Pest guide
Bed bug identification: bugs, signs and look-alikes
Bites alone can’t confirm bed bugs. The bugs and the evidence they leave can.
What bed bugs look like
Adults are flat, oval, reddish-brown and about the size of an apple seed. After feeding they swell and turn redder. Nymphs are smaller and paler, and eggs are tiny, pearly white and stuck in seams and cracks.
Signs to check
- Rusty or black fecal spots on mattress seams, box springs and headboards
- Shed skins (molts) in seams and cracks
- Live bugs in mattress piping, bed frame joints, outlets and baseboards near the bed
- Small blood smears on sheets
Common look-alikes
| Insect | How it differs |
|---|---|
| Carpet beetle larvae | Hairy, carrot-shaped; found near fabrics and lint |
| Bat bugs | Very similar; associated with bats in attics or walls |
| Fleas | Tiny, jump, narrow from side to side |
| Ticks | Eight legs; usually picked up outdoors — tick ID |
| Booklice | Tiny, pale, found in damp areas |