Recognizing a Bed Bug

From its appearance

Bed bugs are small insects that feed
mainly on human blood. A newly hatched
bed bug is semi-transparent, light tan in
color, and the size of a poppy seed. Adult
bed bugs are flat, have rusty-red-colored
oval bodies, and are about the size of an
apple seed.
Bed bugs can be easily confused with
other small household insects, including
carpet beetles, spider beetles and newly
hatched cockroaches (nymphs).








From its markings, droppings
and eggs
Blood stains, droppings and eggs can
be found in several locations including:
• Mattress seams and tufts, sheets, pillow
cases and upholstered furniture.
• Crevices and cracks in furniture.
• Baseboards of walls.
Carpet beetle
Spider beetle Cockroach nymph
(juvenile)
Bed bug adult
(fed & unfed)









From its bite
Some people do not react to bed bug bites.
But for those who do, bite marks may
appear within minutes or days, usually
where skin is exposed during sleep. They
can be small bumps or large itchy welts.
The welts usually go away after a few
days. Because the bites may resemble
mosquito and other insect bites, a bump
or welt alone does not mean there are
bed bugs.