What does a baby bed bug look like, and how big is a bed bug?

10 Signs you may have bed bugs.

Do you remember way back when the saying, “sleep tight, don’t let the bedbugs bite” was just one of those sweet bedtime expressions that people said but they didn’t really mean anything at all? Well, unfortunately, those idyllic old days are long gone and nearly forgotten. Yes, after 60 years or so of living mostly bed bug-free, the US faces a nationwide infestation of bedbugs everywhere. Over the last few years alone, bed bug infestations have risen by 500% and aren’t limited to dirty “fleabag” hotels anymore. There are now swarms of them at 5-star hotels across the country and in the public places that you frequent every day. The bed bug epidemic is affecting small businesses and everything from movie theaters to clothing stores, even subway cars as they inch closer to your home.

Understanding and familiarizing yourself with the early warning signs of bed bugs is very important if you suspect your house has been invaded by them. So, we’re going to delve deeply into the subject and tell you everything you need to know about bed bugs before they have a chance to infiltrate your happy home, starting with a basic outline of what they are and then continuing on with what their bite marks look like.

Bedbug Basics

What are they, and how big is a bed bug? And what do baby bed bugs look like? Bed Bugs are actually parasites that feed on human blood. The adult bed bug is around 1/8″ to 1/4″ or 4-7 mm. The common bedbug is a member of the cimicid family and its technical name is “Cimex lectularius”. During their lifetime, they can lay more than 500 eggs at the rate of five eggs per day. A bed bug’s eggs hatch in approximately six to ten days, and its babies are known as “nymphs” and look more like tiny grains of rust-colored or black sand resembling pepper or flaxseeds, and are not easy to see or identify. Once hatched they start to seek blood to feed on. Our body temperature and, even more so, our carbon dioxide exhalation attract them.

 

 

1. Bite Marks

What do bed bug bites look like? Bed bug bites are characterized by small, red bumps that are itchy and swollen. The bites can appear in random patterns or as single bites. Bed bug bites alone, however, are not enough to diagnose a bed bug infestation, according to the majority of pest control professionals. And, since the bites can cause different reactions in different people, it’s very difficult to distinguish them from other insect bites.

In some couples, the bedbug bites were reported to be occurring only on one partner. However, the truth is that they’re both actually being bitten, but only one of them is having a reaction to the bites. More than 30% of people don’t react at all to bed bug bites, and the elderly are even less reactive. And, the majority of people who do react to the bites don’t react to any early bites but may develop a sensitivity to later bites. Some people may not even know that they have bed bugs if they’re not sensitive to their bites.

In general, bed bug bites do not carry any known diseases and are not dangerous. Bed bugs’ saliva, however, may cause allergic reactions in some people. Individuals who experience blisters, fever, flu-like symptoms, painful swelling, or severe itchiness after being bitten should err on the side of caution by seeking medical attention.

 To recap what bed bug bites look like, and where they’re usually found:

• They’re generally small, itchy, red bumps
• They mysteriously appear at night
• They commonly occur on the arms, legs, and hands

 

2. Blood Stains

To find out if the stains on your clothes, sheets, or pillow are caused by a cut or scab, first, check your body to find a possible source. However, be prepared for the fact that there might have been a bed bug (or several) behind that bloodstain if there is no other explanation. Bed bug bites themselves can also cause bloodstains and here’s why. Blood clots are prevented from forming during a bed bug’s feeding frenzy by an anticoagulant contained in its saliva. And, it may take a short time for the bitten areas to stop bleeding after they finish their meal. Another cause of those blood stains could be a bed bug that just finished feeding and then was crushed or squeezed if you moved suddenly or shifted your body in your sleep. Even though it usually doesn’t kill them (unfortunately), some of their blood can leak out and leave a noticeable stain. Either way, it’s time to get proactive about getting rid of them asap.

 To recap what bed bug stains look like:

• Strange black, red, or rust-colored stains
• Look like small smears on pillows, sheets, or clothes
• Often grouped along mattress or pillow seams

 

3. Fecal Matter or Droppings

People ask about what it looks like and often ask, “what does bed bug poop look like?” The spots on your bed may look like clusters of tiny dots. After drying, the droppings will no longer be red since they contain digested blood. There will be dark spots, like rust-colored dots or black spots. They’re usually quite a bit smaller and darker than the bloodstains left behind by bed bugs, resembling little ink spots.

Since they contain iron from human blood, they often have a slightly rusty odor, further contributing to the unpleasant nature of bed bug infestations. In addition to box springs, baseboards, curtains, headboards, mattresses, pajamas, pillows, sheets, walls, and other surfaces, bed bug fecal spotting can occur anywhere. And, in the areas where bed bugs hide, you’re likely to find them in large numbers. Fecal marks left by bed bugs on fabrics can be quite difficult to remove and water just seems to make them smear.

 To recap what does bed bug poop look like:

• Look like little black or dark brown spots
• Generally clustered around areas that harbor the bugs and also on clothes and sheets.
• The dark smears are hard to wash out and can look like magic marker stains once the fabric is washed

 

4. Live Bed Bugs

If bed bugs aren’t feeding or pregnant females trying to avoid the amorous males, they usually don’t like to wander around out in the open. In fact, they don’t really venture out of hiding unless it’s feeding time. They typically like finding a good hiding place and sticking to it. It is therefore not unusual for people to never see a live bed bug until there is a serious infestation. The only way to detect live bed bugs is usually to disturb their hiding places, like when you pack up for a move.

It’s not uncommon for other insects to be confused with bedbugs and vice versa. I often get asked, how big are bed bugs, another common misconception is that they’re as big as apple seeds but they’re actually much smaller than that. Picture this. It’s estimated that the average length of an apple seed is around 8mm, while the average length of an adult bed bug is around 1/8″ to 3/16″ or 4-5mm. The exception is that when bed bugs become engorged with your blood, they could reach up to 7 mm, albeit temporarily. Bed bug nymphs tend to be smaller at about 1 mm long and therefore they just look like little specks or bits of ground pepper.

 To recap what do bed bugs look like to the naked eye?

• Easily confused with carpet beetles or other small insects
• Small, reddish-brown, and about the size of a flaxseed
• Generally found hiding in tight areas like small cracks or in mattress seams

 

5. Casings or Shells

Abandoned shell casings (aka shed skins or husks) are a reliable early sign of a growing bed bug infestation. In fact, bed bug infestations are often detected early on by sightings of abandoned shell casings. It’s common for bed bugs to shed their exoskeleton several times as they go through 5 stages of their lifecycle before becoming adults.

I often get asked, “what do bed bug shells look like?” They look like translucent outlines of juvenile bed bugs that are hollow and are quite often easier to locate than the actual bed bugs. They’re usually found anywhere that bed bugs breed and hatch, so be sure to check the cracks and crevices of wooden furniture as well as seams in upholstered furniture and mattress. Therefore, if you are already suspicious regarding bed bugs and you find some of their shells in some of the usual hiding places, then it just might be time to call your local professional pest control company.

 To recap what do bed bug shells look like:

• The translucent exoskeletons of juveniles and yellowish-brown in color
• Various sizes are present during bed bugs’ molting cycles
• Are reliable indicators that you have a bed bug infestation

 

6. Eggs

A bed bug egg is about 1 millimeter long, pearly white, and oval. Their size resembles that of a tiny pinhead-sized grain of rice. You can see them with your naked eye, but you might have trouble recognizing them without knowing what you’re looking for.

The baby bed bugs come out of a hinged cap at the end of each egg. Pregnant females lay somewhere between 1 and 7 eggs a day and they typically hatch in approximately 7 to 10 days. The eggs are attached to surfaces using a glue-like material that she produces. In most cases, these tiny white eggs will be found loosely attached to wood or fabrics, but they could really be anywhere. Much like fecal matter spots, the eggs are commonly found around the bed bugs’ hiding places.

On the other hand, it’s entirely possible for pregnant females to wander around, infesting other areas, which can include neighboring apartments. So, if you hear that one of your neighbors has bed bugs, you should be vigilant to prevent an infestation of your own.

 To recap what do bed bug eggs look like:

• Generally found on or near beds and other areas
• Look like small white ovals approximately 1 mm in length
• Stick to a variety of surfaces

 

7. Odor

The smell can often be the first indication that something isn’t right. A musty smell that pops up in your bedroom and doesn’t come from something obvious, like a pile of dirty laundry, might be an early sign of bed bugs. A bed bug’s alarm pheromones are released when it is bothered or threatened, and they produce a specific smell that is sometimes sweet or musty. However, the smell is normally very faint and practically imperceptible to humans.

Bed bug pheromones get mixed up with the smells of dead bed bugs, shell casings, and bedbug poop when a large number of bed bugs live together. This causes an unpleasant, rusty smell that increases with the severity of the infestation.

It’s important to note that, compared to all of the other early signs that you have bed bugs, the odor is generally the least reliable simply because only a few bed bugs will result in an odor level that’s generally too faint to be noticed. And, even if you were to detect an infestation, you’re likely to mistake the smell for something else, since most people don’t know the scent of bed bugs.

 To recap what does bed bugs smell like:

• An unusually musty odor that has no apparent cause
• More serious bed bug infestation can smell like moldy laundry, rust, or wet towels
• Bed bug pheromones by themselves have been compared to the scent of almonds, cilantro, coriander, or raspberries

 

8. If you’ve recently traveled to a hotel, or motel, or stayed with friends or relatives.

Traveling should be enjoyable so don’t let bed bugs ruin the experience by hitchhiking a ride home on your luggage or clothes. Staying in hotels can be risky these days with the prevalence of bed bug infestations and, of course, any hotel worth its salt will take proper precautions to protect their guests from these nasty little critters. But still, you need to be proactive as well to ensure that, if any bed bugs were present where you were staying, you don’t give them a free ride to home sweet home.

For starters, never put your luggage on the bed or the floor where bed bugs can easily enter. Check mattress and pillow seams for bed bug poop and other evidence of an infestation and ask for another room if you’re in a hotel or motel. If you’re staying with friends or relatives, point it out to them, (although it’s a bit embarrassing). Then with their help, spray or steam the areas in question.

Hang your clothes in the closet rather than laying them on the bed and bag your pajamas in plastic bags after wearing them and before putting them back in your luggage. Spraying the contents with rubbing alcohol can also help ensure you don’t take any bed bugs home with you. And, if you possibly can, steam everything when you get home before taking it into the house. One of the best practices is to have a bedbug heater which is a steam box available on Amazon and put everything in it (even the clothes you’re wearing if possible) and steam it thoroughly. If you travel a lot, this could be a very good investment for you.

 

9. If your friends, relatives, child’s playmate at school, or neighbors have recently had bed bugs.

When it comes to how bed bugs can be transferred from one person to another, the first question most people ask is “Do Bed Bugs Fly?” Fortunately, they don’t but they do jump quite well. There’s a well known physician and TV personality, who dedicated an entire show a while back to bed bugs and how they can jump from the sweater of one person to the shoulder, head, or anywhere else on the body of another. And, as for kids, once head lice were a problem for little kids to pass on to their friends whereas now it’s bedbugs. They hitch a ride on your child and, before you know it, they’re infesting your home. So, no, they don’t crawl or fly but they do jump, so beware of jumping bed bugs at all times.

 

10. How to find bed bugs during the day, and what bed bugs look like to the naked eye.

When looking for bed bugs people always want to know, how big are bed bugs. I generally refer to them as a flattened apple seed for comparison. You can identify bed bugs by their unusual oval shape and their rusty red or black color.  When people ask what to look for during the day, or what do baby bed bugs look like, (aka nymphs,) I often describe the baby bed bugs as flaxseed, or black pepper. They often hide in small spaces so you might not even see them but if they’re there, they will only multiply and become an even bigger infestation if they’re not stopped. Arm yourself with a spray bottle of rubbing alcohol and, if you see any, spray them generously with it. It kills on contact but will not provide any residual protection. Your best bet for that is a professional pest control service. Whatever you do, don’t use bug bombs that are meant for other kinds of bugs. They don’t work and will only spread the infestation to other rooms or to your neighbors.

 Here’s a recap on how to find bed bugs and what bed bugs look like to the naked eye:

• Small, reddish-brown, and about the size of a small flattened apple seed for adults
• Small rust color, to black, and about the size of and resembling  flaxseed or pepper for the the babies
• Generally found hiding in tight areas like small cracks or in mattress seams
• Bugs that may look like other bugs at first
• A flat oval shape prior to feeding on blood
• Easily confused with carpet beetles or other small insects

 Where to find bed bugs during the day:

Look for bed bugs, bed bug babies, and signs that you have an infestation as outlined above, and some of the more common places to for them to hide can include:

• Mattresses, check along the seams and underneath as well
• Pillows and pillowcases
• Comforters
• Pet beds
• Upholstered furniture
• Rugs
• Stuffed kids, dog, and cat toys
• Blankets
• Cracks and crevice
• Electronics
• Electrical outlets

For a more in depth look at how to find Bed Bugs during the day see below.

Are you worried you may have BED BUGS, or what nasty disease, bacteria, and organisms they may be leaving around your home? Are you worried the reason you may not be feeling well all the time is because you have, or may have bed bugs in your home?

For FREE DIY Home Remedy Bed Bug Bug Spray Formula, CLICK HERE to get your free download!

If you would like some in-depth, educational information about the bed bug you can check out Wikipedia and Bed Bug here.

If you would like to view and up close and personal picture of what do bed bugs look like, you can check one out here.