When you spot a small, reddish-brown bug in your home, your first thought might be bed bugs but looks can be deceiving. Several other pests closely resemble bed bugs, making it easy to misidentify them. Understanding the differences between bed bugs and their look-alikes, like bat bugs, booklice, and carpet beetles, can save you time, stress, and money on unnecessary treatments.
So, how do these impostors differ, and how can you tell them apart? Let’s explore the distinct characteristics that set these bugs apart from bed bugs.
#1 Bat Bugs
Of all the names we will cover today, bat bugs resemble bed bugs the most. They look almost identical to the naked eye. Bat bugs get their name due to their reliance on bats and are often found in places where bats roost. You might think you’re dealing with bed bugs, but bat bugs have a few differences. Their primary habitat is near bat colonies, usually in attics or eaves. If bats leave or are removed, bat bugs might migrate to other parts of your home for food.
How To Identify
To identify them, you’ll notice bat bugs have longer fringe hairs on their thorax compared to bed bugs. They also have a slightly different feeding pattern, primarily targeting bats but will bite humans if necessary.
#2 Booklice
Booklice are tiny insects that thrive in humid environments and feed on mold and mildew. You’ll usually find them near books and paper kept in damp areas. They can also be found in areas like bathrooms, basements, or near leaky windows.
How To Identify
Unlike bed bugs, booklice don’t bite or feed on blood. They have soft bodies, are typically pale in color, and measure about 1 to 2 millimeters long. To identify them, look for their distinctive head shape with long antennae and bulging eyes. Reducing humidity and improving ventilation can help eliminate them.
#3 Carpet Beetles
Carpet beetles can cause damage to fabrics and carpets in your home. Unlike bed bugs, they don’t have a single color, they’re usually black with white, yellow, or brown splotches. You’ll typically find them near windowsills, baseboards, and in dark, undisturbed areas. It’s important to note they don’t bite. Adult carpet beetles feed on pollen, while their larvae are the ones responsible for chewing on fabrics, carpets, and furniture.
How To Identify
To identify them, check for their distinctive coloring and the presence of bristly hairs on their larvae.
#4 Spider Beetles
Next is spider beetles. At first glance, these look like they are bed bugs because of their similar, dark-reddish color. These also have a round body and long legs that resemble tiny spiders.
You’ll usually find them in dark, undisturbed areas like attics, basements, and cabinets. Unlike bed bugs, spider beetles are more likely to infest stored food products rather than furniture.
How To Identify
To identify spider beetles, check for their characteristic humpbacked appearance and the presence of fine hairs on their bodies. They’re typically around 1.5 to 3.5 millimeters long.
If you spot one, inspecting areas like kitchens and pantries for contamination is crucial. Cleaning and proper food storage can help prevent infestations. Remember, they’re more of a nuisance than a threat to your home.
#5 Cockroach Nymphs
Switching gears from spider beetles, cockroach nymphs are other common culprits that can be mistaken for bed bugs. These young roaches are small, reddish-brown, and lack wings, making them look quite similar to bed bugs at first glance.
How To Identify
There are key differences to help you identify them. Cockroach nymphs have longer, more segmented bodies and often move faster. They also prefer dark environments like kitchens and bathrooms rather than the beds that bed bugs favor.
#6 Fleas
Homeowners are often confused between fleas and lice. However, these also resemble bed bugs, thanks to their similar size and reddish-brown color. Fleas are more agile and tend to jump, whereas bed bugs crawl.
How To Identify
Look for their flattened bodies that allow them to move swiftly through fur or fibers. You might also notice bites around your ankles, as fleas often target the lower parts of your body. Check your pets for signs of flea infestation, as these attach them to animal fur the most.
Also Read: Distinguishing Between Fleas and Lice: A Homeowner’s Guide
#7 Ticks
Spotting ticks can be tricky since they often latch onto skin and hide in hard-to-see areas. Ticks are small, flat, and oval-shaped, making them easy to mistake for bed bugs. Unlike bed bugs, ticks have eight legs and are arachnids, not insects. You’ll usually find them outdoors in grassy or wooded areas, waiting to attach to a host.
How To Identify
Ticks have a leathery body and swell significantly when engorged with blood. If you find a tick on your skin, use tweezers to grasp it as close to the skin’s surface as possible and pull upward with steady pressure to remove it.
To know more, read: 5 Tick Sprays for Your Yard In 2024 That Are Safe & Effective
#8 Swallow Bugs
Now, let’s look at swallow bugs, which also look like bed bugs and can cause similar issues in homes. Swallow bugs are often found in bird nests, particularly those of swallows. If birds nest near your home, there’s a chance these bugs might invade. Like bed bugs, swallow bugs feed on blood, and their bites can cause itching and irritation.
How To Identify
They’re slightly smaller than bed bugs and have a more elongated body. You’ll notice they’ve fine hairs covering their bodies, which bed bugs lack.
#9 Head Lice
We already covered a different type of lice above, but there are several types and all of them can cause damage. Next on our list is head lice. These are small, wingless insects that infest the scalp and feed on blood. These pesky creatures are usually found on the scalp, behind the ears, and near the neckline. They don’t infest bedding or furniture like bed bugs do.
How To Identify
Look for tiny, white eggs (nits) glued to hair, which bed bugs don’t produce. Head lice cause intense itching and may lead to sores from scratching.
Use a fine-toothed comb to check for lice and nits, and consider over-the-counter treatments specifically designed for lice removal.
#10 Mites
Unlike head lice, mites are microscopic arachnids that can infest both humans and animals, often causing itching and skin irritation. You can’t see them with the naked eye, but their presence can be felt. Mites burrow into the skin, leading to conditions like scabies in humans.
How To Identify
If you notice intense itching, especially at night, and tiny red bumps or blisters, mites could be the culprit. To identify a mite infestation, look for rashes or track marks on the skin. A dermatologist can confirm the diagnosis with a skin scraping.
Want To Get Rid Of Bed Bugs? We Can Help!
So whether you have bedbugs or any other kind of bugs that look like bed bugs, it’s better to get rid of them as soon as possible.
At Jamison Pest and Lawn, we make sure that pests stay out of your home with our best-in-industry pest control services. Contact us today at (901) 452-1505 to book an appointment.
