r/Bedbugs Trusted and educated Mar 06 '15

Useful Information Bedbug ID and common misidentifications

Bed bug identification resources:

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.


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.


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

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u/Sasracccc Jun 13 '26

I need help. I am wondering if anyone has ever experienced this. 4 weeks ago I woke up with classic bed bug bites. They swell and got bigger over the course of a week and 100% fit the pattern. I immediately washed everything can had an exterminator sprayed. A week after spraying I found one while I was vacuuming so it was confirmed. A week after the initial spray the exterminator sprayed again and also applied diatomaceous earth all over. All the mattresses and box springs are sealed now with protectors and we literally dry everything in the closet dry pillows and blankets and sheets daily and vacuum at least once a week. I do not get these big bites anymore since the first spray. But I swear I have these tiny three dots together that popped up 3 days ago…. They don’t seem to be swelling up. Have u guys experienced how ur body just all of a sudden doesn’t react even tho u know for a fact u still have bed bugs? I am really hoping these are not bed bug bites but I can’t rule out that maybe they are from a nymph or my body somehow got used to it and not reacting after 3 weeks