Bed Bug Basics and Identification: Science, Signs, and Solutions
Bed bugs are familiar yet widely misunderstood. If you are noticing bites, spots on bedding, or musty odours, this guide explains what is really happening, how to confirm it, and why a controlled heat approach is the most dependable way to clear an infestation. As industry specialists, ThermoPest focuses on professional bed bug heat treatment that is evidence-led and designed to eradicate every life stage safely.
What people believe vs reality
- Belief: “If I can’t see them, I don’t have them.” Reality: Bed bugs are nocturnal, tiny, and hide deeply in seams, screw holes, and wall voids. You often find signs before you see insects.
- Belief: “Bites always look the same.” Reality: Reactions vary widely; some people do not react at all. Identification should rely on physical evidence, not bites alone.
- Belief: “A quick spray or fogger will sort it.” Reality: DIY products rarely reach harbourages or eggs and can scatter bugs deeper into the structure.
- Belief: “Throwing away the bed fixes it.” Reality: Bed bugs live in frames, skirting, bedside furniture, and soft furnishings, not just mattresses.
Science-backed facts
- Behaviour: Bed bugs follow heat and CO2 to feed, then retreat to tight cracks close to where you rest.
- Life stages: Eggs, nymphs, and adults require different exposure times to lethal heat; eggs are the most resilient.
- Thermal tolerance: Research shows sustained temperatures above lethal thresholds are necessary. See our guide on what temperature kills bed bugs for the science behind treatment targets.
- Spread: Infestations often expand via luggage, used furniture, or internal movement of belongings, not dirt or hygiene.
Common mistakes that make infestations worse
- Using total-release foggers (“bombs”) that drive bugs deeper without killing eggs.
- Spot-spraying only the mattress and missing frames, headboards, fixings, and skirtings.
- Sleeping in a different room and accidentally spreading the infestation.
- Bagging items without labelling, then reintroducing them untreated.
- Assuming one treatment of any kind is enough without proof through monitoring.
Practical advice you can do safely
- Reduce clutter around the bed and keep the bed slightly pulled off the wall.
- Vacuum slowly with a crevice tool around seams, tufts, bed frames, and skirting. Empty the vacuum outside into a sealed bag.
- Launder bedding and sleepwear at 60°C and tumble dry hot where fabrics allow.
- Fit quality mattress and base encasements to trap any hidden bugs and make inspections easier.
- Use bed leg interceptors and check them weekly to track activity.
- If you are preparing for professional work, follow this checklist for preparing your home for treatment.
Why heat treatment is the superior solution
Chemical-only approaches often require multiple visits, struggle with resistant populations, and may not reach hidden eggs. Controlled heat delivers a uniform, lethal environment that penetrates deep harbourages without relying on bug movement or feeding.
Cold spots
The main reason DIY or poorly executed jobs fail is cold spots: areas that never reach or hold lethal temperatures (inside joints, dense upholstery, behind skirting). Professional systems eliminate these through engineered airflow, targeted agitation of bulky items, and continuous temperature checks.
Sustained lethal temperature
It is not just about hitting a number – it is about maintaining it long enough. Professionals sustain lethal temperatures across the whole treatment zone so eggs and sheltered bugs cannot survive.
Sensors and monitoring
We place multiple sensors throughout the room and inside key items, logging temperatures in real time. This confirms that every part of the environment reaches and holds target temperatures – the only reliable way to prove success.
All life stages killed
When executed correctly, whole-room heat reaches eggs, nymphs, and adults in their hiding places. See our bed bug heat treatment process for how we manage airflow, hold times, and verification to ensure thorough outcomes.
ThermoPest expertise
ThermoPest is the UK specialist in heat for bed bugs and moths. Our technicians combine calibrated heaters, high-accuracy sensors, and disciplined preparation to remove cold spots and achieve full-room lethality. After treatment, we advise how to monitor your property after treatment so you can confirm results and avoid reintroduction.
We support homes and businesses alike, with discreet commercial heat treatment for hotels and landlords designed around rapid turnaround and minimal disruption. For households, our evidence-based approach and clear preparation guidance help deliver a smooth, effective treatment day.
FAQ’S
Question: How can I tell if I have bed bugs rather than another biting insect?
Answer: Look for physical signs, not just bites: live bugs, small translucent eggs, black faecal spots on seams and skirtings, and shed skins near sleeping areas. Bites alone are unreliable because reactions vary and other insects can cause similar marks. Use interceptors under bed legs for a few weeks to gather evidence safely and consistently. As a quick check, inspect mattress seams, the headboard (front and back), and bed frame joints with a torch; in professional practice we always confirm with physical evidence before planning treatment.
Question: What temperature actually kills bed bugs and their eggs?
Answer: Adult bed bugs begin to die quickly above the high 40s °C, but eggs are tougher and require higher temperatures for longer. Professionals typically target room air in the mid-to-high 50s °C and hold core temperatures long enough to ensure deep items heat through. The key is duration at temperature and eliminating cold spots that protect hidden eggs. A simple rule of thumb: sustained, verified heat across the whole room is what delivers reliable results; in professional practice we confirm temperatures with multiple sensors throughout the space.
Question: Can I eliminate bed bugs myself with sprays or foggers?
Answer: DIY sprays and foggers usually miss hidden harbourages and do little against insulated eggs, leading to partial knockdown and rebound. Foggers can also push bugs deeper into walls and furniture, making later control harder. If you must act before a visit, focus on laundering at 60°C, vacuuming slowly with a crevice tool, and fitting encasements rather than overusing chemicals. In professional practice we rely on whole-room heat, targeted dusting where appropriate, and post-treatment monitoring to verify success.
Question: Why do bed bugs seem to come back after treatment?
Answer: Two main reasons: reintroduction from travel or visitors, and incomplete control due to cold spots or insufficient exposure time. Eggs that never reached lethal temperatures can hatch weeks later, giving the impression of a return. Good preparation, thorough heat distribution, and follow-up monitoring help distinguish reintroduction from survival. In professional practice we pair verified heat with interceptors or visual checks over several weeks to confirm eradication.
Question: Is heat treatment safe for my belongings and electronics?
Answer: Professional heat treatment is designed to protect most household items while achieving lethal temperatures for bed bugs. Technicians manage airflow, ramp up heat gradually, and use protective measures for heat-sensitive items where needed. As a simple precaution, remove candles, cosmetics that can melt, pressurised aerosols, and delicate plants before treatment. In professional practice we provide item-specific guidance during the survey and monitor temperatures continuously to keep contents within safe ranges.