Bed Bugs or Something Else? Common Look-Alikes

Waking up with itchy bites sends people straight to bed bugs. But bites alone can't identify them, since reactions vary a lot and many people don't react at all. Look for the bugs and their signs instead.

What bed bugs look like

Adults are flat, oval, reddish-brown, wingless, and about the size of an apple seed. Young ones are smaller and paler. They hide in mattress seams, bed frames, and headboards.

Signs to check

• Tiny dark or rust-colored spots on sheets and mattress seams.
• Shed skins or small pale eggs near seams and cracks.
• Live bugs, found with a flashlight along mattress piping and the bed frame.

Common look-alikes

• Carpet beetles: Rounder and mottled. Their larvae are small and hairy.
• Fleas: Tiny, dark, and they jump. Bites tend to be around the ankles.
• Bat bugs: Nearly identical, but found where bats roost.
• Cockroach nymphs: Longer and faster, with a different shape.

What to do

1. Inspect with a flashlight before assuming anything.
2. Don't throw out your furniture or set off bug bombs. Foggers rarely solve it and can scatter them.
3. Wash bedding and run it through a hot dryer.
4. If you confirm bed bugs, call a pro. They're very hard to clear on your own.