Top 5 Warning Signs of Bed Bugs to Spot in Hotel Rooms

Bed bugs are small, flat, parasitic insects that feed solely on blood. While bed bugs are not direct carriers for infectious disease transmission, they can cause human discomfort and a variety of health issues.

Bed bugs are widespread in hotels, so it’s important to look for indications of an infestation. We’ll discuss 5 important signs of bed bugs in hotels.

Sweet, Musty Smell

The presence of a musty odor when you enter a hotel room is the first sign that bed bugs are present. A musty odor could be an indication of mold, but keep in mind that bed bugs have a scent gland that produces a strong musty smell. Bed bugs also shed their skin and leave behind their excrement which also produces a strong musty scent.

To determine if the musty smell in your hotel is caused by bed bugs, check for the following signs as well.

Blood Stains on Bedding

Bloodstains on the comforter, sheets, and pillowcases are a common indicator of bed bugs. This is caused by being bitten in the middle of the night or bed bugs being squashed and leaving blood stains.

Bed bugs like to hide, so you’ll need to search the crevices of furniture. Look under the bed, in the corners of the nightstands, and under the lamps. Due to their small size, bed bugs can hide almost anywhere.

In hotel rooms, bed bugs and bloodstains can be found on:

• Chairs
• Couches
• Mattress
• Frame
• Headboards
• Pillows

Bed bugs Droppings

Bed bug fecal stains or droppings are significantly smaller and darker than the bloodstains described above. The color of bed bug droppings varies from dark brown to dark red to black, and it comes in circular patches about 1 mm in diameter, similar to a ball pen dot.

The droppings are liquid stains that will smear if wiped. Additionally, dried bed bugs droppings are silky and smooth.

Bed bug feces is common in areas where they feed and conceal. They can be commonly found on:

• Walls
• Mattresses
• Beds
• Chairs

Bed Bugs Eggs

Bed bug eggs are another obvious indicator of a bed bug infestation in a hotel room. You can notice them in the same places where bed bugs leave their droppings, which is where they hide. Pregnant female bed bugs lay one to seven eggs per day, which hatch in seven to ten days. Therefore, it is very common to see bed bugs eggs in your hotel beds, mattresses, and chairs, if there is an infestation.

Bed bug eggs are approximately 1 millimeter large, pearly white in color, and ovular in shape. They look like tiny rice grains. Bed bugs’ eggs are visible to the naked eye, but unless you don’t know what you’re searching for, their eggs can be tough to spot.

Abandoned Bed Bugs Shell Casings

It is common for bed bugs to shed their skins. It is a clear indicator of an increasing bed bugs infestation if you see abandoned shell casings in your hotel room. Shell casings are the translucent, hollow outlines of young bed bugs that are sometimes easier to spot than the bed bugs themselves.

Similar to bed bugs’ droppings and eggs, bed bugs in hotels can drop shell casings that can be found anywhere that bed bugs hatch and breed:

• Mattress seams
• Upholstered furniture
• Crevices in wooden furniture
• Carpets
• & More

Bed Bug BBQ

Bed bugs are small pests that can be difficult to detect. Our list of five major signs of a bed bug infestation in a hotel will help travelers and those unfamiliar with bed bugs to prevent bed bug bites and discomfort while staying there. If you find one or more signs of bed bugs in hotels, notify the hotel administration straight away.

Find yourself in need of bed bug extermination? Visit our website or call (216) 221-1227 today!