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January 16, 2020Bed Bugs

What Do Bed Bugs Look Like?

Bed bugs are lean, mean, biting machines, and when left untreated, they can infest almost anything in your home: mattresses, bedding, couches – you name it! The first step in being able to sleep tight without letting the bed bugs bite, is by determining if what you have is a bed bug problem, or if you’re just getting bit by some pesky mosquitoes at night.

What Do Bed Bugs Look Like?

A bed bug’s looks can be deceiving. Because they’re so small and don’t have any distinguishing features, they can easily be dismissed as a different type of small brown bug. In general, an adult bed bug…

• is a reddish-brown color
• has a long, oval-shaped body
• is about the size of an apple seed
• can be flat or round like a balloon, depending on how recently they’ve fed

Other Things to Consider…

Contrary to popular belief, you can’t identify a bug by the appearance of its bite. A bite from a bed bug is extremely similar in appearance to those from chiggers, fleas, and other small insects. Because the bites are so small, they are often confused with various skin conditions such as eczema, hives, and fungal infections.

How to Check for a Bed Bug

Bed bugs are hide-and-seek all-stars. When checking for bed bugs, it’s unlikely that you’ll see the bug itself. Instead, be on the lookout for things that bed bugs leave behind like…

• Rusty/reddish stains on sheets or mattresses
• Dark stains about the size of a pencil point (feces)

Also be sure to carefully inspect other areas of your home where they like to hide, including:

• Mattress seams, piping, zippers, and tags
• Pillows
• Upholstered cushions
• Upholstered bed frames
• Bedside tables
• Electrical outlets

If you think you might have a bed bug problem, don’t panic. Bed bugs may be hide-and-seek all-stars, but our Bug Guys are the professionals. Just give us a ring and we’ll come over to help you identify and control the bed bug problem in your home.