Bed Bugs


In This Article:

Appearance / Identification

What Do Bed Bugs Look Like?

bed bugs next to each other
crawling on arm

An adult bed bug is small and wingless, with flat, reddish-brown bodies shaped like ovals and measures about 1/5 inch long (7 mm) and 1/8 inch wide (about 4 mm). They are roughly the size of a kernel of corn or an apple seed (when engorged with blood).

The parasitic insects expand greatly and turn a reddish color after feeding, a direct result of the blood they consume to survive. Nymphs are smaller and lighter in color.

Bed bugs can be easily detected against the typical whites of bed sheets and mattress pad covers. Nymphs, on the other hand, measure at most 1 and 1/4 mm and are clear or off-white in color, which makes them considerably harder to detect.

Bed bug bodies feature three legs on each side and two antennae above a pair of small eyes.

General Information

Although once greatly reduced in developed countries, bed bugs once again present a growing problem to urbanized nations particularly in densely populated areas. The common bed bug, scientific name, Cimex lectularius L., is prevalent throughout the world but thrives in crowded regions with apartment complexes, hotels, public housing, and other buildings where people sleep collectively. The recent surge in bed bug infestations is largely attributed to the growing popularity and ease of international travel. Other common names for the bed bug include the mahagony flat and red coat.

Habits / Habitat

When Do They Feed?
Bed bugs are nocturnal creatures that emerge at night to feed.

Where Do They Hide?
During the day, the pests take refuge in a variety of places. Small, flat bodies enable the insects to hide in:

  • bed frames
  • headboards
  • box springs
  • mattress seams
  • cracks in walls
  • crevices in floors

The insects often hide in briefcases, clothes, luggage, purses, or other objects scattered near beds, making it easy for travelers to unwittingly carry the bugs from one location to another.

How Do They Get Around?
Unable to fly, bed bugs can nonetheless move rapidly across bedroom ceilings, floors, and walls.


The best way to detect bed bugs is to regularly inspect the mattress, box springs, head board, bed frame, and any other areas directly adjacent to the bed. Checking in folds created by bed sheets and around areas where mattresses and box springs meet and shaking out blankets prior to use are some of the best ways to check for signs of infestation.

Female bed bugs generally lay hundreds of eggs in a lifetime. The high volume of bed bugs congregating in a single area usually leads to their detection through visual inspection.


What Do They Eat?
Classified as parasites, bed bugs feed exclusively on the blood of humans and other animals, usually at night while the hosts sleep. Though, humans are the preferred host of the common bed bug. The insects boast elongated mouths similar to beaks that puncture the skin of sleeping host animals and extract blood. Bed bugs typically feed for three to 10 minutes at a time. Though typically feeding several nights a week, adult specimens have the ability to survive for a year or longer without eating.

Life Cycle


Fully developed female bed bugs can lay between one and five eggs each day and often produce hundreds of eggs over the course of their lives. Difficult to find without intense scrutiny, bed bug eggs are roughly equal in size to specks of dust.

Upon hatching, nymphs emerge and develop by molting their skin several times before attaining full maturity. Prior to each molt, nymphs must consume a blood meal.

The insects can reach adulthood in as little as a month, with females sometimes producing upwards of three generations of offspring a year.

How Long Do They Live?
The average lifespan of common bed bugs is about 10 months.

More information about the bed bug life cycle.

Problems Caused by Bed Bugs

While bed bugs do not typically spread diseases, the parasitic insects cause slight to moderate discomfort by inflicting itchy bite marks as a result of feeding. Bed bug bites are usually painless, rarely waking the host, and result in small red welts similar to mosquito bites. In some cases, the bites inflicted by the pests may cause allergic reactions requiring medical attention. Generally, this reaction is uncommon and the insects are largely considered a nuisance.

In addition to bite marks, bed bugs regularly leave other evidence of their presence, including musty odors, rust-colored fecal stains in and around bedding, and layers of skin shed by nymphs.

Despite the widespread assumption that bed bug infestations are an indication of poor cleanliness or sanitation in the affected area, bed bugs simply require access to a host and ample hiding space. Bed bugs thrive in a variety of environments ranging from private residences to five-star hotels, and often prove difficult to find and remove completely. Professional extermination is usually recommended to treat infestations.


How to Get Rid of Bed Bugs

Unfortunately, getting rid of bed bugs is not easy.

Whether one has bed bugs or whether one is concerned about bed bugs, one of the most common questions is how to get rid of these pests. Unfortunately, there is no quick and easy way to remove bed bugs and to provide long term protection.



Control Methods



Although sanitation is helpful in the control of bed bugs, cleaning and vacuuming alone will not control the problem. Insecticides must be applied after detailed preparations are made, with follow-up inspections and treatments in order to control the problem.

Control can take days to weeks, and sometimes longer to achieve. Most pest professionals will schedule a follow up visit to re-inspect and retreat if necessary.