Bed Bug Signs and What to Do in the Des Moines Metro

Updated 2026-10-21 · By Kasey, Waukee, Iowa

Few things ruin a night's sleep like finding a small brown bug on your sheets. Whether you rent an apartment in West Des Moines, own a house in Waukee, or just got back from a trip through the Des Moines airport, the steps are the same: confirm what the bug is, contain it, and get the right help. Iowa Health and Human Services notes that bed bugs are found in all 50 states, including Iowa, so this is not a sign that you did anything wrong.

What bed bugs look like

According to Iowa HHS, adult bed bugs are wingless, flat, copper-colored insects about 1/4 inch long, and they look somewhat like a tick. Young bed bugs (nymphs) are nearly colorless and very small. ISU describes adults as broadly oval, flat and mahogany brown.

Bed bugs hide in cracks and crevices of mattresses, box springs, bed frames, furniture and drapes. Iowa HHS says they are most active between midnight and 3 a.m., which is why many people never see one in daylight.

The real signs of an infestation

Look with a flashlight along mattress seams, the box spring, the headboard, bed frame joints and nearby furniture. Signs listed by Iowa HHS, ISU and Iowa Legal Aid include:

• Live bugs: adults, nymphs or tiny eggs in seams and crevices.
• Dark spots: small reddish-brown or black spots on sheets or the mattress. These are droppings and can bleed into fabric like a marker.
• Small blood stains on sheets or pillowcases, often from a crushed bug.
• Shed skins and empty egg shells, because nymphs molt several times as they grow.

Rule out bat bugs first (this matters in Iowa)

Bat bugs look nearly identical to bed bugs. In 2023, ISU Extension reported that the majority of suspected bed bugs sent to its Plant and Insect Diagnostic Clinic that year turned out to be bat bugs. That matters because the two are managed differently. ISU warns that mistaking a bat bug for a bed bug can waste hundreds or even thousands of dollars on the wrong treatment.

The difference is microscopic: bed bugs have very short hairs on the side of the pronotum (the plate behind the head), shorter than the width of the eye. Bat bugs have longer hairs. Bat bugs also point to bats living in the structure, usually the attic, and fixing that means dealing with the bats and sealing the attic.

What to do: collect a specimen or two and get a professional ID (ISU's clinic asks that small insects be taped to a white sheet of paper and circled). The ISU Plant and Insect Diagnostic Clinic can identify bed bugs from a physical sample; check its page for current forms and fees. If you call a pest control company first, ISU suggests asking it to confirm the ID before any treatment.

First steps while you wait

These containment steps come from Iowa HHS and the EPA and are useful whether you treat it yourself or hire a pro:

• Use a hot dryer. Iowa HHS recommends putting infested items in a hot dryer for 30 minutes, then laundering them.
• Vacuum seams and crevices, then seal the vacuum bag in a plastic bag and throw it away in an outdoor trash container.
• Reduce clutter around the bed. Clutter gives bed bugs more places to hide.
• Encase the mattress and box spring in zippered covers with no tears. Iowa HHS says to leave them on for a year or more, since bed bugs can survive long periods without feeding.
• Seal small cracks near the bed with caulk to remove hiding spots.
• Do not rush to throw out furniture. ISU advises against discarding furniture or mattresses before meeting with a professional, because items can often be treated and moving them can spread bugs. If you do discard something, Iowa HHS and the EPA suggest marking it as infested and damaging it so nobody else takes it home.

What not to do

The EPA warns against several common mistakes:

• Do not use rubbing alcohol, kerosene or gasoline. They can harm your family and can ignite.
• Do not try to "heat out" bed bugs by turning up the thermostat or using a space heater or fireplace. EPA says this does not work and is dangerous.
• Do not rely on foggers ("bug bombs"). EPA says foggers should never be your only method because the spray does not reach the cracks where bed bugs hide, and misuse can cause fires or health problems.
• Use only EPA-registered products that list bed bugs on the label, and follow the label exactly.

If you rent in the metro

If you rent an apartment or townhome anywhere in the metro, remember that Iowa Legal Aid notes bed bugs spread rapidly in connected living spaces like apartment buildings. Iowa Legal Aid's tenant guidance says:

• Tell your landlord right away, in writing, and keep a copy. Some leases require it.
• Cooperate with treatment. Early action helps keep bugs from spreading to other units and protects your belongings.
• Do not stop paying rent. Iowa Legal Aid warns that withholding rent can lead to eviction even if there is a bed bug problem.
• You can contact your city housing inspector if a problem is serious and not being addressed.

Iowa HHS likewise advises tenants to work through their property manager. For legal questions about your lease, contact Iowa Legal Aid or an attorney; this site does not give legal advice.

When to call a licensed pro

ISU's bed bug guidance recommends working with a professional pest management company once bed bugs are confirmed. The EPA agrees that bed bug treatment is complex, can take weeks to months, and that delaying while you try DIY can let an infestation spread. Call a pro when:

• Bed bugs are confirmed and found in more than one spot or room.
• You live in a multi-unit building (the landlord should be involved).
• You have already tried cleaning and encasements and still find live bugs. Iowa HHS notes retreatment may be needed if live bugs remain after two weeks.

What to expect: EPA says very few infestations are controlled in one visit, so plan for multiple visits and follow-up monitoring. Iowa HHS suggests asking for a written plan that explains what the company will do and which products it will use.

How to choose a licensed Iowa applicator

In Iowa, anyone in the business of applying pesticides to another person's property must be licensed and certified by the state. Household pest work falls under Category 7A, General and Household Pest Control, and fumigation is a separate category. Before you sign:

1. Verify the company and technician in the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship lookup.
2. Ask about their bed bug experience specifically, as EPA recommends.
3. Ask them to confirm it is a bed bug and not a bat bug.
4. Get the treatment plan, product names and preparation steps in writing.

Our guide to choosing a pest pro near Waukee has a longer hiring checklist.

Frequently asked questions

Do bed bugs spread disease?

Iowa Health and Human Services says bed bugs are not known to transmit disease, although bites can cause itchy welts that may not appear for a day or two. If you have concerns about a reaction, talk with a healthcare provider.

Could it be a bat bug instead of a bed bug?

Yes, and in Iowa it is common. ISU Extension reported that most suspected bed bugs submitted to its diagnostic clinic in 2023 were bat bugs. Get a professional identification before paying for treatment.

How do I avoid bringing bed bugs home from a hotel?

ISU suggests keeping luggage off the bed, using the luggage rack or a hard surface, and checking mattress seams and the headboard. Back home, wash clothes and dry them on the hot setting, and vacuum your luggage.

Can I get rid of bed bugs myself?

The EPA says success depends on the size of the infestation and clutter, and that steps like heat, encasements and monitoring can help. ISU's Iowa IPM fact sheet goes further: because of widespread insecticide resistance, it does not recommend do-it-yourself insecticide treatments and advises working with a professional once bed bugs are confirmed.

I rent. Who pays for bed bug treatment?

Iowa Legal Aid says that in most cases the landlord should be held responsible for the cost of eliminating bed bugs, and tenants are responsible only for damage they cause deliberately or negligently. Check your lease and contact Iowa Legal Aid for help with your situation.