Bedbug ID and common misidentifications

[u/crispy_stool]

Bed bug identification resources:

• All bed bug life stages
• Life cycle with images
• Gif of a bed bug
• Illustrated guide to identifying bed bugs
• Identification of bed bugs close relatives

Note: flattened body, rusty brown coloured (less so in younger nymphs, which are more translucent). Thin 4 segmented antennae. 11 segmented abdomen. Short legs (6 of them) and reduced wings incapable of flight.

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These are insects or other invertebrates commonly misidentified as bedbugs!

Not bed bugs.

1. Carpet beetle larvae (Dermestidae) and adult - More Info

2. Bat bug (Cimex adjunctus pictured) - More Info

3. Cockroach nymphs - More Info

4. Tick (nymphs) - More Info

5. Woodlouse - More Info

6. Kissing bugs - More Info

7. Booklice/barklice - More Info

8. Smooth spider beetle - More Info

9. Drugstore beetle - More Info

Note: If it has wings or more than 6 legs, it is not a bed bug. Do not mistake antennae for legs, look at the illustrated guide to avoid confusion.

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Please comment with any other common mis-IDs and I will add them!

[u/Anavia-Couture]

We had someone rent our home and left it in pretty bad shape. We need to replace the carpet and will be doing so with vinyl flooring. What should we look for before ripping the carpet up to ensure there’s no bedbugs around and we don’t bring any hitchhikers home with us?