What do bed bugs
look like?
What do bed bugs look like? Adults are flat, oval and reddish-brown, about the size of an apple seed. How to recognise bed bugs, their eggs, bites and signs, and insects that look like them.
Bed bugs are small, but they can be seen without a magnifying glass. Knowing what the adults, young bugs, eggs and signs look like helps you confirm the problem early, before it spreads to other rooms. Bites alone are not enough to tell, because many people do not react to them and other insects and skin conditions cause similar marks.
How to identify
bed bugs.
1. Adult bed bugs
Adults are about 4 to 5 mm long, about the size of an apple seed. They are flat, oval and reddish-brown, with no wings. After feeding, they swell up and become darker and longer.
2. Young bed bugs (nymphs)
Newly hatched bed bugs are about 1 mm long and pale, almost see-through, so they are hard to spot until they have fed and turn red. They grow through five stages before becoming adults.
3. Bed bug eggs
Eggs are about 1 mm long, pearly white and shaped like a grain of rice. They are laid in cracks and seams, often in small clusters, and are very hard to see.
4. Signs on the mattress and bed
Look for small dark brown or black spots (droppings) that bleed into fabric like a marker, small blood stains on sheets, and pale shed skins. Check mattress seams, the box spring, bed frame, headboard and nearby furniture. Heavy infestations can have a musty, sweet smell.
5. Bed bug bites
Bites are often on skin exposed during sleep, such as the arms, neck and face, and can appear in a line or a small cluster. Some people have no reaction at all. Speak with a healthcare professional about skin symptoms.
6. Insects that look like bed bugs
Carpet beetles, bat bugs, fleas, spider beetles and young cockroaches are often mistaken for bed bugs. A clear photo or a specimen sealed in a bag or on clear tape is the best way to confirm what you have.
Mistakes
to avoid.
- Deciding you have bed bugs based on bites alone.
- Moving the mattress or furniture to another room before you know.
- Using bug bombs or foggers, which can spread bed bugs.
- Throwing out furniture before getting advice.
When to call
a professional.
Our bed bug exterminator service in Toronto costs $249–$999, including 2 treatments, before HST. Quotes are free, and we are fully licensed and insured.
Call a professional if
- You found live bugs, eggs, shed skins or dark spots on the bed.
- You are not sure whether the insect is a bed bug.
- Signs are in more than one room.
- You live in an apartment or condo and neighbours have bed bugs.
Common questions.
Can you see bed bugs with the naked eye?
Yes. Adults are about the size of an apple seed and easy to see. Young bed bugs and eggs are much smaller and pale, so a flashlight helps.
What colour are bed bugs?
Adults are reddish-brown. Young bed bugs are pale or translucent until they feed, when they turn red. Eggs are pearly white.
Where do bed bugs hide during the day?
In mattress seams, the box spring, bed frame, headboard and furniture close to the bed. In heavier infestations they also hide behind baseboards, outlet covers and picture frames.
Still seeing activity?
Tell us what you are seeing, where and for how long. We will confirm the price before any work starts.
Guidance based on Health Canada: bed bug identification. Updated October 10, 2026.