What Do Bed Bugs Look Like? Identification Guide with Pictures

Worried you’ve found a bed bug? This guide shows exactly what bed bugs look like — with photos, descriptions, and also tips to identify them at every stage of life.

What Bed Bugs Look Like

How to Identify a Bed Bug

Adult bed bugs are small, flat, and oval-shaped. Additionally, they are similar in size and shape to an apple seed. They’re reddish-brown and grow darker after feeding. If you spot a tiny insect crawling near your mattress or seams, this guide can help confirm what you’re seeing.

Not sure? Text us a photo or call (289) 828-2298 — we’ll help identify it fast.

What Color Are Bed Bugs?

  • Nymphs (baby bed bugs): Nearly colorless or pale yellow
  • After feeding: Bright red or reddish-brown from blood
  • Adults: Mahogany brown to dark brown
  • Empty shells: Light and translucent (shed exoskeletons)

Baby Bed Bug Color

As bed bugs feed and grow, their color and size also changes. Newly hatched nymphs can be difficult to spot without a flashlight because of their size. Adults are easier to see along mattress seams, baseboards, or behind furniture, although they can be harder to find as well.

Shape and Movement

Bed bugs don’t fly or jump. However, they can crawl slowly and prefer dark hiding spots near where humans sleep. Adults are about 4–5 mm long and also have six legs, a flat body, and a dark line through the center of their abdomen.

After feeding, they also become more rounded and swollen. Their movement is deliberate but not fast like ants or spiders.

Where to Find Bed Bugs

  • Mattress seams and box springs
  • Behind baseboards, picture frames, and headboards
  • Inside cracks in furniture or electrical outlets
  • In zipper folds, clothing seams, and also upholstery

What Bed Bugs Are Often Mistaken For

Bed bugs are commonly confused with:

  • Bat bugs (nearly identical, but need expert ID)
  • Carpet beetles (fuzzy and round, but not flat)
  • Spider beetles (round and shiny)

If you’re unsure, capture a sample in a sealed container or snap a clear photo and send it to us. We offer free identification.

What to Do If You Find a Bed Bug

For photos and identification tips, visit Bed Bug Appearances.

  • ✅
    Secure the bug in a sealed container as evidence.
  • ✅
    Photograph it clearly using natural lighting on your phone.
  • ✅
    Reach out to Green Heat Bed Bugs Exterminators at
    (289) 828-2298
    or book a free inspection.