What Do Bed Bugs Look Like to the Human Eye? The Only Guide You’ll Need in 2023
There is something seriously invasive about a bug that invades our beds and bites us while we sleep soundly under our covers. If you add on the notion that we can’t see these bugs (which is a common misconception), bed bugs are downright terrifying. I mean, where do they even come from?
But the truth is that we can see bed bugs, and they’re not nearly as invisible as urban myths or legends would have it. If you’re wondering what bed bugs look like to the human eye, this guide has you covered.
Is It Possible To See Bed Bugs With The Naked Eye?
Yes, it’s possible to see bed bugs with the naked eye. These bugs are small, make no mistake, but they’re anything but invisible. You just need to know where to look and what to look out for. Hopefully, however, you never have to deal with it.
What Do Bed Bugs Look Like to the Human Eye?
To the naked human eye, bed bugs look red-brown in color with an oval, flat shape and they’re similar in size and shape to an apple seed. But, bed bug appearance changes based on the stage of their life. It’s important to know that all stages of life are visible to the naked eye. You don’t need a magnifying glass as they aren’t the invisible terrors that legend makes them out to be.
Adult Bed Bugs Appearance
Adult bed bugs are small, round in shape, and typically brownish-red in color. They measure about 5 to 7 millimeters long, have long antennae, and have six legs. The legs are each about half the length of the body. They’re also wingless insects, and this is important to remember as bed bugs are often mistaken for baby cockroaches, but cockroaches have wings (if you are dealing with roaches, check out this guide on the best roach bombs).
Generally speaking, adult bed bugs are dark brown or reddish brown in color. If they haven’t eaten, their flat bodies are about the thickness of a thin piece of cardboard. If they’ve eaten recently, that flat body can swell to be twice the size they normally are, with a much rounder shape.
Nymphs Appearance
A nymph is a baby bed bug, much smaller in size than adult bugs. However, they’re still visible to the naked eye. These bugs are typically a translucent tan color, but as they feed they become a brighter reddish brown. They feed so they can molt, which means they shed their skin in order to grow. Bed bugs will molt several times in their life before darkening and becoming full-size adult bed bugs.
Bed Bug Eggs Appearance
Bed bug eggs look like small, white elongated capsules. They stick to the surfaces on which they’re laid, which allows bed bug eggs to resist the suction of a vacuum cleaner. Are the eggs of bed bugs visible to the naked human eye? Yes, they are, but they’re actually hard to find. These eggs are so small that they’re barely noticeable unless you’re actively looking for them.
Are Bed Bugs Visible To The Human Naked Eye In All Stages?
Yes, bed bugs are visible through all stages of their lives. However, they are small and they’re great hiders, which makes finding them a challenge until a tell-tale sign or two shows up. That’s when you know you have a bed bug infestation to deal with.
Places They Usually Hide
Bed bugs will hide anywhere that’s dark and relatively undisturbed. This could be mattress seams, a box spring, tufts and folds in headboards or other furniture, pillows, hotel room bed frames, behind loose wallpaper, and other similar places. They can even hang out on luggage racks in hotels or towels on the beach. They’re very difficult to avoid, which means that anyone can have a bed bug problem.
They hide in these places so they can be close to humans. At night, when we’re still and quiet in bed, they come out, crawl across the bed, and drink the blood of humans, dogs and cats, and other warm-blooded animals.
Their Size
Generally speaking, the largest bed bug you’ll run into would measure about 7 millimeters long. All of the rest are smaller, which doesn’t help us make the case that bed bugs aren’t invisible and that they can be seen with the naked eye.
Because of their size, it’s hard to find bed bugs since they can hide almost anywhere. Any flat crack, gap, or space behind a baseboard trim molding is ideal for bed bugs. A bed frame, headboard, or nightstand would be the same way. They hide, and sometimes very deeply, they make the act of trying to remove bed bugs extremely frustrating.
What Do Bed Bugs Look Like on a Mattress?
Strangely enough, the most common comparison for bed bugs compares them to food. And while bed bugs are visible to the human eye, their stages look different. So, what do bed bugs look like to the human eye on a mattress? Find out below.
Bed Bug Eggs Are About the Size of a Poppy Seed
Bed bug eggs are much smaller than the typical bed bug nymph or adult. These eggs are similar in size to a poppy seed. The good news is that while they’re small and easy to miss, they’re definitely visible to the human eye.
Nymph Bed Bugs Are About the Size of a Sesame Seed
Nymphs are a bit bigger than their eggs but smaller than adults. And, due to their color, they’re aptly described as the shape and size of a sesame seed. And as anyone who’s ever had a sesame seed stuck in their teeth, these bed bugs are visible to the naked eye.
Adult Bed Bugs: About the Size of an Apple Seed
An adult bed bug, due to its larger size and darkening color, is comparable to an apple seed. Very comparable, actually: They have a similar shape, size, and color as an apple seed, which makes them very easy to see.
Other Insects That Look Like Bed Bugs
Before freaking out because you saw an insect on the mattress, you might just be assuming it’s a bed bug. But, there’s a good chance that it’s not what you think it is. The following are bed bug “look-alikes” that can easily confuse someone who doesn’t know what a bed bug looks like to the human eye.
Baby Cockroach
To be fair, baby cockroaches and bed bugs look a lot alike. They’re small, semi-round, and usually brown or reddish-brown in color. They also haven’t grown their wings yet. However, cockroach antennae are longer than those of bed bugs, and bed bugs are generally much flatter.
Ticks and Chiggers
Another round critter that is often mistaken for a bed bug is a tick or chigger. While there are many types of ticks or chiggers, it’s important to note that none of them are actually bugs, but rather arachnids, with eight legs instead of the standard six. Also, it’s unlikely that a person will catch a bed bug feeding, while ticks can latch on for days and get caught.
Fleas
Fleas don’t really look like bed bugs. Fleas are smaller in size with fewer details (though large fleas are possible). They also have long rear legs and jump, while bed bugs crawl. However, fleas can bite and cause a bit of irritation. For this reason, folks who have fleas in their beds (usually from a pet) might think those flea bites are actually bed bug bites, but that’s not the case. Bed bug bites usually cause much more intense itching than flea bites unless they spur allergic reactions.
Bat Bugs
The differences between bed bugs and bat bugs are so slight that even experts have a hard time telling them apart. Bat bugs have longer hairs on their thoraxes, but who’s looking at that?
Here’s the main difference: bat bugs are usually in close proximity to, you guessed it, bats. They will bite humans if bats aren’t available, but if there aren’t bats in the home, they probably aren’t bat bugs.
Carpet Beetle
This one’s a little strange, as the colors for carpet beetles and bed bugs are totally different, as are their shapes. However, they’re roughly the size of a small bug, so it can be easy enough to mix them up.
Tell Tale Signs Of Bed Bug Infestations At Home
Just as bed bugs aren’t the invisible assassins we make them out to be, they also leave signs that they’re around. The following are some of the most telltale signs of a bed bug infestation.
Bed Bug Bites
The first sign that an infestation is brewing is bed bug bites. These bites cause intense itching and look like small, red bumps along the legs, arms, torso, and shoulders, and they’re usually multiple bites in a straight line.
Dark Stains Found On Mattress
A bed bug bite tends to leave blood stains on the bed sheets. These show up as dark, rust-colored stains in spots correlating with the bite marks. This is one of the most important indicators of an active infestation that folks should look for.
Shed Skin
Bed bugs need human blood, or the blood of other warm-blooded animals, to grow and molt. When they molt, bed bugs leave behind shed skins. When the infestation is minor, the skins can be scattered anywhere (which makes them hard to find). However, as the infestation grows, bed bugs will start to congregate in certain areas, piling up the molted skins in one area.
Egg Shells
Female bed bugs lay eggs, about five to seven a day. Bed bug eggs look similar to grains of salt, and only take one to two weeks to hatch. This leaves behind empty, hardened egg shells on the mattress, the bed frame, or anywhere else around the bedroom.
Bed Bug Excrement
Bed bug excrement is a dead giveaway of bed bug problems. These poops come out as dark liquids and are very easy to see on mattresses, bed frames, headboards, box springs, and other areas. The spots themselves are black in color and look like dots or specs, and they’re usually found many at once in areas where bed bugs hang out.
Bed Bugs Themselves
Obviously, the bed bugs themselves are a pretty good indication of an infestation. Live bed bugs crawling or laying eggs, dead bed bugs, crushed bed bugs, and any other sign of a bed bug warrant a thorough inspection. And it’s not just one room—inspect them all.
What Do Bed Bug Bites Look Like to the Human Eye?
Bedbug bites look like small, raised, red spots. There are usually multiple bites in a row, and they can cause severe itchiness. Victims often scratch these welts and give themselves infections, so it’s best to avoid these pests.
If you are bitten, the best approach is to wash the area with a mild detergent, pat dry, and then apply soothing cream like Benadryl to the bites.
How To Get Rid of Bed Bugs
Bed bugs can be extremely stubborn and hard to find, making them difficult to eradicate. However, there are some tried and true methods.
Consider using a steamer to treat the infestation. Bed bugs can’t survive heat, and those steamers can easily produce temperatures well above 120 degrees. The higher the temperature, the faster the bed bugs die. For more information on bed bug steamers, click here.
Also consider using a bed bug spray. These insecticides will kill bed bugs on contact but also keep them from returning. Used in conjunction with a high-quality steamer, this can be an effective approach for killing these bloodsuckers.
Call A Professional
Once you know the answer to “what do bed bugs look like to the human eye,” you can decide on whether to hire a pest control company. These pros have multiple ways of detecting bed bugs in a home. They also know the most effective methods on how to kill bed bugs. Generally speaking, they use steam to kill bed bugs.
FAQs
What do bed bugs look like to the human eye?
To the human eye, bed bugs resemble apple seeds. They’re a red-brown color, flat, and oval. However, that’s just the adults. The nymphs are smaller and lighter in color.
Can you see bed bugs crawling?
You definitely can see bed bugs crawling if they’re alive. They’ll likely scurry away as soon as the light comes on.
Can you see bed bugs in plain site?
Yes. The adults are larger and darker, therefore they’re easier to see than the small white ones. However, it is possible to see all types of bed bugs—just get familiar with what to look for.
How can I tell if we have bed bugs?
Bed bugs and bed bug eggs are visible, but they are small and difficult to see. Here are some common signs to look for:
- Dark stains on the mattress
- Shed skin
- Bed bug poop
- Bed bug bite marks
