Bed Bugs on Mattress, Inside, Signs, Pictures, Get Rid, Kill, Treatment & Prevention

Can bed bugs live in or on mattresses? What are the signs of bed bugs on mattress? What do bed bugs look like on a mattress? Explore the signs of bed bugs on mattress and learn how to get rid and prevent them. Also, we have inserted excellent pictures of bed bugs on mattress at various sections of this the post and a video at the end. This will enable you to identify them easily in case your mattress gets infested by bed bugs.

Table of Contents

Signs of Bed Bugs on Mattress

What do bed bugs look like on a mattress? You may not notice bed bugs on your mattress if you are not observant. However, there are signs that can give you clues that your mattress is infested with bed bugs. Nevertheless, some of these signs are not always evidence of bed bugs in mattress. After seeing such signs, you will do a more serious check in order to determine if indeed your mattress has bed bugs. The bed bug signs on your mattress may include:

1. Bed Bug Eggs on Mattress

If you happen to see bed bug eggs on the mattress, then it is an indication that your mattress has been infested with bed bugs. The bed bug eggs are about 1 millimeter long. They are laid with a sticky translucent film which makes them appear shiny. The film enables them to adhere to the surface on which they are laid.

The female bed bug usually lays eggs away from the crowd of other bed bugs. So you may find bed bug eggs under the mattress or other hiding areas except where the other groups of bed bugs hide. For detailed information and pictures of bed bug eggs, visit the Bed Bug Eggs page.

2. Bed Bug Eggshells on Mattress

In case you happen to spot empty eggshells on your mattress, it is a sign that you could have the bed bugs for some time now. The bed bug eggshells are usually found on the seam of your mattress or other parts where the bed bugs hide.

Bed bugs on mattress - casings, cast skins, feces and eggs shells — Bed bug, cast skins, feces and eggs shells/casings on mattress

The eggshells are tiny, about 1 mm long. They look like the bed bug eggs themselves but are a little less shiny because they are empty. Although they can be seen with a naked eye, a magnifying glass does better.

3. Bed Bug Feces on Mattress

One funny thing with bed bugs is, they poo just shortly after feeding! Therefore, the feces are usually left on the mattress, sheets or blankets. The bed bug faces appear as dark stains on the mattress. Often, the poop soaks into the mattress or any other fabric on which the bed bugs defecate.

In most cases, bed bug feces are the physical first sign of bed bugs on mattress you are likely to notice. So, when checking for bed bugs, look for such dark stains on your mattress or other beddings.

4. Bed Bug Stains on Mattress

If you are observant you may notice reddish dark stains of blood spots and Killed bed bugs on mattress. These stains are the blood remains of engorged bed bugs which are ‘accidentally’ crushed as you get into bed or turn while sleeping. This could be another sign that your mattress is infested with bed bugs.

5. Bed Bug Skins on Mattress (Cast Skins or Casings)

When baby bed bugs develop to adult bed bugs, they shed their skins five times before reaching adulthood. The shading of skins occur at the various stages of development in the bed bug life cycle. Accordingly, you may discover these casings on areas where the baby bed bugs hide including under your mattress or at the joints and corners of your bed.

The cast skins of the baby bed bugs somewhat resemble the bed bugs but are lighter and empty. The picture below shows the appearance of bed bugs cast skins at various stages.

6. Nymphs on Mattress (Baby Bed Bugs)

You may also see the nymphs of the bed bugs. These are the baby bed bugs. They take the shape of adult bed bugs but are a bit small in size. They are generally lighter in color. Before feeding on blood, they may appear almost clear. However, they turn red upon feeding on blood.

It is easier to spot nymphs than adult bed bugs because of the light color. However, this also depends on the color of your mattress. Also, the nymphs might have not learned how to hide themselves fast, all the more reason why they can be seen easily.

7. Alive Bed Bugs on Mattress

Can you see bed bugs on your mattress? Although it is not easy to see the bed bugs themselves, you might stumble on them trying to hide as you make your bed. Adult bed bugs are rusty-brown in color. They are usually flat unless their abdomens are full of blood that they feed on. They are about 5 millimeters in length.

Bed bugs on mattress creases — Alive bed bugs on mattress creases

After feeding on blood, their abdomen bulge and they also become a bit elongated. Their rusty-brown color turns dark purplish red due to the blood in third abdomens. You likely to spot them at the seams and edges of your mattress. It is good to note that this is the only obvious sign of bed bugs.

8. Characteristic Smell from Your Mattress

Bed bugs have a distinctive smell. The smell resembles that of overripe raspberries, moldy shoes or coriander. According to cedaroil.com, “The scent gland of bed bugs produces a musty odor that is often described as smelling like coriander”. In case you notice such a smell from your mattress, there is a likelihood that your mattress is infested with bed bugs.

9. Suspicious Bite Marks on Your Body

In case you discover bite marks on your body, they could be bed bug bites. Bed bug bites are that usually appear as 3 or 4 inflamed spots arranged in a line on the skin. The reaction of the skin to bed bug bites differs from one individual to another. However, bed bug bites often become itchy and swollen in most people. However, bite marks are not a sure sign of bed bugs on mattress because they may be mosquito bites or flea bites. You may visit what do bed bug bites look like or Bed Bug Bites Pictures for more information and pictures about bed bug bites.

Bed Bugs on Mattress Pictures (Images)

We have attached excellent relevant pictures in this post in order to enable you to easily identify bed bugs on your mattress. However, you can get more detailed and informative images on bed bugs in general on the Bed Bugs Pictures page.

Do All Mattresses Have Bed Bugs?

Do all mattresses have bed bugs? Where do bed bugs come from? Not all mattress have bed bugs. Usually, mattresses are free of bed bugs until they get infested. This happens when the mattress is used in a household that is already infested with bed bugs. You may also accidentally carry bed bugs in your clothes from other people’s homes or clothes in case their households are already infested. This is where bed bugs on mattress often originate from.

Finding Bed Bugs in Mattress

Where do bed bugs hide in mattresses? It is necessary for you to learn how to find bed bugs on your mattress. One of the common hiding places for bed bugs is on or under your mattress. However, you can also find bed bugs on the seams and folds of the mattress and actress covers., bed bugs may hide on the edges of your mattress (between the mattress and the bed), especially if you leave your mattress ‘undisturbed’ for long.

If your mattress has cracks they can be excellent hiding places for bed bugs. Furthermore, if the spaces in the structure of the mattress are big enough to accommodate bed bugs, they will certainly enjoy being there.

Bed Bugs in or Inside Mattress

Do bed bugs live in mattresses? Can bed bugs stay inside your mattress? Your mattress may have cracked out normal of wear and tear. Your child may also make the cracks on the mattress when it is still good shape. Still, if your mattress is of low density, it may have spaces that can accommodate bed bugs. All these are excellent hiding places for bed bugs. So, when you check for bed bugs, bear in mind that they can also be hiding right inside the mattress.

Bed Bugs under Mattress

Another common place where bed bugs may hide is under your mattress. They may find the place conducive if you leave your mattress for long period without airing it or even just turning it. Therefore, always check under the mattress routinely, just in case it is infested with bed bugs which are hiding there.

Bed Bags on New Mattress

Can a new mattress have bed bugs? There have been cases of new mattresses being bought when they already have bed bugs. Probably, a new mattress with bed bugs gets infested while in storage. This means that the storage facility used is infested with the bed bugs too. It is also possible that the same storage facility is to store used mattresses and other items which have bed bugs.

In addition, the new mattress may get infested with the bed bugs while in transit. This may happen if the new mattress is transported together with other items which have bed bugs.

Mattress Bugs Not Bed Bugs

In case you have never seen bed bugs, as many other people, you may mistake other bugs on mattress for bed bugs. There are bugs that live in and yet they are not bed bugs. The common bugs that are often mistake for bed bugs include ticks, lice, mites and carpet beetles. Others include spiders, beetle, cockroach nymphs, booklice, bat bugs and earwigs. However, most of these bugs rarely hide in mattresses.

How to Get Rid of Bed Bugs on Mattress

What kills bed bugs in the mattress? There are many agents and procedures that you can use for bed bug treatment on your mattress. You may choose to apply these agents and procedures by yourself if you are conversant with them. Alternatively, you can seek the services of bed bug exterminators to carry out bed bug extermination on your mattress. Here, we outline the procedures and agents that you can use to get rid of bed bugs on your mattress. Bear in mind that the choice of the method you could use to get rid of bed bugs may depend on a number of issues. Some of the factors that may influence your choice include the severity of the infestation and usage convenience to you.

1. Scrub the bed Bugs off the Mattress

In case your mattress is severely infested with bed bugs, start by removing most of them physically. Scrub the off the mattress with a stiff brush before carrying out vacuum cleaning, steam treatment or pesticide application. This may also be a good step to take before encasing the mattress. At least, scrubbing off most of the bed bugs will significantly reduce them and make your mattress look neater.

2. Active Guard Liners for Bed Bugs on Mattress

Active guard liner is special bed bug mattress cover that kill bed bugs on a mattress. These covers also prevent entry of bed bugs into the mattress.

Place active guard liners on the mattress. They will kill the bed bugs and their eggs within 3 days and prevent them from infesting the mattress again. Remember to eliminate the bed bugs and bed bug eggs on the bed and surrounding furniture, furniture joints, walls, wall cracks etc. using insecticides or any other appropriate none-chemical method.

3. Mattress Encasement for Bed Bugs on Mattress

A mattress encasement is a type of a bed bug mattress cover that constrains bed bugs within the mattress. It also prevents further entry of bed bugs into the mattress. It is one of the best ways to get rid of bed bugs on mattress. So, purchase an effective zippered mattress encasement and install it. Leave it intact for at least one year. Note that bed bugs can live for up to one year without food. For more information, see the page How Long Do Bed Bugs Live?

Once installed, the mattress encasement stops entry or escape of bed bugs into or out of the mattress. Consequently, any bed bugs or bed bug eggs which are trapped inside the mattress will eventually die due to lack of food. Normally, an encasement for both the mattress and the box spring are installed to get rid of the bed bugs completely.

Observe the following when using a mattress encasement for effective results:

Physically remove and destroy most of the bed bugs and bed bug eggs before installing the mattress encasement. However, this is not a necessary step but it may assist in getting rid of the bed bugs faster.
Ensure that the encasement is completely intact throughout In case it is torn, this method will not be effective as the bed bugs will come out of the encasement and feed. The areas of the encasement which are in contact with sharp edges and protruding parts like bolts may be easily damaged. So, constantly check the encasement, especially these areas, to ensure that it not torn and there are no openings into the mattress.

4. Vacuum Cleaner for Bed Bugs on Mattress

A vacuum cleaner is a bed bug mattress treatment kit that uses an air pump to create a partial vacuum to suck up bed bugs and their eggs. Vacuum cleaning is a non-chemical measure that you can use to effectively remove bed bugs from your mattress. However, a vacuum cleaner method may not get rid of all the bed bugs on the mattress.

Therefore, it is highly recommended that you encase the mattress immediately after vacuum cleaning. This way, the few bed bugs and bed bug eggs still surviving will be restricted and eventually die. In addition, clean the surrounding areas including the bed, other furniture, walls, carpets and other hiding places for bed bugs.

5. Steam Treatment for Bed Bugs on Mattress

Steam treatment is yet another great way to destroy bed bugs on mattress. Just like a vacuum cleaner, it is a non-chemical procedure. Therefore, it a preferred way of killing bed bugs since it does not present the risk of exposure to chemicals. Usually, exposure of the steam to bed bugs kills all stages of bed bugs in seconds. However, the drawback is that if the steam is too wet, it may soak your mattress surface. This may call for airing before use.

When using steam treatment to get rid of bed bugs on mattress, observe the following factors:

Strictly follow the manufacturer’s directions and safety advice to avoid suffering burns
Ensure the temperature of the steam reaches lethal level, otherwise the bed bugs won’t die.
Ensure the pressure is maintained at adequate levels for effective output of steam throughout the process.

After stem treatment, you will need to encase with a zippered mattress encasement to prevent further infestation. Also, the bed bugs or bed bug eggs which might have not died will be trapped in the mattress and eventually die. However, air dry the mattress completely before encasing it. If you encase it while wet, it may envelop mold because of the damp conditions occasioned by steam treatment.

6. Bed Bug Pesticides for Bed Bugs on Mattress (Dust & Spray)

Use of pesticides is another effective way of getting rid of bed bugs on mattress. Arguably, use of pesticide is more effective way of bed bug extermination than non-chemical methods. However, the use of pesticides presents a risk of pesticide exposure. In fact, the use of non-chemical methods like vacuum cleaners and steam treatment are preferred to chemical treatments (use of pesticides).

However, if you have to use pesticides to kill bed bugs, you must be very cautious in order to avoid unnecessary exposure. Therefore, strictly follow the directions provided for the use of the pesticide of your choice. Furthermore, you should never use pesticides to treat your mattress unless they are specifically designed for such use.

Bed bug pesticides come in dust (powder form) or aerosol/sprays (liquid form). For best results, apply or spray the pesticides directly to the bed bugs. Apply the insecticide well, giving special attention to the typical bed bug hiding places like seams and folds. Generally, aerosols are more effective than dust because they easily reach the bed bugs, unlike dust. Additionally, aerosols are more likely to stick to the bed bugs and bed bug eggs after application. Hence their action will be more effective than that of dust.

To prevent the mattress from being infested again, secure the mattress in a mattress safe encasement. Also, apply the pesticide to the other common areas where bed bugs hide. These areas include linens, curtains, clothing, wall cracks, furniture joints etc.

Some of the pesticide dust and aerosols recommended for use in extermination of bed bugs on mattress include:

Cimexa Dust
Optimate CS
Bedlam Plus Aerosol
Temprid SC
Transport Mikron
Steri-Fab Bed Bug Spray
Alpine PT Aerosol
Phantom Aerosol
Temprid Ready Spray Aerosol

7. Discard Your Mattress to Get Rid of Bed Bugs

You may also choose to throw away the mattress to get rid of the bed bugs. This method of getting rid of bed bugs is considered to be appropriate if the mattress is severely infested or very old. If you choose to discard your mattress, don not leave it inside other structures or just outside the home. Make an effort to coordinate with the litter collectors to collect it as soon as you discard it. This will eliminate the possibility of the mattress overstaying outside before collection. In case this was to happen, an unsuspecting person could pick it with an intention of using it. It is also possible that the bed bugs may spread to the surrounding structures or places. This will only spread the bed bugs to other households.

Unfortunately, bed bugs do not only stay within the mattress. They are also located in other areas such as bed joints, on the walls and the furniture around the bed. However, most of the bed bugs and bed bug eggs are found on or in the mattress. Therefore, discarding your mattress may not eliminate all the bed bugs but will help will get rid of a huge percentage of bed bugs. But if the bed is also old or severely infested with the bed bugs, it may also be discarded together with the mattress. Definitely, this will be a more effective way of getting rid of the bed bugs.

Before you start using a new mattress, use vacuum cleaning, steam treatment or pesticides to get rid of the bed bugs that could be hiding around the bed, bed joints, furniture joints, walls, wall cracks etc. Also, wash all items of clothing with hot water and dry them on high dryer setting. For items that cannot be washed, place then in the dryer and dry them on high setting of the dryer to exterminate all bed bugs and bed bug eggs. Failure to eliminate the bed bugs and their eggs in the places around your bed will lead to infestation of your new mattress as soon as you start using it.

How to Prevent Bed Bugs on Mattress

How can you protect mattress from bed bugs? You do not have to wait until your mattress is infested to get rid of the bed bugs. You can prevent bed bugs from infesting your mattress. The measures you can take include installation of bed bug mattress protectors.

1. Regular inspection

Carry out periodic and consistent inspection on your mattress in order to discover any infestation of bed bugs at the earliest opportunity. It will be easier and cheaper to get rid and prevent the bed bugs compared with when the mattress gets severely infested.

2. Anti-bed Bug Mattress

Purchase an anti-bed bug mattress instead of an ordinary mattress. This kind of mattress is already protected from infestation with an effective zippered encasement. Therefore, it does not allow bed bugs to enter it and hence cannot be infested by bed bugs.

3. Mattress Encasement

Install a mattress encasement jus after purchasing in case it is not protected. This will prevent bed bugs from entering into it. This is a very effective preventive measure that should be embraced, especially in bed bug prone localities.

4. Active Guard Liners

Active guard liners may also be installed in advance to prevent potential infestation of the mattress by bed bugs. The use of active guard liners is recommended in bed bug prone areas.

Bed Bugs and Memory Foam Mattress

Can bed bugs live on memory foam mattress? Many people believe that using memory foam mattresses can prevent infestation of bed bugs. It even becomes more confusing when memory from mattress manufacturers make such claims.

Basically, a memory foam molds to the body in response to heat and pressure from your body when you lie on it. As a result, your weight is distributed evenly on the mattress. This makes you feel at ease on the form mattress.

Therefore, memory foam mattresses were not designed to prevent infestation of bed bugs and other bugs. Rather, they were basically designed to provide comfort by enabling even distribution of your body weight on them.