Where Can Bed Bugs Be Found? Signs & Places to Check

Sunday 04/10/2026

Where Can Bed Bugs Be Found? They’re Not Just a Bedroom Problem

Bed bugs made the news this weekend after being found in the drivers’ cabs of two Southeastern trains.

As a result, several train services were cancelled, and the affected trains were removed from service for inspection.

Most people think of bedrooms and hotels when they hear about bed bugs, but these pests can show up in many other places.

Bed bugs aren’t just found in beds

Even though they’re called bed bugs, they don’t just live in beds. They usually stay near places where people spend a lot of time, hiding in small cracks and crevices between feeds.

Bed bugs can’t fly or jump. Instead, they hitch rides on clothing, luggage, bags, furniture, and other belongings to move from place to place.

This means they can end up anywhere that people regularly come and go.

Where else can bed bugs be found?

Hotels and other accommodation are well-known hotspots, but bed bugs can show up in:

• Public transport, such as trains and buses, as shown by the recent Southeastern case.


• Offices and workplaces, especially around upholstered furniture, lockers, and changing areas.


• Cinemas and theatres, where the seats have lots of seams, joints, and gaps that bed bugs can hide in.


• Healthcare and care environments, where patients, residents, visitors, and their belongings move through the building regularly.


• Shared accommodation, such as student housing and HMOs, where an infestation can spread between rooms and shared spaces.

Having bed bugs doesn’t always mean a place is dirty. They can show up even in clean and well-kept spaces.

What are the signs of bed bugs?

It can be hard to spot bed bugs when there aren’t many of them. Here are some signs to watch for:

• Live or dead bed bugs


• Shed skins


• Small dark faecal spots or staining


• Eggs or eggshells


• Evidence in seams, cracks and crevices


• Reports of unexplained bites

Don’t rely on bites alone to confirm an infestation, since people react differently and similar marks can come from other causes.

What should you do if you suspect bed bugs?

If you find a bed bug or suspect activity, investigate the area as soon as possible.

Try not to move furniture, bags, or belongings that might be affected into other rooms, and carefully check places where bed bugs could hide.

Bed bug detectors can help you spot activity early, before it becomes a bigger problem.

If you suspect an infestation, call a professional pest controller. Bed bugs can be difficult to eliminate completely, and a professional can assess the extent of the problem and recommend the most appropriate treatment.

Stay vigilant

Finding bed bugs on Southeastern trains shows they can show up in many places, not just bedrooms and hotels.

If you know the signs, keep an eye out for activity, and act quickly when you suspect something, you can stop a small problem from turning into a bigger one and avoid disruptions to your business.

Read the full Southeastern story on the BBC:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c3kgqwyp4n12o