Bed Bug Identification

People often confuse bedbugs with other pests, so we have created this identification page to help you determine if you have bedbugs – If you still aren’t sure after reviewing our page, give us a call at 604-854-2847 and we’ll send one of our experienced technicians to identify the pest in your home.

Bed Bug Eggs & Juvenile Bed Bugs

Bed Bug Eggs: Eggs are very very small. They are about the size of a grain of salt, or a pinhead, and they are pearl white in colour. If they are more than 5 days old, a black spot marking the eye will be visible.

Juvenile Bed Bugs (Nymphs): In their nymph stages, bed bugs range from 2-5 mm in length, and are a white-yellowish colour. A juvenile bedbug has to feed to move from one nymph stage to another, and after feeding they will have a bright red translucent abdomen. As the nymph digests its meal, its abdomen will fade to brown and then back to black.

Adult Bed Bugs

Adult bedbugs are flat and oval and can be dark yellow, red, or brown. They have 6 legs and 2 antennae but do not have any wings. Adults are around 5mm long, which is about the same size as an apple seed. However, their size increases after feeding.

Top Photo: Adult male (left) & adult female (right)

The shape and size of an adult bed bug change based on whether it has had a blood meal or not. The photo shows the difference in size based on how long the bed bug has been feeding

Juvenile bedbugs cannot reach the reproductive stage without a blood meal, so preventing them from biting can help slow down the infestation by starving them. However, bedbugs can go several days or months without food, and adult bedbugs can go a year without feeding.

Bed Bug Bites

We know that sometimes you haven’t seen bed bugs, but you spend your mornings counting all the new bites you have, so we’ve included this section to help you figure out if those bites you see are from bed bugs.

About Bed Bug Bites

• You won’t feel it right away, bed bugs eject a small amount of anesthetic before feeding
• Become noticeably red and swollen, but it may take a few days before this occurs
• Multiple bites often appear in a line or cluster
• Bites are usually itchy
• Bed bugs can bite anywhere, but usually do so along exposed skin, such as the face, neck, arms, and hands
• If you wear pajamas, bed bugs will often bite along the line of the pajamas
• Bites don’t generally get puffy, instead, they get hard, even when inflamed
• Bites are generally under 12 mm

Bed Bug Bite Look-A-Likes

Mosquito Bite vs Bed Bug Bite

Similarities: Both bites can be itchy, and appear swollen.

Differences: Mosquito bites are more likely to be sporadic, whereas bed bugs will bite in a line or cluster. Bed bug bites will be hard, but mosquito bites are puffy and pale in the middle.

Spider Bite vs Bed Bug Bite

Similarities: Both bites can be itchy, and appear swollen.

Differences: Spiders generally only bite once, whereas bed bugs will bite multiple times. With spider bites, you’ll be able to see the entry point of the fangs. Bed bugs generally bite at night, and spiders bite at any time.

Flea Bite vs Bed Bug Bite

Similarities: Both bites can be itchy, red, and in will appear clusters.

Differences: Fleas generally only bite the lower half of your body or warm, moist areas such as around joints. Common areas for fleas to bite are the legs, feet, armpits, knees, and elbows. Bed bugs are more likely to bite hands, arms, neck, and face. Flea bites are smaller with a noticeable point in the middle.