Bed bugs are among the most infamous pests out there.
These parasites are notoriously adaptable and very difficult to detect (even when a severe infestation is present).
This gallery contains a variety of images of active bed bugs, bites, bed bug eggs, and signs of infestation. There are also comparisons between bed bugs and similar-looking insects to help you understand how to identify bed bugs accurately.
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- Bed Bug Bite Scars
- Bed Bug Shed Skin
Bed Bugs Are Reddish-brown in Color
Bed bugs have a distinct color. After a feeding,...
Bed Bugs Are Reddish-brown in Color Bed bugs have a distinct color. After a feeding, they may appear darker due to the undigested blood inside them.
Bed Bugs Are Only ¼ of an Inch Long
Bed bugs are smaller than the size of a...
Bed Bugs Are Only ¼ of an Inch Long Bed bugs are smaller than the size of a penny. Their small stature makes them difficult (but not impossible) to spot with the naked eye.
Small bed bug on human hand
Here is a picture of a bed bug on...
Small bed bug on human hand Here is a picture of a bed bug on somebody's hand.
Bed bug sizes during stages of feeding
This is a timelapse of a bed bug during...
Bed bug sizes during stages of feeding This is a timelapse of a bed bug during a feeding session. The more blood a bed bug drinks, the longer it grows.
Bed Bug eggs to adulthood
Bed bugs go through several larval stages before reaching...
Bed Bug eggs to adulthood Bed bugs go through several larval stages before reaching adulthood. They typically mature after 5 weeks.
Active Infestation on Bed Frame
Bed frames are one place where bed bugs typically...
Active Infestation on Bed Frame Bed frames are one place where bed bugs typically gather. They’ll also hide in box springs, mattresses and pillows.
Bed Bugs in a Sink
Pictured here are bed bugs in a sink. Since...
Bed Bugs in a Sink Pictured here are bed bugs in a sink. Since they can’t swim, drowning bed bugs is one way to get rid of kill a small number of these insects.
Bed Bug Found Outside in Dormant Stage
Bed bugs are also vulnerable to cold temperatures. Frequent...
Bed Bug Found Outside in Dormant Stage Bed bugs are also vulnerable to cold temperatures. Frequent exposure will force them into diapause, a state similar to hibernation.
Bed Bug Droppings
Bed bug droppings appear as black specks. Fecal matter...
Bed Bug Droppings Bed bug droppings appear as black specks. Fecal matter on bedding is one of the most common signs of bed bug activity.
Fecal Matter on a Mattress
Here are some bed bug droppings on an infested...
Fecal Matter on a Mattress Here are some bed bug droppings on an infested mattress. If the bedding isn’t properly washed, bed bug droppings will eventually leave permanent stains.
Bed Bug Eggs
Bed bug eggs are translucent in color. Commonly found...
Bed Bug Eggs Bed bug eggs are translucent in color. Commonly found alongside adults, a female bed bug can lay over 500 eggs in its lifetime.
Active Infestation Under The Bed Frame
Note the size of the eggs compared to the...
Active Infestation Under The Bed Frame Note the size of the eggs compared to the adult bed bug. Eggs can be as small as 0.1 inches in length--that’s smaller than a pinhead!
Blood Specks on Pillow Case
Humans can crush bed bugs while they are sleeping....
Blood Specks on Pillow Case Humans can crush bed bugs while they are sleeping. The remains of the bed bugs appear as dried blood stains on sheets and pillowcases.
Many Bloodstains on Sheets
Here are some additional bloodstains on hotel bedsheets. The...
Many Bloodstains on Sheets Here are some additional bloodstains on hotel bedsheets. The insides of pillows are a favorite hiding spot for bed bugs.
Bed Bug Crushed in a Tissue
Notice how fresh the bloodstains are on this tissue....
Bed Bug Crushed in a Tissue Notice how fresh the bloodstains are on this tissue. This indicates that the bed bugs had recently fed before they died.
A Faded Bloodstain on a Mattress
Here is a major stain on a Nashville apartment...
A Faded Bloodstain on a Mattress Here is a major stain on a Nashville apartment mattress caused by repeated exposure to bed bugs. Mattress covers can prevent these types of stains.
Large cluster of Bites on a Woman's Back
Bed bug bites appear as red-colored welts. They are...
Large cluster of Bites on a Woman's Back Bed bug bites appear as red-colored welts. They are commonly found on the upper torso.
Bed Bug Scarring From a Previous Infestation
Bite marks appear several hours after a bed bug...
Bed Bug Scarring From a Previous Infestation Bite marks appear several hours after a bed bug bites someone. The bug injects proteins into the human bloodstream which prevent an immediate reaction. For some skin types, bed bug bites can cause long-term scarring.
Aggravated Bites From Excessive Scratching
Itching a bed bug bite can aggravate the wound....
Aggravated Bites From Excessive Scratching Itching a bed bug bite can aggravate the wound. This lengthens the healing process and can potentially create scarring or an infection.
Ticks (left), Bed Bugs (Right)
Bed bugs can be commonly confused for ticks. One...
Ticks (left), Bed Bugs (Right) Bed bugs can be commonly confused for ticks. One difference is that bed bugs are true insects (they have 6 legs), while ticks are arachnids (they have 8 legs, like spiders).
Bed Bug Bites (Left), Tick Bites (Right)
Bed bug bites are also smaller, and may form...
Bed Bug Bites (Left), Tick Bites (Right) Bed bug bites are also smaller, and may form a zig-zag pattern. Tick bites are the opposite, taking the appearance of a single bite mark resembling a bullseye.
Bed Bugs (Left), Fleas (Right)
Bed bugs are commonly mistaken for Fleas. While bed...
Bed Bugs (Left), Fleas (Right) Bed bugs are commonly mistaken for Fleas. While bed bugs bite the upper torso, fleas typically bite the legs and lower body.
Bed Bug Bites Vs Flea Bites
Flea bites are harder to distinguish from bed bug...
Bed Bug Bites Vs Flea Bites Flea bites are harder to distinguish from bed bug bites, but there are differences. Bed bug bites are slightly larger, while flea bites are smaller and more clustered together.
Bed Bug Bites (Left), Mosquito Bites (Right)
It’s easier to tell a bed bug bite from...
Bed Bug Bites (Left), Mosquito Bites (Right) It’s easier to tell a bed bug bite from a mosquito bite. Mosquito bites are usually one large mark, and don’t form patterns like bed bug bites do.
Bed Bugs on the Foot of the Mattress
Here is an inspector at a 4-star hotel showing...
Bed Bugs on the Foot of the Mattress Here is an inspector at a 4-star hotel showing an active infestation at the foot of the hotel mattress. You can see 4 - 5 active bed bugs living at the foot of the mattress.
Severe Infestation on Staircase
This picture depicts a severe infestation on a wooden...
Severe Infestation on Staircase This picture depicts a severe infestation on a wooden staircase in a Nashville home. You can see bed bugs in all lifestages, indicating that this is not a new infestation.
Bites on the Legs of a Child
This picture shows bed bug bites up and down...
Bites on the Legs of a Child This picture shows bed bug bites up and down the legs of a small child
Bed Bug Droppings Around The Couch Cushions
Bed bug droppings look like small black/brown dots that...
Bed Bug Droppings Around The Couch Cushions Bed bug droppings look like small black/brown dots that can occur in high numbers depending on the volume of an infestation.
Bed Bugs Within the Walls
Here we can see a medium to severe infestation...
Bed Bugs Within the Walls Here we can see a medium to severe infestation that has gotten within the walls of a home. Due to their small size, bed bugs can travel through cracks within the walls to hide between meals.
Close Up of 2 Adult Bed bugs
Here are 2 adult bed bugs that were found...
Close Up of 2 Adult Bed bugs Here are 2 adult bed bugs that were found within the couch that was for sale at a used furniture store in Chicago.
Bed Bug on Carpet
Close-up photo of an adult bed bug spotted on...
Bed Bug on Carpet Close-up photo of an adult bed bug spotted on the floor of a living room in a New York home.
Severe infestation on Dirty Motel Mattress
This picture depicts a mattress that contains a fully...
Severe infestation on Dirty Motel Mattress This picture depicts a mattress that contains a fully mature, and very severe infestation of over 300 bed bugs.
Multiple bed bug bites on legs
This photo depicts an individual who woke up with...
Multiple bed bug bites on legs This photo depicts an individual who woke up with multiple bed bug bites on the upper parts of their legs.
Baby Bed Bug on Skin
This is a baby bed bug that is in...
Baby Bed Bug on Skin This is a baby bed bug that is in the middle of feeding on someone's skin
Bed Bug Engorged with Blood
This is a close-up depiction of a bed bug...
Bed Bug Engorged with Blood This is a close-up depiction of a bed bug after a meal. After bed bugs feed, they take on a red tint and balloon up in size.
Signs of Bed Bugs on a Mattress
Here you can see signs of bed bugs on...
Signs of Bed Bugs on a Mattress Here you can see signs of bed bugs on the side of a bed and alongside the bed frame. This includes bed bug shed skin, eggs, and excrement, along with living bed bugs.
Fully Grown Adult Bed Bug
Here is a closeup image of a full-size mature...
Fully Grown Adult Bed Bug Here is a closeup image of a full-size mature bed bug on a white carpet.
Multiple Bed Bug Bites
This depicts a woman who experienced bed bug bites...
Multiple Bed Bug Bites This depicts a woman who experienced bed bug bites in her home. She has over 25 bites on her back as a result of bed bugs.
Small child with bed bug bites on arm
This photo depicts a 2-year-old child who has 5...
Small child with bed bug bites on arm This photo depicts a 2-year-old child who has 5 large bites on his arm. A couple of these bites became inflamed as a result of an allergic reaction.
Bed bug bites and scarring
A middle-aged man who has multiple bed bug bites...
Bed bug bites and scarring A middle-aged man who has multiple bed bug bites and scarring from old bites
Scratching irritated bites
A 5 year old girl actively scratching bites on...
Scratching irritated bites A 5 year old girl actively scratching bites on her legs
Dog with multiple bed bug bites
Close up of dog with multiple bites within his...
Dog with multiple bed bug bites Close up of dog with multiple bites within his fur
Bed bug rash on dog
Small dog with a severe rash from bed bug...
Bed bug rash on dog Small dog with a severe rash from bed bug bites
Dog lethargic from bed bug rash
Dog sleeping after receiving medication from severe bed bug...
Dog lethargic from bed bug rash Dog sleeping after receiving medication from severe bed bug bites
Mattress Encasement
Women putting a bed bug encasement on the mattress
Mattress Encasement Women putting a bed bug encasement on the mattress
Bed Bugs Under the Blanket
Man lifting the blanket at a 4-star hotel and...
Bed Bugs Under the Blanket Man lifting the blanket at a 4-star hotel and seeing a bed bug crawling underneath
Bed Bug Releasing Droppings
Bed bug excreting droppings onto a carpeted floor
Bed Bug Releasing Droppings Bed bug excreting droppings onto a carpeted floor
Bed Bug Nest
Bed bug eggs featured in a nest that contains...
Bed Bug Nest Bed bug eggs featured in a nest that contains bed bugs in all life stages (eggs, nymph adult)
Bed Bug bite Scars on a Victim's Ankle
This photo depicts bed bug scars from a victim...
Bed Bug bite Scars on a Victim's Ankle This photo depicts bed bug scars from a victim that suffered a 6 month long bed bug infestation in their room in a large assisted living facility
Bed Bug Bites Found in Dog's Fur
This photo shows some very small bed bug bites...
Bed Bug Bites Found in Dog's Fur This photo shows some very small bed bug bites that were found within the fur of a fluffy dog
Bed Bug Bites vs. Flea Bites
4 bed bug bites on the left and a...
Bed Bug Bites vs. Flea Bites 4 bed bug bites on the left and a multitude of flea bites on someone's ankle on the right
The first step in eliminating a bed bug infestation is to educate yourself about these pests.
This photo gallery contains the basic essentials of how to identify bed bugs, but there’s still so much to learn about these parasitic pests.
If you’re ever in a situation where bed bugs have infiltrated your home, it’s common to ask yourself the following questions:
How long do bed bugs live?
Do bed bugs go away on their own?
Is it safe to remove bed bugs myself?
For all the answers, check out our blog.
There, you’ll find in-depth articles about bed bugs, ways to identify them, and methods of removing these creatures from your home.
The blog also includes information on pursuing legal action related to bed bugs. If you’re wondering whether or not you can sue for damages caused by bed bugs…
You can request a free consultation in less than 60 seconds.
