Bugs That Look Like Bed Bugs: Strange Facts!

There are actually a few bugs that look like bed bugs and they can cause confusion, scare people and may even result in wrong pest control measures. So, knowing Bugs That Look Like Bed Bugs and the difference between true bed bugs and their look-alikes is important for a successful pest management program in the whole of the United States.

How To know if You Saw a Bed Bug or a Different Insect

You need to understand the genuine look of bed bugs before starting to identify bugs that resemble them.

The body of a bed bug appears small flat and oval-shaped with mahogany through red-brown coloration. Bed bugs measure between 4 to 7 mm in length. The insects measure the same size as small apple seeds or flaxseeds.

The characteristic features include:

• Six thin legs
• Short, four-segmented antennae
• They have bead-like eyes
• Squarish, protruding mouthparts
• Flat, broad abdomen with horizontal grooves
• Wide dorsal plate (pronotum) that flares outward

Bed bugs are mostly found in the vicinity of mattress seams, box springs, bed frames, and headboards. Signals of infestation may include rusty or reddish stains on bedding (due to crushed bugs), dark excreta spots, tiny light-yellow eggs or eggshells, and skins left behind by moulted bugs.

6 Bugs That Look Like Bed Bugs

Many bugs that look like bed bugs are frequently of similar colors, shapes, or sizes, which makes it quite tricky to distinguish between them. Here are six of the most common suspects:

1. Fleas

Fleas are one of the bugs that look like bed bugs, and people get confused a lot. This happens particularly because they both feed on blood and cause itchiness in the skin. Fleas have a red-brown colour but have a slightly oval shape. Unlike bed bugs, fleas can jump rather long distances, up to 13 inches. Fleas prefer animal hosts (cats and dogs) but will bite humans as well. The reproductive capacity of fleas is entirely different to that of bed bugs, as they lay hundreds of eggs per week as they reproduce.

2. Booklice

Booklice are small and pale in colour and are mistaken for bed bug nymphs. These bugs are smaller than the adult bed bug. They have a bright, see-through body, and a very pale white appearance. Booklice does not consume blood, and are usually found in damp environments. Booklice are harmless and do not bite people like bed bugs do.

3. Ticks

Ticks are not insects, but belong to the same category of bugs that are mistaken for bed bugs because of similar size and blood-feeding nature. The tick’s body is oval and becomes considerably larger as it fills up with blood. They usually latch onto pets or people when they are outside and can pass on diseases such as Lyme disease. As opposed to bed bugs, the ticks are eight-legged and usually found on the skin or the fur, not in the beddings.

4. Carpet Beetles

Carpet beetles are another group of insects that can be mistaken for bed bugs. They are tiny and round. You must know that they are red or black in color. Carpet beetles do not feed on blood like bed bugs but on fabric, wool, and natural fibers. The reason why the skin irritation they cause is comparable to that of bed bugs is that the symptoms are quite confusing. Carpet beetles are winged and bed bugs are not.

5. Swallow Bugs

Swallow bugs are very much like bed bugs and appear the same, making them classic vermin that look like bed bugs. However, a notable difference is that swallow bugs are found mostly in bird nests and only on rare occasions do they create large populations indoors. Swallow bugs have long legs and thin bodies than bed bugs. If you see them, you may want to check if there are any bird nests in your backyard.

6. Bat Bugs

Bat bugs are extremely similar to bed bugs that without professional help, it’s challenging to tell them apart, so they are among those bugs that look like bed bugs. The only distinguishable feature of the bat bug is the longer hairs on the pronotum (the part behind the head). They are seen where bats are found and they only feed on humans when bats are not present.

Why Accurate Identification Matters?

If you have also mistaken other insects for bed bugs and you have toe-operational treatments, the problem may continue to exist. For example, the elimination of bed bugs in a locality is different from the removal of the infested fabrics of carpet beetles, or the control of fleas that will require treatment of pets and thorough vacuuming of the house.

Conclusion

Bugs that look like bed bugs are also similar to six other pests including fleas, booklice, ticks, carpet beetles, swallow bugs and bat bugs. But each pest has different lifestyle and threat levels. If you know how to identify these bed-bug lookalikes enables you to make appropriate decisions between contacting pest control services and performing basic cleaning tasks. Accurate identification helps you select the best solution for your home.