Bed Bugs
Cimex lectularius · Bed Bugs, Fleas & Lookalikes
Bed bugs are small, flat, wingless insects that live off human blood and hide in mattress seams, bed frames and furniture cracks close to where people sleep. They usually arrive as hitchhikers in luggage, used furniture or clothing, not because a home is dirty. Their bites can itch and swell, but they are not known to spread disease.
Look for: An apple-seed-sized, flat, oval reddish-brown bug with no wings, usually found along mattress seams together with tiny dark fecal spots and pale shed skins.
Quick facts
| Size | 5-7 mm |
|---|---|
| Legs | 6 |
| Usual colors | brown, orange |
| Where in the home | Bedroom, Living Room |
| Active | All year |
| Peak | No clear peak |
| U.S. range | Found throughout the U.S.; the common bed bug is the main species in northern temperate regions, including North America. |
| Bites or stings people | Yes |
Seasons are typical across much of the U.S. and vary by region.
Peak season Active Typical across much of the U.S.; varies by region.
Often confused with
Carpet BeetlesDermestidae (mainly Anthrenus verbasci, Anthrenus flavipes, Attagenus unicolor)Adults are rounded, ladybug-shaped beetles smaller than a grain of rice, often mottled white, brown and yellow, usually found on windowsills; larvae are small, hairy, striped 'fuzzy worms'.
FleasCtenocephalides felis (cat flea), the main flea on U.S. cats and dogsA pinhead-sized, reddish-brown insect flattened side to side that jumps instead of flying, often spotted on pets or on white socks around the ankles.
Sources
Not sure this is your bug? Try the Bug Identifier or ask your local Cooperative Extension office.