What does bed bug poop look like? Find out here.

Content Updated: January 13, 2026

Key takeaways

  • Bed bug droppings are made up of partially digested blood and are a clear sign of an active bed bug infestation.
  • Bed bug poop looks like a cluster of tiny dark, rust-colored, or black spots about the size of a dot from a marker.
  • Look for bed bug droppings on the edge, corner and creases of mattress, behind headboards, along baseboards or on other upholstered furniture.
  • If you suspect you have a bed bug infestation, call Terminix to do a thorough inspection and treatment.

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Bed bugs are masters at staying hidden, but they can't hide their bed bug droppings. As these pests can be difficult to spot directly, identifying bed bug poop is a crucial step in recognizing that you may have an infestation and it’s time to take action before it spreads. Learn how to identify bed bug droppings and how to get rid of these pests in your home.

What does bed bug poop look like?

Bed bugs can sometimes seem like an invisible threat. They often hide all day, emerging briefly to feed on their host in the dead of night, and then disappear again. Their bites can be difficult to identify, and depending on your sensitivity to them, they may not show up on your skin at all. However, bed bugs do leave behind signs of their presence in the form of bed bug droppings.

After bed bugs feed, they'll leave behind bed bug feces of your partially digested blood. These droppings could indicate that you have been bitten in your sleep, though they by no means offer definitive proof. Bed bug poop:

  • Appears as clusters of tiny spots on your bed
  • Consists of digested blood, so it will be darker, rust-colored, or black
  • Is about the size of a dot from a marker
  • May leave behind a musty, sweet, and rusty smell

There are other types of droppings that can be mistaken for bed bug poop. For example, droppings from cockroaches or fleas may sometimes resemble those of bed bugs. However, cockroach droppings are typically larger and more cylindrical, while flea poop tends to look like small, dark specks (sometimes described as looking like dirt or pepper) and will turn red when wet due to blood content.

bed bug droppings

Where should I look for bed bug droppings

If you think you may have an infestation, it’s crucial to check for the early signs of bed bugs, which include bed bug droppings in a few key areas. Start by checking these areas thoroughly first thing in the morning, after bed bugs may have fed and left behind their droppings:

  • Around the corners and on the edge of mattresses
  • In the creases of mattresses
  • In the elasticized areas of fitted sheets
  • On the carpet, near baseboards
  • On the bed frame and behind the headboard
  • Under furniture cushions

What to do if you see bed bug droppings

If you discover bed bug droppings in your home, it's crucial to act swiftly to address the situation before it escalates into a full-blown infestation. Begin by thoroughly inspecting your bedding, mattress, and nearby furniture for further signs of bed bugs, such as live insects, eggs, or shed skins. Though identifying bed bug droppings and other early signs of bed bugs is a good indication you may have a bed bug infestation, it’s not definitive proof. Seeing an actual living bed bug is the only way to be certain, and that can be more difficult and requires the help of a professional bed bug technician.

Contact the Terminix bed bug experts to help diagnose a bed bug infestation and get effective bed bug control. Our annual PestFree365+ plan offers the perfect protection against bed bugs all year long.1

1Service frequency will vary based on geography. Covered Pests defined in your Plan. Automatic payment sign up is required for PestFree365+. Voles and fire ants are only covered if they are in the home, we will not treat the lawn. Homes must be free of bed bugs at the initial service to qualify for coverage of bed bugs under the PestFree365+ Plan. Applies to single family, free-standing, owner-occupied homes only. Account must be in good standing. Other limitations may apply. See Plan for details.

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