What do bed bugs look like to the human eye? To the human eye, bedbugs are small, brown insects that measure about 5-7 mm in length. They are oval-shaped and have six legs. Bedbugs are wingless insects, so they can’t fly but can crawl quickly.

What Are Bed Bugs?

Bed bugs are little parasitic insects that survive by feeding on the blood of people and warm blooded animals – although since they don’t like hair and fur, they prefer to bite people if they are available. These parasitic insects are reddish-brown in color, wingless, and have a flat body shape.

Where are Bed Bugs Most Often Found?

These pesky bugs are often found in mattresses, bed frames, as well as other furniture around the bedroom. They can also be found in cracks in the wall, floors, and ceilings.

Other common places are:

loose wallpaper
box spring
bed frame
mattress seams
hotel room
electrical outlets

Are Bed Bugs Visible To The Human Naked Eye In All Stages

It depends on how good a person’s vision is. To the human eye, this is how they will appear:

Bed Bug Eggs the size of a poppy seed

In theory, it is possible to see the bed bug eggs with the human naked eye; however, due to how small they are, coupled with the fact they are whitish looking, the chances of seeing them are very small.

Using a magnifying glass would also be very helpful if you are inspecting your home for bed bugs eggs.

Nymph the size of a sesame seed

Again, in theory, a person with good vision could see them. Nymphs are about the same size as a sesame seed. However because they are light in color, they can be very difficult to spot. They don’t darken in color until they start feeding on blood.

For most people, though, they may not see them, which can allow them to mature and later start an infestation.

Adult bed bugs about the size of an apple seed

While they can be seen with the naked eye, they are often hard to spot due to their small size and their tendency to stay hidden when there is a lot of movement around them. Adult bed bugs are about the size of an apple seed, making them difficult to see unless you look closely. If you think you may have bedbugs, it’s important to scrutinize your home for signs of these pests.

Signs You Have Bed Bugs

The most common signs that you have bed bugs are:

Bedbug bites. Bedbugs bite people at night, leaving small red welts on the skin. If you have several bites in a row, you likely have bedbugs.
Blood stains on your sheets or pillowcases. Bedbugs will leave behind small blood stains when they bite you.
Brown or black spots on your mattress or furniture. These are bedbug fecal matter, and eggs are whitish in color.

How Do Bed Bugs Look On A Mattress?

There are several signs that you may have bed bugs in your mattress.

Bed Bugs Bites

The first is bites on your body that appear in a line or cluster. These bites will be itchy and can cause redness and swelling.

You may also see small blood stains on your sheets or pillowcases from where the bugs have been feeding.

Dark Stains Found On Mattress

Dark stains on your mattress could be a sign of bed bugs.

These stains are thought to be caused by the bugs’ excrement and blood and can be a tell-tale sign that you have a bed bug infestation.

Other Insects That Look Like Bed Bugs

There are a few other types of insects that can be easily mistaken for bed bugs. Here are a few of the most common:

Baby Cockroach

At first glance, baby cockroaches may be mistaken for bed bugs. Both insects are small and brown, and they both have flat bodies. But there are some key differences between these two pests.

For one, cockroaches have longer antennae than bed bugs do. Cockroaches also have wings, while bed bugs do not.

Another key difference is that cockroaches are much more mobile than bedbugs. So if you see an insect scurrying across the floor or up a wall, it’s likely a cockroach and not a bed bug.

Ticks

Ticks are another insect that can easily be mistaken for bed bugs. Ticks are parasites that attach themselves to their host’s skin and can also be difficult to spot.

Both insects can cause itchiness and irritation, but ticks can also transmit diseases like Lyme disease. Bed bugs do not transmit disease.

If you think you’ve spotted a bed bug or a tick, it’s important to correctly identify which one it is so you can take the appropriate steps to get rid of it.

Bat Bug

Bat bugs closely resemble bed bugs, but there are some key differences between the two. Both bat bugs and bed bugs are oval-shaped and flat, but bat bugs are slightly larger than bed bugs. Bed bugs also have longer antennae than bat bugs do.

Fleas

Fleas are also known for their blood-sucking habits, and unfortunately they have the ability to spread disease. Although they are different species, fleas and bed bugs have some similarities in their appearance.

Both fleas and bed bugs are small, wingless insects with flat bodies. They are both reddish-brown and have six legs. Bedbugs are slightly larger than fleas, but both insects are so small that they can be hard to see with the naked eye. Both fleas and bedbugs feed on human blood, although fleas prefer the blood of dogs and cats.

Call A Professional To Help You Get Rid Of The Bed Bug Infestation

It is best to call a professional to help eliminate a bed bug infestation.

Bed bugs are challenging to get rid of on your own and can quickly spread to other areas of your home.

A professional will have the knowledge and equipment to safely and effectively eliminate bed bugs.

We Use Heat Treatment (The Best Method To Remove Bed Bugs)

Heat treatment involves using high temperatures to kill bed bugs and their eggs. The great thing about this method is that it’s effective against all life stages of the bug, so you can be sure they’re gone for good.

Best of all, heat treatment is safe for your family and home. No toxic chemicals are involved, so you don’t have to worry about your children or pets being exposed to dangerous chemicals.

Heat treatment is the way to go if you’re looking for a way to remove bed bugs from your home.

Give us a call to learn more about this method.