Your history guides the search
A technician should ask about travel, second-hand furniture, guests, room changes and earlier treatment. BPCA says bed bugs commonly arrive on luggage, bags, clothes and second-hand furniture. The answers guide where to look, although they do not prove who is to blame.
Keep your own notes too. Write down what you saw, where and when, and keep facts apart from guesses. Since many marks look alike, if you are unsure what one means, our post on bed bug bites or something else helps you sort out the likely causes.
The physical inspection
The NHS says bed bugs hide on bed frames, mattresses, clothing, furniture, behind pictures and under loose wallpaper. BPCA adds plug sockets, skirting boards and even phones and radios. Therefore, a proper search goes well beyond the mattress, because the bugs hide close to where people sleep.
The search grows when the evidence supports it. For example, a few signs near the headboard may lead the technician to check nearby furniture and the next room. Our post on signs of bed bugs and where they hide lists what to expect.
- Live or dead bed bugs, including tiny early-stage nymphs
- Pale cast skins and whitish eggs
- Dark faecal spots, about 1mm wide, that look like ink dots
- Small blood smears on linen or a headboard
Why bites alone are not enough
BPCA says bites without other evidence do not necessarily mean an infestation. Bites can look like other marks, and people react differently. In fact, some people do not react at all, so a lack of bites does not rule bed bugs out.
Because of this, a firm that recommends treatment from a bite photo alone has not confirmed the pest. Ask what else it found. If it found nothing, ask what other explanations it considered.
What a useful report says
The report should state what the technician inspected, what they found and what they did not find. It should also give the proposed room scope and any limits on access. BPCA calls a survey one of the most invasive checks a pest professional carries out. As a result, the firm should explain it before it arrives.
After the inspection, the firm should explain its options, including what it will use, which rooms it will treat and what it guarantees. Compare that against our questions to ask checklist. Then read the treatment methods guide to judge whether the method fits, because BPCA says there is never a one-size-fits-all treatment.
Who should do the inspection
You can look for signs yourself, but a trained person finds more. Adult bed bugs measure about 4 to 6mm, and the early stages are tiny, so they are easy to miss. As a result, a self-check can reassure you without proving the room is clear.
If you find signs, do not wait. BPCA says amateur products can prolong an infestation, and the NHS says bed bugs can be hard to find. Ask your council whether it offers a survey, or contact a firm that will inspect before it quotes.
Frequently asked questions
What does a bed bug inspection look for?
It looks for live or dead bed bugs, cast skins, eggs, faecal spots and blood marks. The technician checks beds, furniture and other hiding places near where people sleep. Then they widen the search if the signs point further, because bed bugs can move between rooms.
Can I inspect for bed bugs myself?
You can look for the signs listed above with a torch. However, adult bed bugs measure about 4 to 6mm and the early stages are tiny, so they are easy to miss. If you are unsure, ask your council or a professional to confirm.
Do bites prove I have bed bugs?
No. BPCA says bites without further evidence do not necessarily mean an infestation. Look for other signs, such as spots, skins or live bugs. If you still cannot tell, the NHS says you can ask a pharmacist about itch relief while you wait.
Do councils inspect for bed bugs?
Some do, but practice differs. Manchester carries out a free survey before it treats, while other councils do not treat bed bugs at all. Read the post on council services and check your own council's page.
Sources and further checks
Open the source before acting on information that may change, including council services, prices, tenancy rules and product labels. Each link below goes to the organisation that publishes the original guidance.