Bed bugs are among the most dreadful pests a NEPA homeowner could encounter. Many people think they are a problem reserved for hotel rooms and Airbnb, but these pests are expert hitchhikers. They are known for infesting the homes of unlucky travelers by hopping on luggage and second-hand items.
Another unfortunate detail about these pests is that they are commonly mistaken for several other types of bugs. While dealing with any kind of pest is undesirable, it is important to know the differences between bed bugs and other household pests to effectively treat the problem and keep your home bed-bug-free.
Bed Bugs Overview
Bed bugs are among the most common household pests in the United States. It is estimated that one in five Americans has had a bed bug infestation or knows someone who has.
These parasitic pests feed on blood and cause itchy bites on those whose homes they have infested. Bed bugs are commonly picked up in hotel rooms, and many travelers don’t even know they have brought bed bugs back to their homes until it is too late.
Most people don’t realize they have bed bugs until they are bidden or wake up with itchy welts. For this reason, they often get confused with other bugs since most people don’t know what they look like–especially if one of these bugs is found in your bed.
How to Identify Bed Bugs
Bed bugs are very small, flat insects about the size of an apple seed. They are typically reddish brown in color but can be translucent, light yellow, or even bright red, depending on their life stage and feeding status.
Bed bugs get their name from their proclivity to infest mattresses. They will often bite humans while they sleep, leaving behind itchy and sometimes painful bites. Bed bugs are not known to spread any diseases to humans but may cause allergic reactions in some people.
Signs of Bed Bugs
Many people tend to identify bed bugs by the signs they leave behind, as opposed to live sightings.
Therefore, there are several telltale signs of a bed bug infestation to be aware of, including:
- Reddish-brown blood stains on mattresses and furniture
- Small, red, itchy bites on skin
- Brown fecal spots on bedding or furniture
- A musty or sweet odor
- Pale yellow nymph skins around the home
- Seeing live bed bugs
Since bed bugs are so tiny and only intermittently infest homes, many people are unaware of what they look like and mistake other bugs for them.
9 Bugs That Look Like Bed Bugs
If you suspect you’re dealing with a pest infestation of some kind, it is important to familiarize yourself with these bed bug doppelgangers.
1. Fleas
Like bed bugs, fleas are small, reddish-brown insects that are commonly found in homes. They also can bite people, especially pets, leaving behind reddish, itchy bites. However, fleas have more oval-shaped bodies, while bed bugs are flat and more seed-shaped.
2. Baby Cockroaches
Baby cockroaches bear a striking resemblance to bed bugs. Both are small, flat, and don’t have wings. However, these pests are very different in every other way and should be treated as such. Baby cockroaches often have visible antennae and a shinier exterior compared to the duller, reddish-brown appearance of bed bugs.
3. Ticks
Ticks and bed bugs look quite similar, as both are small and dark in color. However, an important distinction is that ticks have eight legs, while bed bugs only have six. Additionally, ticks are external parasites that attach themselves to hosts for extended feeding, while bed bugs feed briefly and then retreat to hiding.
4. Spider Beetles
To the untrained eye, spider beetles can be mistaken for bed bugs. Both bugs are roughly the same size, but spider beetles are a tad smaller and have a more humpbacked appearance. Spider beetles also have long legs and antennae, giving them a spider-like look that bed bugs do not possess.
5. Booklice
Booklice are small insects that thrive in humidity and feed on mold and fungi. Aside from their small appearance, booklice don’t share many similarities with bed bugs. Unlike bed bugs, they are not blood feeders and pose no direct harm to humans, but their presence can indicate moisture issues in your home.
6. Carpet Beetles
At first glance, carpet beetles may share some similarities with bed bugs. However, these two insects don’t look much like each other if you compare the two. Carpet beetles have totally different coloring than bed bugs, and they also do not bite like bed bugs do. Instead, their larvae can cause skin irritation due to their tiny, hair-like bristles.
7. Bat Bugs
Bat bugs bear a striking resemblance to bed bugs—even their names sound similar! However, bat bugs are typically more brown or beige in color, while bed bugs tend to be reddish-brown. Bat bugs are usually found in attics or areas where bats roost, whereas bed bugs prefer to infest sleeping areas.
8. Mites
While both mites and bed bugs are small, mites are significantly tinier and almost can’t be seen with the naked eye. These pests are only about 0.03 mm long, while bed bugs are about the size of an apple seed. Mites are typically associated with dust and can cause allergic reactions rather than direct bites.
9. Swallow Bugs
Swallow bugs and bed bugs do share many physical similarities, but it’s their behavior that separates them. Bed bugs tend to infest mattresses and clothing, while swallow bugs dwell mostly near bird nests. Swallow bugs primarily feed on birds, though they may bite humans if their usual hosts are unavailable.
What to Do If You Spot Bed Bugs in Your Home
If you end up spotting actual bed bugs in your home, it is imperative that you contact a professional exterminator immediately.
Bed bugs are known to spread incredibly fast, and waiting to call an exterminator can result in an even larger infestation. Your exterminator will be able to instruct you on what to do next, such as throwing out infested items, and will recommend a treatment plan to get rid of these pests.
FAQs
Why is it important to correctly identify bed bugs before treatment?
Being that many other bugs are often mistaken for bed bugs, it is important that you correctly identify the type of pest you’re dealing with before receiving pest control treatment.
If you or your exterminator incorrectly identify the pests in your home, you may not be able to effectively kill all of them, as different pests respond to different pest control chemicals and treatments.
Can professional pest control services help identify bed bugs accurately?
An experienced pest control professional should be able to accurately identify the specific kind of pest you’re dealing with. Exterminators are trained to know the appearance, behaviors, and reproductive cycles of all kinds of pests, so enlisting the help of a professional is your best bet for accurately identifying the kind of pests in your home.
What tools or techniques can I use to identify bugs at home?
There aren’t any special tools or equipment you need to purchase to be able to identify the bugs in your home. Just simply looking at them can give you a good idea of what you’re dealing with.
It may also be helpful to take pictures of the pests–if you can capture them–to show your exterminator. When your exterminator visits your home to perform an inspection, they should be able to identify what kinds of pests are in your home using their knowledge and expertise.
