Adult bed bug shown on person's hand for size comparison.

Bed bugs are hard to identify because they are similar in appearance to many other smaller insects. They are especially similar looking to their close relative, the bat bug. If you have collected a bug you suspect is a bed bug, keep it for your PCO (Pest Control Operator) for verification. Alternatively, you may post a picture of the bug (use a macro setting on your camera – the flower icon – for good quality close shots) on our forums for identification.

In the picture below, some bed bugs are longer than others because they have recently fed on blood. The feeding engorges their entire bodies, leaving them looking like almost an entirely different insect. Also note the difference in appearance between the fed and unfed bed bug nymphs – the transparent coloring allows us to see the richer red of the blood. It is never easy to quickly identify a bed bug, as they vary in appearance depending on when you observed them in their life cycle. Hopefully the picture above can guide you along in identification.

Bed bugs and their various sizes for comparison. Adults grow to 4-5 mm long and 1-3 mm wide. (Click to enlarge.

Bed bugs come in many different sizes, as they have 5 different stages in their life cycle, requiring a molt each time they evolve.

A bat bug is similar in size and appearance to bed bugs, a close relative.

Bed bug adults are close in size to the seeds of a jalapeño pepper (nearly exact). I have also heard some individuals compare bed bugs to the size of an apple seed, although I would venture to say that is a bit bigger than a bed bug.

Bed bug adults are close in size to that of the seeds in a jalapeño pepper.

Also see this related post, showing bed bugs measured against a 1 centimeter measurement.

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