cluster of bugs to disperse quickly.
How to prevent infestation and spread
After a trip, laundry should be washed as hot as possible
The pests are often introduced from outside, with different sources being possible. Once the insects are in your home, combating them requires a lot of patience. Therefore, preventive measures are strongly recommended after vacation trips or flea market visits.
Tip
A female bed bug lays up to 300 eggs in her life, which develop into sexually mature insects within six weeks. If you suspect something, acting quickly is extremely important.
What attracts bed bugs
Although scientific evidence is lacking, it is believed that bed bugs are attracted to carbon dioxide. Higher concentrations in the air we breathe as well as other excreted substances, the so-called kairomones, are said to lure the pests out of their hiding places at night. Bed bugs seem to prefer previously worn textiles as opposed to freshly washed laundry.
How to protect yourself:
- Do not place suitcase on the floor or next to the bed
- Wash clothes at least 60 degrees after the trip
- examine used items from flea markets thoroughly for traces
Heat and cold treatment
If only individual items of clothing are infected or are suspected, they can be packed in bags and put in the freezer
Infected furniture or clothing can be treated with heat or cold. Pack CDs, wooden frames or books in a plastic bag and freeze them at -18 degrees for at least three days. Adult insects, larvae and eggs also die at temperatures of 50 to 60 degrees. In summer, it is advisable to place packed items directly in the sun. The contents heat up so much that the pests have no chance of survival.
Tip
If the sub-zero temperatures in winter allow it, you can also leave textiles and mattresses on the balcony or terrace for a few days.
Bean plant as a trap
The leaves of the bean plant have microscopic hairs that get caught on the legs of the bed bugs. When an insect crawls over the leaf, the so-called trichomes wrap around the extremities like Velcro. As you move further, the sharp tips of the hook-shaped hairs dig into the legs so that the bugs can no longer free themselves.
Bean leaves have been used in the Balkans for centuries as a way to catch bed bugs. In the morning the leaves are burned along with the insects.
Frequently asked questions
What are typical signs of a bed bug infestation?
Affected people often show stitches on uncovered parts of the body such as legs and arms that are red and about the size of the little finger nail. These bites itch and appear shallow. Drop-like spots on the skin caused by bed bug droppings are typical. The insects secrete watery excretions while feeding. These can also be seen on pajamas or wallpaper. Most of the time, items of clothing are spared because the crawling creatures find it difficult to move around on the fabric.
What does a bed bug bite look like?
Bed bug bites leave lots of red pustules
The insects prefer to look for exposed areas of skin. They often sting several times in a row and suck blood. However, the fact that puncture points are arranged in a line is a myth. The pustules can appear spread over a large area of the skin. The appearance varies depending on the person, from dotted blistering to large areas. Mosquito bites sometimes look similar if the insects have bitten multiple times. Therefore, the appearance and arrangement of the puncture wounds do not provide clear evidence of a confirmed bed bug infestation.
Are bed bug bites dangerous?
Pests do not play a major role as disease vectors. Experiments showed that the insects carry almost 30 different pathogens. Among them, researchers also found hepatitis B, hepatitis C and HI viruses. Since the pathogens do not multiply in the bugs, they are not infectious. Infections occur randomly:
- Pathogens enter the body through injuries by crushing the bugs
- Contact between skin wounds and infectious secretions
- If the suction process is interrupted, half-digested material containing viruses can get into the wound
How can I get rid of bed bugs?
Due to the he alth risks of chemical control agents, physical methods are becoming increasingly important. Spreading diatomaceous earth in typical insect hiding places is widespread. The sharp-edged particles destroy the waxy layer of the chitin shell, causing the bugs to die from dehydration. Thermal treatment helps against eggs and adult pests. At at least 46 degrees, the insects die after seven minutes. Rooms are usually heated to 55 degrees for 24 hours so that the critical temperature is reached in the corners and crevices.
- Laundry should be washed at 45 degrees
- At 40 degrees about a quarter of all eggs die
- The best possible results are achieved in the tumble dryer with a running time of 30 minutes
In addition to heat treatment, exposure to cold provides relief. Bed linen and textiles can be placed in the freezer at a temperature of -17 degrees for at least 120 minutes. The more clothing you treat this way, the longer you should freeze the laundry. Three days are recommended to kill all eggs and bugs.
How can I protect myself from bed bugs?
Pests often get into your own four walls through flea market items. To determine whether pieces of furniture are infested, you should place them with their feet in elevated containers. Smooth walls or water prevent the animals from crawling out of the containers. There are special collectible coasters that resemble an ashtray and have an additional recessed ring around a central depression. The depression represents a trap for the insects. If the walls are dusted with talc, the trap effect increases.
