Do Bed Bug Stains Smear?
WouterOne of the biggest questions people have when dealing with bed bug infestations is, “Do bed bug stains smear?” The answer isn’t always a yes or no. In fact, the staining from bed bugs is rarely permanent. The excrement of these bugs absorbs readily and dries quickly. However, bed bugs’ excrement may leave a stain on your carpet or wooden furniture. Here are some tips to remove bed bug stains from these surfaces.
The first step is to determine the cause of the stain. Bed bugs leave a distinctive odor when disturbed, which can sometimes overpower the smell of their own droppings. These droppings can be reddish-brown or black, and may smear on a wet paper towel. The odor may be strong or faint. The stain may also be caused by fresh blood droplets. Fresh blood droplets are brighter red than the bedbug droppings and are not digested.
Fecal stains from bedbugs are very small, similar to the size of a ballpoint pen ink smeared into a sheet. Each time bed bugs poop, they leave behind a small stain with a definite shape. If you’re suspicious, you can use a Bed Bug Blue kit to check for stains. It comes with a proprietary solution, Q-tips, and test paper.
Bed bug stains are a difficult problem to solve. The stains can appear as rusty red spots or clusters of black ink. If a bed bug is causing the stains, it may be time to replace the mattress.
