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What Do Bed Bugs Look Like? Signs and Look-Alikes

Writer: Matthew Johnston
Matthew Johnston
Oct 26
1 min read

Found a bug and not sure what it is? Here is how to tell if it is a bed bug.

Adult Bed Bugs

  • Flat and oval.

  • Reddish brown when hungry.

  • Swollen and dull red after a blood meal.

  • Six legs.

Young Bed Bugs and Eggs

Young bed bugs go through five stages. The earliest ones are tan to nearly clear, so they are very hard to see. Eggs are tiny, about the size of a pinhead.

Signs They Leave Behind

  • Shed skins, often easier to spot than live bugs.

  • Round black or brown spots, which are droppings.

Common Look-Alikes

  • Ticks. They have eight legs. Bed bugs have six.

  • Young German cockroaches.

  • Carpet beetles.

  • Booklice.

Not Sure? Send Us a Photo

A clear photo helps. Wichita: (316) 775-7867. Overland Park: (913) 222-2847. For the big picture, read the complete bed bug guide.

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