8 Bugs That Look Like Bed Bugs (2024)

Found a suspicious bug in your home that looks like a bed bug? Before you freak out, here are 8 other common household pests that it could be.

This is a bed bug.

It’s a reddish-brown insect around the size of a flaxseed or small apple seed. A bed bug has 6 thin legs and a flat, oval-shaped abdomen that swells in size after feeding on blood.

Size:1/6″ – 1/4″ (4 – 7 mm) long

Color:Mahogany to red-brown

Identifying Features:

• Short, thin antennae with 4 segments
• Small, beady eyes protruding on each side of the head
• Squarish, protruding mouthparts
• Flat, broad abdomen with 8 horizontal grooves
• Wide dorsal plate (pronotum) that flares outwards

Bugs That Look Like Bed Bugs

1. Baby co*ckroaches

Baby co*ckroaches, or co*ckroach nymphs, are the immature stage of co*ckroaches and can be mistaken for bed bugs due to their similar size and appearance.

They are typically found in warm, dark, and moist environments, such as under sinks or behind appliances.

At a Glance: Baby co*ckroaches vs Bed Bugs

Newly hatched co*ckroach nymphs can be as small as 3 millimeters,¹ and their color varies from pale to dark brown. Like bed bugs, co*ckroach nymphs are also wingless.

In terms of body shape, both are small, oval insects. However, co*ckroach nymphs are more cylindrical and pill-shaped, whereas bed bugs are flatter and seed-shaped.

Under a Microscope: Baby co*ckroaches vs Bed Bugs

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• co*ckroaches have flexible, thread-like antennae that are often longer than their bodies, while bed bugs have short, segmented antennae.
• They have long, spiny legs, while bed bugs have thin legs without spines.
• They have a pair of short sensory appendages called cerci extending from the rear.
• They have large, kidney-shaped eyes that cover most of their head, while bed bugs have beady, protruding eyes.
• Depending on the species and stage of growth, baby co*ckroaches may have various colored markings. For example, German co*ckroach nymphs have a pale brown band along the back.

Should You Be Concerned?

co*ckroaches spread pathogens, contaminate food, and may trigger allergies and asthma symptoms. As prolific breeders, they rapidly increase in population when left unchecked.Finding nymphs in your home is usually a sign of a larger infestation.

Infestations can often be managed or mitigated through proper cleaning and sanitation. This includes cleaning up spills, properly storing food, and reducing clutter to limit moisture and food sources. You can also stop them from getting inside by finding and sealing entry points, such as cracks and gaps under door frames, behind appliances, and around plumbing lines.

2. Carpet Beetles

Carpet beetles are another common household bug that looks like bed bugs. These small beetles normally live outside, but they occasionally get into homes and their larvae will feed on carpets, clothing, and other animal-based materials.

At a Glance: Carpet Beetles vs Bed Bugs

In terms of appearance, carpet beetles have large, oval-shaped bodies and small heads. They’re typically around 2–5 millimeters long. There are a few different species of carpet beetles you might encounter:

• Varied carpet beetles and furniture carpet beetles usually have a mottled pattern of white, brown, and yellow markings covering their body. This makes it easy to distinguish them from bed bugs.
• Black carpet beetles are harder to tell apart from bed bugs because they have a solid brown color and similar oval shape. However, they’re typically more rounded and not as flat as bed bugs, with a hard shell characteristic of beetles.

Adult carpet beetles are attracted to light and are usually seen near windowsills or outdoors. It’s unusual to find them around your bed unless it’s right underneath or next to a window.

Under a Microscope: Carpet Beetles vs Bed Bugs

• Carpet beetles have two large wing covers called elytra that meet at a line down the middle.
• Compared to bed bugs, they have shorter antennae that appear stubby and are clubbed at the ends.
• Compared to bed bugs, they have shorter legs that get tucked under their bodies when disturbed.²

Should You Be Concerned?

Adult carpet beetles are harmless and mainly feed on pollen. However, their larvae are problematic because they love to feed on natural fibers found in carpets, clothing, and upholstered furniture.

Carpet beetle larvae look like fuzzy little caterpillars (they’re covered in hairs and bristles called setae). In addition to the damage they cause, prolonged exposure to hairs they drop may cause an allergic reaction called carpet beetle dermatitis.

3. Spider Beetles

Spider beetles are small, bulbous beetles that are usually found in dark places with lots of moisture. These insects have long legs that make them look like a cross between a spider and a beetle. They’re sometimes mistaken for bed bugs because of their reddish-brown color and oval-shaped bodies.

At a Glance: Spider Beetles vs Bed Bugs

Spider beetles are generally smaller than bed bugs, measuring only 1.5–3.5 millimeters in length. Their abdomens are round and globular, while bed bugs’ abdomens are typically wide and flat.

Even when a bed bug becomes engorged (after a blood meal), its abdomen becomes elongated and football-shaped, not round like a spider beetle.

Under a Microscope: Spider Beetles vs Bed Bugs

• Spider beetles have shiny elytra that are fused together, making them incapable of flight.
• They have long antennae that are almost the same length as their bodies.
• They have tiny, pale yellow hairs covering their head, thorax, legs, and antennae, while bed bugs do not.

Should You Be Concerned?

Spider beetles are scavengers that mainly feed on wool, hair, fabrics, food products, and animal droppings. While they don’t pose a direct health threat to humans, they can infest grains, dried fruits, and other stored foods, leading to contamination and spoilage.

If you see these pests in your home, we recommend inspecting your pantry for potential infestations. Regular cleaning and vacuuming can also help reduce their population.

4. Fleas

Fleas are tiny, reddish-brown ectoparasites that feed on blood. Infestations often begin when a dog or cat brings fleas inside the home.

While their preferred hosts are furry pets, fleas will also feed on humans. This causes people to mistake them for bed bugs, because both are small, reddish-brown, wingless insects that leave behind red, itchy bites.

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At a Glance: Fleas vs Bed Bugs

In terms of size, fleas are much smaller than bed bugs. They typically measure only 1.5–3 millimeters in length, which is about the size of a sesame seed.

Fleas are rather uniquely-shaped because they’re vertically flattened. Bed bugs, and most insects, are flat dorsal-ventrally, which means that they lay flat on their stomachs. Fleas, however, lay flat on their sides. This body structure helps them navigate their way through dense coats of hair like on a dog or a cat. If you find a small, dead bug that’s laying on its side and you can see its legs all on one side, then you can be pretty sure it’s a flea and not a bed bug.

Under a Microscope: Fleas vs Bed Bugs

• Fleas have long, spiny legs, which you don’t see on bed bugs. Their powerful hind legs are noticeably longer than the rest, giving fleas the ability to jump up over 200 times their body length.³
• They have small, sloping heads with piercing-sucking mouthparts and 2 characteristic rows of spines called the genal comb and the pronotal comb.
• They have extremely small, clubbed antennae that are usually not visible because they’re located in deep grooves behind their eyes.

Should You Be Concerned?

Fleas can cause a wide range of health issues for both pets and humans, such as tapeworms, flea allergy dermatitis (FAD), and anemia. Their itchy bites can also lead to secondary skin irritations and infections due to excessive scratching.

If you’ve found fleas in your home, you should thoroughly wash infested pet bedding and vacuum carpets, rugs, and furniture in suspected areas.

5. Ticks

At first glance, ticks and bed bugs seem to share several similar characteristics. Both are small, blood-sucking pests with flat, wingless, oval-shaped bodies.

At a Glance: Ticks vs Bed Bugs

Prior to feeding, ticks are usually only 1–5 millimeters long, depending on the species. Like bed bugs, their bodies expand quite a bit after a blood meal. However, a fed tick takes on a round, bulbous shape while a bed bug takes on an elongated, football shape.

Another distinguishing feature of adult ticks is that they have 8 legs, not 6. That’s because ticks aren’t actually insects—they’re actually arachnids, and are related to spiders and scorpions. Baby ticks actually also have 6 legs (they grow the last pair once they reach adulthood), but they’re way smaller than bed bugs and are about the size of a poppy seed.

Under a Microscope: Ticks vs Bed Bugs

• Ticks have 8 legs, while bed bugs have 6.
• They do not have antennae, while bed bugs do.
• They have a two-part body, consisting of a capitulum (head) and idiosoma (body). The capitulum contains the mouthparts used for feeding, while the idiosoma houses the internal organs.
• Hard ticks have a plate-like structure on their back called a scutum, which often contains unique markings and features used to identify different species.

Should You Be Concerned?

While bed bugs don’t transmit diseases through their bites, ticks do. They are vectors for diseases like Lyme and Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, caused by bacteria, parasites, and viruses transmitted through their bites.

6. Booklice

Booklice are small, wingless, soft-bodied insects that are occasionally mistaken for baby bed bugs. They are typically between 1–2 millimeters long and whitish-yellow or tan in color.

At a Glance: Booklice vs Bed Bugs

One way to distinguish booklice and bed bug nymphs is by looking at their body shape. Booklice have slender, elongated bodies compared to bed bug nymphs, which are rounder and wider.

They also have wide heads separated from their abdomens by a narrow thorax. On the other hand, bed bug nymphs have a wide abdomen and a small head separated by a flared pronotum.

Under a Microscope: Booklice vs Bed Bugs

• Booklice have long, threadlike antennae while bed bugs have short, segmented antennae.
• If you take a closer look at the head, you can see that booklice have a large and smooth bulge at the front called the clypeus, which is their upper lip.
• Their legs are also longer than that of bed bugs. The hind pair appears extra thick with enlarged femora.

Should You Be Concerned?

Unlike bed bugs, booklice don’t bite and feed on the blood of humans and animals. If you have booklice, they won’t bite you or threaten the structure of your home. These pests typically nest in undisturbed places with lots of moisture or mold. They also feed on starchy material like the glue in book bindings, which is where they get their name from.

7. Pill Bugs and Sow Bugs

Pill bugs and sow bugs are terrestrial isopods often referred to as woodlice or roly-polies. Certain species may appear similar to bed bugs in terms of their size, color, and shape.

These dark colored, oval-shaped critters normally live outdoors in damp, shady areas with lots of soil and vegetation, but one might find its way indoors through small cracks or gaps.

At a Glance: Pill Bugs vs Bed Bugs

Pill bugs and sow bugs aren’t actually insects—they’re crustaceans. As such, they have way more legs than bed bug do (14, in fact).

And while bed bugs are flat and soft-bodied, pill bugs and sow bugs are dome-shaped with a hard exoskeleton made of overlapping plates that allow them to roll up their bodies when threatened. In sow bugs, these plates have distinctive, jagged looking edges.

Under a Microscope: Pill Bugs vs Bed Bugs

• Pill bugs and sow bugs have 14 legs (one pair on each of their 7 thoracic segments).
• They have long, thick antennae with many segments, while bed bugs have short, thin antennae with only 4 segments.
• Sow bugs have2 additional tail-like appendages called uropodssticking out from the rear.

Should You Be Concerned?

Pill bugs and sow bugs are mostly harmless to humans and pets. They don’t bite or sting and are not known to transmit diseases. However, their presence in a home can sometimes indicate moisture issues which may lead to mold growth. They can also cause minor damage to garden plants by feeding on decaying plant matter, but since they contribute to the decomposition process, they are more beneficial than harmful.

8. Bat Bugs

Bat bugs (Cimex adjunctus) are close relatives of bed bugs (Cimex lectularius). Unlike bed bugs, which feed on human blood, bat bugs have evolved to only feed on blood from bats (hence their name).

They typically establish their colonies in places where bats roost, such as in attics, behind walls, and inside chimneys, and only occasionally move into human living areas.

At a Glance: Bat Bugs vs Bed Bugs

Bat bugs are slightly smaller than bed bugs, typically measuring between 4–5 millimeters in length. Appearance-wise, they are nearly identical. Like bed bugs, bat bugs have small, flat, oval-shaped bodies with 6 legs, 2 antennae, and beak-like mouthparts used for feeding.

Under a Microscope: Bat Bugs vs Bed Bugs

• The main distinguishing feature is the length of hairs (called setae) covering their bodies. Compared to bed bugs, bat bugs have longer and denser setae, which is especially noticeable around the edges of the pronotum and abdomen.
• Compared to bed bugs, the front edge of the pronotum is slightly less concave.⁴
• Compared to bed bugs, their wing pads are slightly broader.⁵

Should You Be Concerned?

Bat bugs are not known to transmit diseases to humans. However, their presence can be a nuisance, especially if they migrate from bat roosts into living spaces. They can bite humans, causing irritation and discomfort similar to bed bug bites.

Moreover, a bat bug infestation may indicate a nearby bat colony, which could pose additional health risks due to bat droppings and potential diseases associated with bats.

Need Help Identifying Bed Bugs?

Distinguishing bed bugs from other household pests can be challenging, especially when added on top of an already-stressful situation of finding any insect in your home.

MMPC is a NYC-based pest control company that provides reliable and eco-friendly pest solutions, includingNESDCA-certified canine bed bug inspectionsas well as customized extermination and treatment programs.

If you have any questions, or if you’re still not sure if what you’ve found is a bed bug or not, you can send a picture to MMPC’sFree Pest ID Centerand one of our pest experts will help identify it for you and provide treatments recommendations.

About the Author

Timothy Wong is the technical director of MMPC, an eco-friendly pest control company in Long Island City. He has over 20 years of pest control experience, holds professional licenses in NY, NJ, PA, and MA, and has published papers on bed bugs and pest control methods.

References

1. German co*ckroach. (n.d.). Field Guide to Common Texas Insects. https://texasinsects.tamu.edu/blattodea/german-co*ckroach/ ↩︎
2. Liesch, P. (n.d.). Beetles Abound: A survey of beetles relevant to pest control professionals. UW Insect Diagnostic Lab. https://insectlab.russell.wisc.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/253/2021/02/WPCA-2021-Beetles-Abound-Handouts.pdf ↩︎
3. Alpert, G. (2015).Flightless Leaping Ectoparasitic Arthropods = FLEAs. New York State Integrated Pest Management – Cornell CALS. https://ecommons.cornell.edu/server/api/core/bitstreams/14ad6451-239b-4540-84fe-1cc038df319b/content ↩︎
4. Pmalder. (2018, July 26). Featured insect: The bat bug. NC Urban Pests. https://ncurbanpests.wordpress.ncsu.edu/feature/2018/featured-insect-the-bat-bug/ ↩︎
5. Cranshaw, W. S., & Ewals-Strain, B. (2022, October 5). Bed bug lookalikes – bat bugs and swallow bugs in Colorado – 5.625. Colorado State University Extension. https://extension.colostate.edu/topic-areas/insects/bed-bug-lookalikes-bat-bugs-and-swallow-bugs-in-colorado-5-625/ ↩︎