Are bed bugs dangerous — do they spread disease?

Bed bugs are NOT known to transmit disease to humans. The CDC and EPA both state this clearly. The primary harms from bed bugs are itching from bites (though many people show no reaction), possible secondary skin infection from scratching, rare allergic reactions, and significant anxiety and sleep disruption. These are real and worth treating seriously — but bed bugs are not disease vectors the way mosquitoes or ticks are. You do not need to fear infection from the bites themselves.

Can I get rid of bed bugs myself?

Usually no. UNH Cooperative Extension states that bed bug control is NOT a do-it-yourself job. The main reasons are that eggs and hidden adults survive consumer sprays and foggers; effective professional-grade chemical treatments are not available to homeowners; and whole-room heat treatment — one of the most reliable methods — requires professional equipment. You can do supportive steps (hot-dry laundry, encasements, interceptors) to manage spread while arranging professional treatment, but DIY alone rarely eliminates an established infestation. Call early: the infestation is never smaller than it is today.

How do I know I have bed bugs?

Bites are a clue but not proof — many people show no marks, and other insects cause similar reactions. More reliable signs are fecal spots (small dark marks that smear rust-brown when wiped with a damp cloth) on sheets and mattress seams, translucent cast skins in seams and frame joints, tiny pearl-white eggs (~1 mm) in seams, or live bugs in mattress seams or the bed frame. The damp-cloth smear test is the most accessible confirmation step. For certainty, collect a specimen in a sealed bag or take a clear photo before treatment begins.

How do I get rid of bed bugs?

Professional treatment is the reliable path. Options include whole-room heat (heating the room to 135–145°F so all surfaces exceed the 118°F/90-minute kill threshold — effective against all life stages including eggs) and targeted insecticide application, often combined. Hot-dry laundry (high heat, 30 minutes), mattress encasements, and interceptor traps under bed legs support treatment and should be used regardless. Expect professional follow-up visits to confirm the infestation is gone; a single treatment rarely catches every egg.

Did I get bed bugs because my house is dirty?

No. This is one of the most important myths to correct. Bed bugs are hitchhikers — they move between locations on luggage, clothing, used furniture, and mattresses, and they infest five-star hotels, hospital waiting rooms, college dorms, movie theaters, and impeccably maintained homes. Cleanliness affects nothing about whether bed bugs are introduced; it only slightly affects how fast a small introduction grows into a large infestation (fewer hiding spots slow spread marginally). Anyone can get bed bugs, and getting them reflects nothing about you or your home.

Where do bed bugs come from?

The three main introduction routes are travel (bugs in hotel/motel mattresses or luggage), used furniture and mattresses (infested items brought into the home), and movement between units in multi-family buildings (bugs travel through wall voids and electrical chases). Unlike most household pests, bed bugs are not seasonal and don't enter through windows or from the outdoors — every infestation started with an introduction from one of these human-movement pathways.

Do foggers work on bed bugs?

No. The EPA and state health agencies explicitly state that bug bombs do not control bed bugs. Total-release foggers disperse pesticide into the air, which does not penetrate the cracks, seams, mattress interiors, and wall voids where bed bugs and eggs hide. Foggers may scatter bugs to new rooms, spreading the infestation. They are also associated with injury risks from misuse. Never use a fogger for bed bugs — it wastes time, wastes money, and can make the infestation worse.

How long do bites take to appear?

The bite reaction timeline varies enormously. Some people develop a mark within hours; others take a day or two; still others take up to approximately two weeks. And roughly one-third of people who are bitten show no visible reaction at all, according to UNH Extension and a Cleveland emergency department study. This is why bite marks are not reliable diagnostic evidence on their own. A person living with an infestation may not realize it for weeks if they are among the non-reactors.

Can heat really kill bed bugs — including the eggs?

Yes, when done properly by a professional. Bed bugs and eggs die at 118°F (48°C) held for approximately 90 minutes — or almost instantly at 122°F. Professional whole-room heat treatment raises the entire room to 135–145°F to ensure every surface, inside furniture, inside walls, and within the mattress reaches the lethal threshold. Eggs are the most heat-resistant life stage, which is why proper whole-room treatment is more effective than trying to use portable heaters — the room must stay above threshold everywhere, including inside wall voids, for long enough to kill eggs. UMN Extension and Virginia Tech VDACS confirm these thresholds.

Should I throw away my mattress if I have bed bugs?

Usually no. Professional heat treatment can decontaminate a mattress in place. Discarding a mattress is often unnecessary and can spread bugs to other rooms as you carry it out — or to neighbors if it's left at the curb without proper sealing and labeling. If a mattress is structurally damaged or you choose to discard it, seal it completely in plastic and clearly mark it as infested so no one picks it up. A certified bed-bug-proof encasement on a treated or new mattress prevents re-infestation of the mattress after treatment.

Bed bug · Cimex lectularius

Bed BugsNH resident

Bed Bugs in New Hampshire — ID, Signs & Control

Also called Common bed bug

Bed bugs are flat, reddish-brown, apple-seed-sized insects that feed on blood at night and hide near where people sleep. They are NOT known to transmit disease to humans, and getting them has nothing to do with cleanliness — they hitchhike in on luggage and used furniture. DIY control rarely works; professional treatment, often including whole-room heat, is typically required.

At a glance

Adult size: ~¼ in (4–5 mm) — flat and oval like an apple seed; UNH Cooperative Extension
Disease transmission: None documented to humans; CDC; EPA
Who can get them: Anyone — cleanliness does not determine exposure; CDC; EPA
Bite reaction onset: 1 day to ~2 weeks; ~⅓ of people show no reaction at all; UNH Extension; CDC
Heat kill threshold: 118°F held ~90 min kills all life stages including eggs; UMN Extension; Virginia Tech / VDACS ENTO-583
DIY verdict: Usually NO — UNH Extension calls it 'not a do-it-yourself job'; UNH Cooperative Extension
Confirm before treating: 76% of submitted 'bed bug' samples were not bed bugs; University of Minnesota Extension

The short of it

What to do if you think you have bed bugs — an honest guide

Finding what you think are bed bugs is stressful. Two things matter most to say up front, because they're both true and both frequently misunderstood.

First: bed bugs are NOT known to transmit disease to humans. The CDC and EPA state this clearly. Bed bugs are a serious nuisance and a real infestation requiring professional treatment — but they are not a disease vector in the way mosquitoes or ticks are. Calm the panic.

Second: getting bed bugs has nothing to do with how clean your home is. Bed bugs are hitchhikers — they move between locations on luggage, clothing, used furniture, and mattresses. Five-star hotels, college dorms, hospitals, and movie theaters all deal with bed bugs. Anyone can get them regardless of income, cleanliness, or the condition of their home. Never assume a bed bug problem says something about the people who have it.

Now the hard truth: bed bugs are extremely difficult to eliminate without professional help. UNH Cooperative Extension states plainly that bed bug control is NOT a do-it-yourself job. Eggs and hidden adults survive homeowner sprays and foggers (which the EPA says don't work on bed bugs). Professional whole-room heat — which kills all life stages including eggs at 118°F held ~90 minutes — is one of the few reliably effective treatments. Confirm the identification first (76% of 'bed bug' samples submitted to University of Minnesota Extension were not bed bugs), then call early: infestations are smallest and most treatable at the start.

Identify it

How to identify a bed bug

The key features are shape, size, and color: flat, oval, reddish-brown, about the size and color of an apple seed. When unfed, they are almost paper-thin; after a blood meal, they are swollen, darker, and cigar-shaped. Confirm with the damp-cloth smear test: bed bug fecal spots smear rusty brown-black when wiped — lint, mold, and typical dirt do not.

Species profile

Bed bug

Scientific name: Cimex lectularius
Family: Cimicidae
Size: ~¼ in (4–5 mm) adult; hatchlings ~1 mm (grain of rice dot)
Coloration: Reddish-brown when unfed; darker, purplish-red when engorged with blood
Habitat: Within a few feet of sleeping and resting areas — mattress seams, box spring, bed frame, headboard, baseboards, behind picture frames and electrical outlets, inside luggage
Active season: Year-round indoors; feed primarily at night when a host is stationary
Diet: Exclusively blood — primarily human; also other warm-blooded hosts
Reproduction: Female lays 2–5 eggs per day; 200–500 over a 6–18 month lifespan
Lifespan: Adults ~6–18 months with regular feeding; can survive months without a blood meal

Worldwide distribution; resurgent since the late 1990s; found throughout New Hampshire in all building types and all transport

The tells — key ID features

Flat, oval, apple-seed-shaped reddish-brown body ~¼ in — so flat it hides where a credit card fits. Best visual tell.
Wingless — cannot fly or jump; moves by walking.
After feeding: swollen and cigar-shaped, darker purplish-red.
Tiny pearl-white eggs (~1 mm), glued in clusters into cracks and fabric seams.
Translucent cast (shed) skins at each of the 5 nymph molts — look for these in seams before looking for live insects.

Size, to scale

The insect

~¼ in (4–5 mm)

Compared to

The size and color of an apple seed

Looks bigger than it is

Newly hatched nymphs are ~1 mm — about the size of this period — and translucent; virtually invisible to the naked eye until they begin feeding

Is it actually this? — the confusion species

Bat bug or swallow bug (Cimex adjunctus / Oeciacus vicarius)

How to tell — Nearly identical relatives; distinguished only under magnification by longer hair fringe length. Usually associated with bat roosts or bird nests in the structure, not human beds. If a bat was recently in the home, suspect bat bugs.

Carpet beetle (Anthrenus / Attagenus spp.)

How to tell — Rounder body, patterned scales in black/white/brown, and distinctly different wing covers. They do not bite humans. A common false positive — don't treat for bed bugs until identity is confirmed.

Wood tick / young cockroach nymph

How to tell — UNH Extension notes that adult bed bugs resemble a wood tick; ticks have eight legs. Young cockroach nymphs are similar in size but darker, cylindrical rather than flat, and move faster. Confirm with a magnifying glass: bed bugs have six legs and the distinctive flat oval shape.

What you'll notice

Signs of a problem

Bites alone are not reliable proof of bed bugs — many people show no reaction, and other insects cause similar marks. These signs, especially the fecal spot smear test, are more reliable than bite patterns.

Small dark reddish-brown fecal spots on sheets, mattress seams, or nearby walls — smear rusty brown-black when wiped with a damp cloth

What it means — Feeding activity — the damp-cloth smear test is the single most reliable confirmation step. Lint, mold, and ordinary dust do not smear this way.

Reddish blood smears or rusty stains on sheets or pillowcases

What it means — Crushed bugs — a bed bug was feeding and was rolled onto during sleep.

Translucent cast skins (shed exoskeletons) in mattress seams, behind the headboard, and along baseboards

What it means — Growing population — each nymph sheds 5 times before reaching adulthood; multiple cast skins indicate an established infestation.

Tiny pearl-white eggs (~1 mm) glued in clusters in seams, crevices, and piping

What it means — Active breeding; eggs are cemented in place and resist dislodging.

Live bugs in mattress seams, piping, bed frame joints, or behind electrical outlet covers near the bed

What it means — Confirmed active infestation; inspect with a flashlight and a thin card to check seams and frame joints.

Sweet, musty odor — sometimes described as overripe berries — in the bedroom

What it means — Heavy infestation; the smell comes from aggregation pheromones and is only detectable in large populations.

How much it matters

The real risks, calibrated

Bed bugs are not the disease threat that public fear sometimes suggests — but they are a significant quality-of-life and secondary health concern that deserves prompt professional treatment.

Overall risk

Moderate

Disease transmission

Low risk

Onset: None documented

Bed bugs are NOT known to transmit or spread disease to humans. This is confirmed by both the CDC and the EPA. The absence of disease transmission is important to state clearly — it is one of the most commonly misunderstood facts about bed bugs.

Skin reactions and itching

Low risk

Onset: Hours to ~2 weeks after a bite; many people show no reaction at all

Bites can produce itchy red welts, but reactions vary enormously — roughly one-third of bitten people develop no visible mark. Bites in a line or cluster on exposed skin during sleep are a common pattern, but are not diagnostic on their own.

Secondary skin infection

Low risk

Onset: Days after biting and scratching

Repeated scratching of bite sites can break the skin and introduce bacteria, potentially leading to secondary infections such as impetigo. Keep bites clean and avoid scratching.

Rare allergic reaction

Moderate

Onset: Shortly after a bite

A small number of people develop more severe allergic reactions to bed bug saliva, including, very rarely, symptoms resembling anaphylaxis. The EPA acknowledges this risk. If a severe reaction occurs, seek medical attention.

Mental health and sleep disruption

Moderate

Onset: Ongoing during infestation

Anxiety, insomnia, and chronic stress are well-documented consequences of bed bug infestations, independent of any physical bites. The psychological burden of a confirmed infestation is real and should not be minimized.

What you can do

DIY — what works, what backfires

Honest verdict: for an established bed bug infestation, DIY usually fails. UNH Extension states that bed bug control is NOT a do-it-yourself job because effective long-lasting chemicals aren't available to homeowners and professional heat treatment is the most reliable option. The steps below reduce the population and manage spread while you arrange professional treatment — they are not a standalone solution.

What actually works

Confirm the identification before treating anything: collect a specimen in a sealed bag or take a clear photo. UMN Extension found 76% of 'bed bug' samples were not bed bugs — misidentification wastes money and misses the real problem.
Wash and hot-dry all bedding, clothing, and curtains from the affected room: dry on HIGH for at least 30 minutes, which reaches temperatures that kill all life stages.
Install mattress encasements rated for bed bugs on the mattress and box spring; use interceptor traps under each bed leg to catch bugs trying to climb up or down.
Vacuum thoroughly — mattress surfaces, seams, frame joints, and baseboards — using a bag vacuum; immediately seal and remove the bag outdoors.
Reduce clutter in the room to eliminate hiding spots and make professional treatment more effective.
Act early: every week the infestation grows makes treatment harder. Arrange a professional inspection as soon as you have a confirmed ID.

What backfires

Do NOT use total-release foggers or 'bug bombs.' The EPA and state health agencies explicitly state that bug bombs do not control bed bugs. They disperse pesticide into the air but not into the harborage cracks where bed bugs and eggs hide, and can scatter bugs to new areas of the home.
Don't use outdoor pesticide products indoors or apply any pesticide at doses or locations not on the label.
Don't drag an infested mattress through the house to discard it — this spreads bugs to every room you pass through. If discarding, seal it in plastic and cut or mark it so no one takes it.
Don't assume one professional treatment ends it — eggs and hidden bugs can survive a single treatment; follow-up inspections are standard.

Local Context

Bed bugs in New Hampshire

UNH Cooperative Extension reports that Cimex lectularius and related species 'infest homes, apartments, schools, camps, movie theaters, office buildings, and all modes of transportation throughout New Hampshire.' Bed bugs are a year-round, statewide issue in NH tied entirely to human travel and shared or used furnishings — not to season, geography, or climate. They are equally likely in Manchester apartments and Bedford single-family homes, in university dormitories and rural inn rooms. There is no off-season.

Peak season

Year-round indoors; no seasonal variation — bed bugs live entirely in human-temperature environments

You might actually have

Bat bugs — nearly identical; associated with bat roosts in NH homes rather than sleeping areas
Carpet beetles — similar size; do not bite; often confused on visual inspection alone

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ManchesterNashuaConcordDerryBedfordSalemHudsonAmherst

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Southern New Hampshire

When it's past DIY

When to call Anchor Pest Services for bed bugs

For confirmed bed bugs, the honest answer is: call promptly. The infestation is never smaller or cheaper to treat than it is right now. Anchor's licensed technicians (NH #782664) use professional-grade treatment protocols — which can include whole-room heat reaching temperatures that kill all life stages including eggs in a single session — and follow up to verify the infestation is eliminated. Unlike DIY products, professional heat leaves no pesticide residue and penetrates the cracks, seams, and voids where bugs and eggs hide.

Signals it's past DIY

When to call a pro

Confirmed live bugs, fecal spotting that smears rust-brown, or cast skins in mattress seams — call immediately.
Unexplained nighttime bites appearing in lines or clusters on exposed skin, especially after travel or acquiring used furniture.
Recurring bites despite washing bedding and cleaning — the infestation is established and DIY won't reach it.
Any confirmed bed bug in a multi-unit building — adjacent units should be inspected, as bugs move through wall voids.

Keep them out — prevention

Inspect hotel rooms before settling in

Pull back the comforter, check mattress seams and headboard for fecal spots and cast skins. Keep luggage on the rack or in the bathroom — never on the floor or bed. When you return home, unpack outdoors or in the garage and hot-dry clothing immediately.

Inspect used furniture before bringing it inside

Check every seam, joint, and surface of secondhand mattresses, upholstered furniture, and bed frames in good outdoor light. If you find anything suspicious, do not bring it inside — the risk is not worth the savings.

Use mattress and box-spring encasements year-round

Certified bed-bug-proof encasements trap any existing bugs, make inspection far easier, and prevent bed bugs from establishing in mattress fabric. Use them on every bed in your home as an ongoing preventive measure.

Not sure it's a bed bug?

A licensed NH technician can confirm the species and tell you honestly whether it's a DIY fix or a job for a pro — free inspection, same-day service across Southern New Hampshire.

Get a Free Inspection (603) 785-0118

Common Questions

Frequently asked questions

Sources(7)

[1]
UNH Cooperative Extension — Bed Bugs Fact Sheet
adult size comparison to apple seed, egg-laying rate, statewide NH presence, 'not a DIY job' statement
extensionverified 2026-06-30
[2]
UNH Cooperative Extension — Don't Let Bed Bugs Bite
NH infestation locations, bite reaction variability, prevention
extensionverified 2026-06-30
[3]
CDC — Bed Bugs
non-disease-vector status; bite reaction information
govverified 2026-06-30
[4]
EPA — Bed Bugs: A Public Health Issue
non-vector status; rare allergic reactions; foggers do not control bed bugs
govverified 2026-06-30
[5]
EPA — Introduction to Bed Bugs
identification, cleanliness not a factor, control guidance
govverified 2026-06-30
[6]
University of Minnesota Extension — Bed Bug Prevention and Control
76% of submitted samples not bed bugs; confirm-first guidance
extensionverified 2026-06-30
[7]
Virginia Tech / VDACS — Bed Bug Management (ENTO-583)
heat kill thresholds: 118°F / 90 min; rooms heated to 135–145°F
extensionverified 2026-06-30

Written & reviewed by

Verified

Daniel Brady

NH-Licensed Pesticide Applicator · License #782664 (NHDAMF, RSA 430)

Daniel Brady is the New Hampshire–licensed applicator behind Anchor Pest Services, a family-owned pest control company serving the Manchester area since 2017.

Verify license

Last updated 2026-06-30

New Hampshire pest control

Dealing with bed bugs in your home?

Anchor Pest Services identifies and handles bed bug problems across southern and central New Hampshire. Family-owned since 2017, NH license #782664.

Get a Free Inspection (603) 785-0118

NH-licensed applicators (#782664)
Same-day service · free inspection
Family-owned since 2017

Keep Exploring

Bed Bugs in New Hampshire — ID, Signs & Control

What to do if you think you have bed bugs — an honest guide

How to identify a bed bug

The tells — key ID features

Size, to scale

Bat bug or swallow bug (Cimex adjunctus / Oeciacus vicarius)

Carpet beetle (Anthrenus / Attagenus spp.)

Wood tick / young cockroach nymph

Signs of a problem

Small dark reddish-brown fecal spots on sheets, mattress seams, or nearby walls — smear rusty brown-black when wiped with a damp cloth

Reddish blood smears or rusty stains on sheets or pillowcases

Translucent cast skins (shed exoskeletons) in mattress seams, behind the headboard, and along baseboards

Tiny pearl-white eggs (~1 mm) glued in clusters in seams, crevices, and piping

Live bugs in mattress seams, piping, bed frame joints, or behind electrical outlet covers near the bed

Sweet, musty odor — sometimes described as overripe berries — in the bedroom

The real risks, calibrated

Disease transmission

Skin reactions and itching

Secondary skin infection

Rare allergic reaction

Mental health and sleep disruption

DIY — what works, what backfires

What actually works

What backfires

Bed bugs in New Hampshire

When to call Anchor Pest Services for bed bugs

Inspect hotel rooms before settling in

Inspect used furniture before bringing it inside

Use mattress and box-spring encasements year-round

Not sure it's a bed bug?

Frequently asked questions

Dealing with bed bugs in your home?

Your next step

Why do bed bugs hide in furniture seams?

How to Get Rid of Bed Bugs

Mechanical Control for Fall Invaders, Bed Bugs & Fabric Pests

Do bed bugs cause permanent damage to fabrics?

Can bed bugs stain mattresses and furniture?

Can bed bug infestations reduce a home's value?