Sleep Health

Published March 6, 2022

6 min

What Do Bed Bugs Look Like To The Human Eye

DreamCloud Editorial Team

Table of contents

What Do Bed Bugs Look Like?How Long Does It Take for Bed Bugs to Appear?What Do Bed Bugs Look Like on a Mattress?What Do Bed Bugs Bites Look Like?Final WordsFrequently Asked Questions

If a bug crawled up on the bed or any mattresses, it's normal to think of it as a bed bug. But sensing a bed bug is a problem since they aren't easily recognized. And it can take a lot of hard work to exterminate them before they reproduce and multiply. Regardless, with their number of look-alikes, the question arises, what do bed bugs look like? And with a common misconception that a bed bug looks like apple seeds, they are easily confused with other insects or bugs. So if you see a bug on your bed, don't panic just yet, as their size and color vary from larvae to adulthood.An average bed bug is around 4mm to 5mm and can grow up to 7mm. At the same time, an apple seed is about 8mm. Bed bugs have a flat ovular shape like flax seeds.However, can you see bed bugs with the naked eye? Let's find it out!

What Do Bed Bugs Look Like?

Bed bugs go through several stages and molting till they reach adulthood. So their appearance varies at every stage of their cycle. And though they are visible to the naked eye, they can quickly go unnoticed unless you know what do bed bugs look like.

Adults

An adult bed bug is the size of a baby roach. They have a flat head and thorax with a flat oval abdomen that swells and gets elongated slightly upon feeding. They are light reddish-brown and have no wings. Bed bugs have six feet that are no longer than their tiny body and have two antennae. An adult bed bug can be easily spotted if looked at carefully.

Baby Bugs (Nymph)

Baby bugs or nymphs are tinier than adult bed bugs, no larger than sesame seeds. They have a translucent pale body, which turns darker after each molt. Nymphs undergo a total of five moltings before they reach adulthood. Although their body turns bright red after digesting the blood, they remain unrecognized and well out of sight.

Bed Bug Eggs

Bed bug eggs are white and ovular, like a capsule. They are the size of a rice grain and are stuck on the surfaces they were laid on. Due to their microscopic size, they are difficult to recognize or notice, not until they are hatched and have infested the house. When inspecting the room for these, use a torch and magnifying glass.

How Long Does It Take for Bed Bugs to Appear?

Bed bugs are notorious in hiding and are known to be nocturnal. And, if a person is oblivious, they can miss common signs of bed bug infestation. So, how to find bed bugs during the day?There are five common signs to know about the infestation:

Bug Bites

The most common and alarming sign is bite marks that appear suddenly after a night of sleep. Although every skin differs, and not every skin may show the signs of getting bitten, it is still plausible evidence.

Fecal Spots

Fecal marks are black or dark brown dots resembling a pen or maker's mark left behind by the bed bug's droppings. You may see them appear out of nowhere on clothes, pillows, blankets, bedsheets, etc.

Bloodstains

Although bed bugs are good at hiding, they aren't good at escaping unscathed. When they are sucking off blood, a sudden movement of the host can crush them. Though they aren't squashed to death, suck blood leaks out, leaving a mark.

Live Bugs

It might not be that hard to find them if you are lucky enough. However, they are easily lured out when hungry, especially a female bed bug that likes to move around when pregnant. Or when their hiding spot is disturbed, they lurk out, and if the infestation is severe, they are also easily spotted.

What Do Bed Bugs Look Like on a Mattress?

Bugs that look like bed bugs get easily confused with it, and vice-versa. They usually get confused with cockroach nymphs, bat bugs, fleas, booklice, etc. And since bed bugs are nocturnal, they aren't commonly seen on the mattress but around it. However, they hide very well when bed bugs are minor in number. Hence, inspecting them is a battle against time and speed.

How to Check for Bed Bugs in Bedding

For visual inspection, use flashlights and magnifying glasses for better sighting. Check the seams of the pillow, mattress, cushions, headboard, bed frame, and box springs. They can be holed up in any small crevices of furniture like a nightstand, chair, bookshelf, wallpapers, window or doors, etc.

What Do Bed Bugs Bites Look Like?

Every person's sensitivity level is different from the others; hence not everyone shows the sign of getting bitten. Although the bite marks vary differently based on the factors like size and times the area was bitten. The area bit usually gets itchy, red, inflamed, or blistered.

How Do Bed Bug Bites Differ From Other Common Insect Bites

Bed bug bites differ because they are itchy, red and form a zigzag rash when multiple bed bugs feed on the exposed skin. It also depends on the anti-coagulant, which gets injected with their saliva. This is responsible for how the skin reacts and helps determine the size of the bug.Initially, the area may burn slightly and then develop red bumps. During extreme cases, it may swell and form blisters.

Final Words

Now familiarized with the characteristics of bed bugs, you can easily differentiate them from other insects. So now, when you spot a bed bug, inspect it carefully before you panic.Also, make sure you wash and dry your sheets regularly. And if the infestation gets out of hand before you notice, get professional help. Also, remember not to scratch the bitten area harshly; it may blister it further.Disclaimer: This website does not offer medical advice nor professional medical services; rather, it is provided solely for educational, informational, and/or entertainment purposes. Individuals seeking medical advice should consult a licensed physician. The information provided should not be used for diagnosis or treatment of any condition, disease, or injury. When you have a medical condition, you should always talk to licensed doctor or other certified medical professional. You should never delay seeking professional medical advice or treatment based on the contents of this website. Call 911 or immediately go to the nearest emergency room if you think you may have a medical emergency. The contents of this website are provided "as-is", Dreamcloud Sleep and its parent, subsidiaries, affiliates, employees, contributors disclaim any warranty of the information contained herein. Please contact support@dreamcloud.com to report any errors, omissions, misinformation, or abuse.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do bed bugs look like ants? Like all insects, bed bugs have 6 legs and 2 antennae. But, unlike ants, bed bugs do not have three distinct body parts. Can you see bed bugs with the naked eye? Yes, bed bugs can be seen with naked eyes. However, they can easily go unnoticed unless you know what they look like. Hence, you should look at their characteristics to identify them easily. What are the bugs that look like bed bugs? A few bugs that look like bed bugs include booklice, carpet beetles, spider beetles, wood ticks, baby cockroaches, bat bugs, and fleas. Hence, you should look at their distinct characteristics carefully. Are bed bugs flat? Bed bugs are reddish-brown, flat, wingless insects about one-quarter inch long before feeding, i.e., about the size of an apple seed. How to find bed bugs during the day? During the day, you’ll most likely find bed bugs in the gap between the box spring, bed frame, or mattress seams. They tend to hide in the tight holes near their host’s location.

What Do Bed Bugs Look Like To The Human Eye

What Do Bed Bugs Look Like?

Adults

Baby Bugs (Nymph)

Bed Bug Eggs

How Long Does It Take for Bed Bugs to Appear?

Bug Bites

Fecal Spots

Bloodstains

Live Bugs

What Do Bed Bugs Look Like on a Mattress?

How to Check for Bed Bugs in Bedding

What Do Bed Bugs Bites Look Like?

How Do Bed Bug Bites Differ From Other Common Insect Bites

Final Words

Frequently Asked Questions

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