Without seeing a photo, there’s no reliable way to tell whether they’re bed bugs.
If you found small insects, shells, or dark specks hidden in a sofa crack, some possibilities include:
- Bed bugs — often hide in seams, cracks, and crevices of furniture. Signs include live bugs, shed skins, tiny white eggs, and dark rust-colored fecal spots.
- Carpet beetles — adults and larvae can be found in furniture and are commonly mistaken for other pests.
- Fleas — especially if you have pets.
- Booklice, spider beetles, or other small household insects — many harmless insects can resemble bed bugs at a glance.
To help identify them, please upload a clear, close-up photo. If possible:
- Place one specimen on a plain white piece of paper.
- Take the photo in good lighting.
- Include something for scale (such as a coin or ruler).
With an image, I can point out the features that distinguish bed bugs from look-alikes and explain what signs to check for next.
