r/Bedbugs Mar 06 '15

Useful Information Bedbug ID and common misidentifications

592 Upvotes

Bed bug identification resources:

Note: flattened body, rusty brown coloured (less so in younger nymphs, which are more translucent). Thin 4 segmented antennae. 11 segmented abdomen. Short legs (6 of them) and reduced wings incapable of flight.


These are insects or other invertebrates commonly misidentified as bedbugs!

Not bed bugs.

  1. Carpet beetle larvae (Dermestidae) and adult - More Info

  2. Bat bug (Cimex adjunctus pictured) - More Info

  3. Cockroach nymphs - More Info

  4. Tick (nymphs) - More Info

  5. Woodlouse - More Info

  6. Kissing bugs - More Info

  7. Booklice/barklice - More Info

  8. Smooth spider beetle - More Info

  9. Drugstore beetle - More Info

Note: If it has wings or more than 6 legs, it is not a bed bug. Do not mistake antennae for legs, look at the illustrated guide to avoid confusion.


Please comment with any other common mis-IDs and I will add them!


r/Bedbugs 1h ago

also, i would like to thank all the kind people that have gave me advice in this chat.

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Thank you for being my safe space and giving kind advice without judgement. i wish this world didnt have any bugs of any sorts. this is extremely stressful! i hope everyone takes care and have a wonderful day! thank you again!


r/Bedbugs 3h ago

im sorry guys but i just need a safe space to vent im losing my mind

6 Upvotes

within the past 3 weeks i have found maybe less than 10 bed bugs and i have been very paranoid and on edge so much i dont feel safe in my home i havent had any bites and the bugs that i did see they look like babies i sprayed my room out and got rid of my dogs bed im just extremely paranoid scared and exhausted i dont think this trauma will ever leave me i dont know where it came from and how they came im so scared im so sorry for sounding like this and i may be overreacting but i kinda want to cry i feel like its my fault and i cant afford an exterminator


r/Bedbugs 7h ago

Is it bedbug?

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10 Upvotes

Is it a bedbugs?


r/Bedbugs 43m ago

Is this a bed bug shell

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Pls be no


r/Bedbugs 1h ago

im pretty sure this confirms my thoughts

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r/Bedbugs 12h ago

Bedbugs?

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14 Upvotes

Found these lovely critters on my bedsheets today. Are these bedbugs? Look like it to me.

How does one get rid of them?


r/Bedbugs 3h ago

Is this a bed bug?

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2 Upvotes

I found this sitting on the couch, no arm no legs no bites etc pls help is this bed bug or an old one? Idk what to do I’ve been tearing the place up n down


r/Bedbugs 3h ago

Is it my worst fear?

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2 Upvotes

I should note I’ve recently been bringing in bouquets of fresh cut dahlias and they usually bring some little critters into my apartment. He was about the size of two chia seeds.


r/Bedbugs 5h ago

Tell me.. Do I need a flamethrower?

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3 Upvotes

Felt something weird on my hand after taking a nap on the couch.

It's really tiny; just a tad wider than an armhair.

Didn't think to get a picture of it on my hand as I instantly wanted distance.🫠


r/Bedbugs 19m ago

fecal stains - blue???

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do these look like fecal stains?? the last image is from my old pillowcase, i noticed the stains a few weeks ago. i put down a new pillow and noticed a new stain - smeared it with hydro peroxide and rubbing alcohol and it smeared kind of blue?

edit - i have been getting itchy spots which look a bit like hives, but not really in a cluster pattern. i have seen no other signs of bedbugs and this started on aug12


r/Bedbugs 7h ago

Identification ah jeez.

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3 Upvotes

i keep waking up with big bites that itch for almost a week at a time, finding little brown things in my bed that i thought were bits of leaves that my dog brought in, and now i just found this on my blanket. are these things related? i haven’t seen any other bugs. help!


r/Bedbugs 1h ago

Hi, is this a bed bug?

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~0.5-1cm long


r/Bedbugs 1h ago

Bedbug droppings? Please help

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I deep-cleaned my room and only after did I realize I have some bites on my body.

This bedsheet had been washed already. I'm wondering if these might be droppings? Do they stay black after wash?

Some stuff:

- I have a couple of clustered bites. They're on my thighs and arms.

- I have not spotted any bed bugs at all.

- I have not seen any skin sheddings.

- I already inspected my mattress and bed frame thoroughly and I found nothing. Vacuumed them too.

- I took out all my furniture in my room and put my clothes in plastic bags.

I'm just looking for other signs. I'm still checking for them but I feel like I'm going insane


r/Bedbugs 1h ago

Are these exoskeletons?

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We have not found any live bugs we only checked out place because friends of ours have an infestation and we have visited. These were on the mattress and on a pillow that was under the bed


r/Bedbugs 1h ago

What should I do?

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I got back from a 10 day trip to Iceland on Thursday (Aug 27th). Got sick and also started noticing a pattern of itchy spots on my legs on the 29th, which got really bad on the 30th and 31st. We were in a roof top tent with a mattress pad for most of the ten days, aside from two nights in an Airbnb where my friend said she didn’t see bed bugs, and one night in a hotel on the 26th where we forgot to check.

After the rash became really bad (it is now on both legs, buttocks, lower back, and a little bit on my elbows and forearms) I realized it is most likely that I was bit on the trip. There are absolutely no signs of bed bugs in my home now. I would really like to avoid throwing all of my stuff away. What should I do?

Edit/Also:
The person who stayed at my place to watch my cat has no bites, neither does my boyfriend who stayed with me the night after the night I got home. So I’m pretty certain my apartment did not have them prior to the trip


r/Bedbugs 2h ago

Bed bug or lice?

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1 Upvotes

Found on back of neck now confused what is it?


r/Bedbugs 2h ago

Bedbugs night 2 but not night 1?

1 Upvotes

Stayed at a hotel In Amsterdam. Night 1, slept and woke up with no problems. Night 2, just an hour after going to bed woke up covered in about 6 bedbug bites. Got out of bed and saw at least 5 adult bedbugs crawling around. Immediately notified management and got the hell out of that hotel. Does anyone have any ideas why they didn’t bite us night 1?


r/Bedbugs 2h ago

What is this?

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1 Upvotes

r/Bedbugs 3h ago

Found a chair on the road does this look ok

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1 Upvotes

I inspected every crevice and see nothing that would make me think there is bedbugs or anything bug like. It could just be dirt.


r/Bedbugs 3h ago

What do these look like? Could they be bedbugs?

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1 Upvotes

r/Bedbugs 3h ago

Identification What is this

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1 Upvotes

I’m so scared rn. I don’t think it’s a bedbug but now I’ve scared myself into needing reassurance about it. There was only one and I tore my whole bed apart for more, checked underneath and everything.. washed all blankets and such. Only this one. Any idea what it is?? :(


r/Bedbugs 3h ago

Is this a bedbug?

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1 Upvotes

is this a bedbug

it doesnt look like the ones i see


r/Bedbugs 3h ago

Identification Does anyone think this could be bed bug poop?

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1 Upvotes

r/Bedbugs 7h ago

Please help me

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2 Upvotes

Yesterday I took an uber that I immediately felt yucky in. In fact, instinctually the thought of bed bugs went into my head while I was in there, as it has always been a fear of mine. This morning, I find the pictured bug dead in my room. Now I am currently tearing my room apart looking for any evidence. Aside from washing everything I own, please give me advice. Is it possible that I carried a dead specimen in from the car? I am reporting to Uber as well.