Unfortunately, bed bugs do smell. Many insect species and life itself for that matter, rely on chemicals and pheromones for a myriad of functions and processes essential to various necessities like reproduction for example. Bed bugs are no different. They produce substances and biological debris throughout your home causing a distinct odor.
In the following article we will delve into this matter, and how to resolve it. But first, let’s take a look at a bed bug.
What are Bed Bugs?
Bed bugs are small insects that live on the blood of humans and other warm-blooded hosts. When they infest a home, they spread rapidly and are notoriously hard to eradicate. They can hide in bedding, mattresses, furniture, clothes and even wallpaper seams, making it challenging to locate and eliminate them.
One of the ways to identify a bed bug infestation is through their smell. Bed bugs produce a particular smell due to the different substances they excrete. When these insects are present in large numbers, this smell can be potent enough to permeate your home.
The exact scent of bed bugs varies depending on many factors. Some describe it as a sweet, musty odor, while others compare it to the smell of moldy clothes, wet towels or rotten raspberries. It’s worth noting that not everyone can detect this smell, or it might not be strong enough if the infestation isn’t substantial.
As mentioned above, the smell of bed bugs is primarily due to the pheromones they release. Insect pheromones are chemical substances that allow them to communicate with each other. For bed bugs, these pheromones play a crucial role in mating, aggregation, and alarm responses.
Changes in room aromas could be mistakenly dismissed for various reasons, like dampness, mold, or other pests. However, if you notice a persistent, unfamiliar scent combined with other signs of infestation like blood spots on sheets, shed bedbug skins, or actual bugs, it’s crucial to act immediately. Bed bugs can reproduce quickly and are challenging to eliminate once established.
Professional pest control services are often the most effective solution to a bed bug infestations, as they have the knowledge, tools, and chemicals necessary to annihilate them effectively.
However, you can also do some things yourself, like washing infested bedding and clothing in hot water or using a high-heat dryer setting, thoroughly vacuuming, and sealing and discarding infested materials. Be sure to always follow safe and ethical practices when dealing with any pest infestation.
Remember that here at GBBS we believe that anyone with the proper knowledge and tools can be successful at eliminating bed bugs from their home. Ive treated hundreds of bed bug infestations throughout the years including my own apt. so I feel confident that you can too. Read our many helpful articles for reference and feel free to ask us any questions.
Moreover, there are certain preventive measures that you can apply to prevent such infestations. Regularly check and clean your mattresses, be sure to clean up clutter around your house, and avoid bringing used furniture into your home without thoroughly inspecting it for signs of bugs.
Finally, having bed bugs is not indicative of poor hygiene or living conditions. They can make their way into the cleanest homes or hotels. It’s about awareness, early detection, and rapid response that can save you a lot of trouble from these small, unwelcome inhabitants.
What Do Bed Bugs Smell Like?
When I first began treating bed bugs, in extreme infestations, there was always something in common. A musky odor, almost “sweetish”, like when you inhale powdered sugar while baking. Musky and sweet, but not in a good way. Some say it smells like berries. Others say it smells like coriander. In old books, bed bugs were actually referred to as the -coriander bug-.
It’s not a terrible odor on its own, but unfortunately, by the time you can smell the sweet musky odor, it clearly is an indication that you are infested. You need to take steps into ensuring your home is bed bug free, and if present, then how to treat them.
Along with an infestation comes tons of dead bed bugs, sheddings that contain glandular material, and fecal matter that is basically digested blood. Blood contains metals and they oxidize and in time producing a soury, metallic odor. As the dead bed bugs and sheddings with glandular material decompose, it also produces an unpleasant odor. Mix all of these together, and you get the unique blend of bed bug essence! It’s kind of walking into an unkept pigeon coup. You smell all things pigeon including feces, feathers, dessicated goners…..you get it….same concept.
I never put my finger on what this was until I studied the bug a little more in depth. What was going on in these places was an excess of pheromones secreted by the bed bug. Males secrete a pheromone that is unique to males as it’s used to fend off other males from accidental copulation. Females do not produce this pheromone so they become easily identifiable by males for mating, For more on this topic, check out my Do Bed Bugs Mate article for some interesting facts.
When bed bugs become agitated or feel threatened, male or female, they also secrete a pheromone that produces the sweet, musky smell. This is done as a warning signal that there is a threat in their environment such as movement or light . Entomologists will trigger this pheromone release by holding a bed bug with a pair of tweezers. Almost immediately, pheromones were detected emitting from the bed bug.
In general, a small amount of pheromones always remain present in bed bug harborages and even on the bed bug itself.
How Long Does Bed Bug Smell Last?
Bed bug smell can linger for months. Regardless of which pheromone bed bugs release, they are composed of aldehydes and these compounds remain on bed bug corpses, molts (sheddings), and body parts left behind in cracks and crevices and wherever they gather. Studies have shown that lingering aldehyde was detected up to 99 days of a bed bug dying, or body parts!
Even after complete eradication of a bed bug infestation, odor will remain months after the treatment because of this fact, in many cases not decreasing at all.
In large infestations, bed bugs can populate the interior of walls, door frames, bed frames, inside of your furniture, wall sockets, and extreme clutter. All of this contributes to bed bug odor to linger because over time fecal matter, sheddings, dead bed bugs and body parts accumulate within these areas retaining large amounts of aldehydes. Fecal matter is also known to emit aldehydes and since it contains metals, it also emits a rotty, rusty,muggy scent.
If you find yourself detecting these odors in your apartment or home, it may indicate you have a problem, and for some reason or another, you never noticed. To inspect your home for bed bugs the right way, check out my Identify if you have bed bugs blog for some cool tips.
How Do You Get Rid Of Bed Bug Smell?
As indicated previously, bed bugs leave behind all types of contaminated debris within nooks and crannies throughout your home. This produces unpleasant odors. After a successful treatment, the best thing to do is to perform an extensive clean up including vacuuming, wiping, scraping and even sealing cracks and crevices.
Another great option is to use essential oils to treat areas that were heavily affected by the infestation to dissipate the effect of the pollutants.
Some great options are Lavender, Lemon, Blood Orange and Cinnamon. For a complete list of my favorites and reviews check out the REVIEWS tab for all products I recommend. (or don’t!)
These natural oils will sanitize and make your home smell good. Some will actually repel and kill the bed bug itself! It’s a great method to use to tackle this odor issue.
Natural bed bug treatments can also aid in reducing even eliminating bed bug odor, due to the fact that they are composed of natural compounds like essential oils, like IC3 for example. Its composed mostly of peppermint oils, so it would be a great product to treat odor. If interested in natural alternatives for your bed bug treatments, check out my top green product reviews for more information.
Conclusion
Bed bugs are notorious for their ability to hide and hitchhike on unsuspecting hosts. It is not uncommon for people to first become aware of bed bugs after bringing them home from a trip or staying in a hotel with an infestation.
One telltale sign of bed bugs is their unusual smell, which has been described as similar to coriander. Bed bugs can smell fecal matter and other scents, which is why they often congregate in areas where people sleep. If you suspect that you have bed bugs, you may get a whiff of their distinctive odor.
To find their next meal, bed bugs must be able to smell something. They are attracted to the carbon dioxide that people exhale, as well as the warmth of their bodies. Bed bugs can also detect the smell of their fecal matter, which they leave behind in small black or brown spots.
If you suspect that you have bed bugs, it is important to act quickly to prevent an infestation. You can try to identify the bugs themselves or look for signs of their presence, such as fecal matter or shedded skins.
Weird odors in your home can be an indication of bed bug presence, for bed bugs produce odors as we learned in this article. Being proactive to your bed bug issues will save you a lot of headaches in the future, so it behooves you to take action asap.
Feel free to browse my many articles on helping you perform a successful bed bug treatment on your own without having to spend thousands on exterminators. If you have any questions or comments you’re more than welcome to leave one below.
Stay bed bug free! Wilson.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What are bed bugs?
Bed bugs are small parasitic insects that feed on the blood of humans and animals. They are brownish in color and have flat, oval-shaped bodies.
2. What do bed bugs smell like?
Bed bugs can give off a musty, sweet odor that some people describe as smelling like coriander, raspberries or almonds. It’s often described as a “bed bug smell”.
3. How can I tell if I have a bed bug infestation?
There are several signs of a bed bug infestation, such as the presence of bed bug bites on your skin, small blood stains on your sheets or mattress, and the presence of bed bug fecal matter on your bedding or furniture. You may also notice a sweet odor or detect alarm pheromones that bed bugs release.
4. Can I get rid of bed bugs on my own?
Eliminating a bed bug infestation can be challenging and often requires professional pest control services. However, there are steps you can take to help reduce the number of bed bugs in your home, such as vacuuming regularly, washing your bedding in hot water, and sealing cracks and crevices where bed bugs can hide.
5. What do bed bug bites look like?
Bed bug bites usually appear as small, red, raised bumps and are often grouped together in a line or cluster. They can be itchy and may sometimes resemble a rash.
6. How do bed bugs spread?
Bed bugs are typically spread by hitchhiking on clothing, luggage, or other personal items. They can also infest second-hand furniture or be brought into a home by a guest who has stayed in an infested hotel room or other location.
7. What can I do to prevent a bed bug infestation?
To prevent a bed bug infestation, it’s important to inspect any used or second-hand furniture before bringing it into your home. You should also check your clothing and luggage for signs of bed bugs when traveling, and use protective mattress and pillow covers to limit bed bug access to your bedding.