If you have some itchy bites and wonder if the pests are bed bugs or similar insects you are in the right place. We will help you detect and identify the house bugs you have and come up with the best bug traps for your problem.
So, if you are ready to discover bugs that look like bed bugs keep on reading.
What Are Bed Bugs And How Do They Look
It’s not always easy to identify bugs, because all small insects look similar to the untrained eye. So, to get a better understanding of pests we will begin with the definition of bed bugs and their appearance.
Bed bugs are small, wingless, and brownish insects. They range from 3/16 - 1/4 inches long, but this might not be enough to recognize bed bugs considering they can be caught in various development stages and look slightly different.
Small, newly hatched bed bugs are almost completely see through and they get a rusty brown color as they mature. The small nymphs or baby bed bugs can even have bright red color after their first meal.
One of the main characteristics that bed bugs have is extremely flat bodies and a lack of wings. This feature along with hiding places in your bed and feeding habits can help you determine bed bug infestation, and tools like bed bug interceptors can assist you in capturing a few specimens just to be sure.
What Do Bed Bugs Look Like on Sheets?
Bed bugs love to hang out and hide in places where they can easily reach your bed and feed on your blood. They are attracted to your body heat and the carbon dioxide you exhale while breathing.
This is one of the reasons why so many people notice blood stains on their sheets even before they see any bed bugs or bite marks.
The brownish and red blood stains on your sheets are one of the signs you are dealing with a bed bug infestation and one of the main reasons to start your battle right away. Wash everything with the specialized laundry detergent and use different traps to eliminate those pesky pests from your bed.
Bugs That Look Like Bed Bugs
There are numerous pests that love to hang around your home, some look like bed bugs but are bigger while others have wings or bite more. Before you choose the best trap for the insects at hand you need to determine what’s the issue you are dealing with.
Here are the most common bugs that look like bed bugs:
Bat Bugs
Bat bugs as the name suggests are commonly associated with bats and are often found in spaces where the bets are eliminated like attics and other dark parts of homes. These pests are often confused with bed bugs because they look quite similar with flat and brown bodies, but keep in mind that bat bugs have more body hair and often hide in every nook and cranny, not just your bed.
Bat bugs are not known to transmit any diseases but they can cause quite the disturbance when found in homes.
Ticks
Ticks might look like bed bugs to untrained eyes but they are arachnids with eight legs while bed bugs are insects with six legs. While it’s not uncommon to find ticks in your home it’s more likely to find them stuck on your skin and even on your pets.
These pests that look like bed bugs are very dangerous and often transmit various diseases and pathogens. So, it’s important to take care of all potential pests in your home and set up the right traps.
Head Lice
If you are looking for bugs that look like bed bugs but bite you might have head lice infestation. These small bugs are often seen as bed bugs, but they are completely different.
Head lice also feed on human blood just like bed bugs, but they live on your head and hair, and they don’t jump or fly, so it’s hard to notice specimens on your bed. And while head lice don’t transmit any diseases they are very uncomfortable and can cause extreme itching and secondary infections.
Spider Beetles
One of the main reasons why people believe spider beetles are bed bugs is their round and reddish bodies that resemble bed bugs after blood feeding. While they don’t have too much in common it’s easy to mistake small brown bugs for one another.
Spider beetles bite and often contaminate food, so it’s a good idea to consult professionals when you need additional help with pests.
Fleas
Fleas are one of the pests that are most commonly mistaken for bed bugs because of their itchy bites and small, flat bodies. While there are many similarities and both fleas and bed bugs are uncomfortable to handle there are a few differences that set them apart.
Fleas are vertically flat and have long and strong hind legs that help them jump. In addition, fleas prefer furry hosts like cats and dogs, but they don’t shy away from people when they need a good meal.
It’s a good idea to set up a few glue traps in your bed and add interceptors that will help you capture the bugs and determine the species with ease.
Carpet Beetles
If you found bugs that look like bed bugs but are bigger in your home you might be dealing with carpet beetles. While they might look like bed bugs they prefer to eat materials that originated from animals such as fur, leather, and wool. Despite their name, carpet beetles rarely eat or damage synthetic carpets and don’t really bite humans.
Carpet beetles might be less dangerous to you but they can cause substantial damage to your belongings.
Mites
Mites and bed bugs are not the same but many people confuse them.
Mites are tiny and far more dangerous pests than bed bugs, as they can cause severe illnesses and infections. There are thousands of mite species in the United States, and some are more common than others.
Baby Cockroaches
While adult cockroaches and bed bugs have nothing in common, people often confuse baby roaches or nymphs with bed bugs. They are both small, brownish, and have no wings so it’s easy to assume you have a bed bug infestation if you see a couple of baby roaches.
Both species are considered pests, and each carries its own set of potential harm to people and homes. This is why it’s a good idea to invest in high-quality roach traps and prevent further infestation once you see a couple of bed bug-like bugs that are certainly not only in your bed.
How to Get Rid of Bed Bugs for Good
Once you notice a few insects in your home and your bed it’s a good idea to go through our list and determine if you are dealing with bed bugs or similar pests. To capture and monitor bed bugs you can use interceptors and glue traps.
Here are a couple of suggestions to eliminate bed bugs:
1. Confirm infestation
As mentioned before the best way to confirm the infestation is to capture a few specimens with special glue traps and interceptors. These simple and effective traps will help you monitor the infestation, confirm that you are dealing with bed bugs, and eliminate many of them.
2. Clean everything
Once you are sure you have bed bugs it’s a good idea to vacuum the mattress and spray it down with the spray for bed bugs.
It’s also wise to wash your sheets and other washable items in your bedroom with bed bug laundry detergent on a hot cycle. This way you will eliminate most of the pests in your bed and linens.
3. Dust DE powder
Because some of the bed bugs can hide in various crevices in your bedroom including the walls and the floor it’s a good idea to dust some Diatomaceous Earth powder with the specialized long nozzle for precise application.
This way you will eliminate all the pests that are not in your bed and ensure a completely bug-free home.
4. Protect your mattress and pillows
When the bed bug infestation is over and your interceptor traps are empty you can cover your mattress and your pillows with additional protective covers. This will help you stay bug-free and have a good night’s sleep in the future.
Final Thoughts
Bed bugs resemble a lot of insects, but they are quite unique and very persistent pests you need to deal with as soon as possible. You now know what bugs look like bed bugs and you have the right tools to eliminate all the pests from your home.
Our detailed list will help you determine what are the bugs that look like bed bugs, and take action immediately to prevent severe infestation. Keep in mind that all pests can cause different problems and it’s a good idea to contact professionals if you are not sure you can manage the infestation on your own.
