Is it a bed bug?
The bed bug is a small, wingless insect that commonly inhabits mattresses, bedding, and furniture in residential and hospitality settings.
whichbug identifies insects from what you can see. It does not identify bites and has no health information.
What to look for
| Size | 4-5 mm |
|---|---|
| Colour | reddish-brown, becoming darker after feeding |
| Shape | oval, flattened dorsoventrally |
| Wings | absent |
| Antennae | four-segmented |
| Movement | slow crawler |
Where you'll find them
mattress seams and tagsbox springs and bed framesupholstered furniture crevicesbaseboard cracks and electrical outletsnuisance only
infestations can lead to staining of fabrics and furniture from excrement and shed skins.
Season: year-round in climate-controlled environments
Signs it's around
- dark fecal spots on bedding or furniture
- shed exoskeletons (exuviae)
- oval white eggs and eggshells
- rust-colored stains from crushed insects
Not sure? The lookalikes
| vs bat bug | bat bugs have longer antennae and more hairs on their bodies compared to bed bugs |
| vs spider beetle | spider beetles have a more rounded, hump-backed appearance and longer legs relative to body size |
| vs carpet beetle larva | carpet beetle larvae are covered in distinct bristles or hairs and have a segmented, elongated body |
| vs booklouse | booklice are much smaller, pale, and lack the distinct reddish-brown coloration of bed bugs |
| vs flea | fleas are laterally compressed (flat side-to-side) and have powerful hind legs for jumping, unlike the dorsoventrally flattened bed bug |