Bed Bug Photo Guide

"Bed Bug photo guide includes pictures of bedbugs at each stage of development...from egg to adult. Pictures are also shown of what bed bug remains look like on surfaces such as a mattress and pictures of bed bug bites."

Bed bugs start as eggs and then move through a life cycle from nymph (just born bed bugs) to adult. An average bed bug lives for 10 months.

If you are having trouble identifying bed bugs, then you can send a sample to the Harvard School for Public Health. If you do have bed bugs, the best way to get information and the cheapest way to fight them is to purchase a kit such as the one offered by All Stop or Dermisil for Bed Bugs. You can also see our guide for treatment of bed bugs.

Bed Bug Photo - Eggs

Female bed bugs like to lay eggs on rough surfaces such as cardboard, like the back of a picture, or on fabric. The white specs are bed bug eggs. the eggs are surrounded by adult bugs.

Picture of Bed Bug Eggs in the Seam of a Couch

Bed Bug Photo - Close up View of Bed Bug Eggs

Bed Bug Pictures - Adult

An adult bed bug will change in appearance before and after feeding. Before feeding they are brownish in color and take on a dull red when full as depicted below.

Bed Bug Picture - Side View

Bed bugs are very thin before feeding and can be found on any surface. Here is a side view demonstrating how thin they are.  This particular bed bug is pictured on human skin and is postured to begin a blood meal.

Source: University of Florida

Bed Bug Feeding on Human Skin (Bed Bug Bite Photo)

A bed bug will feed on human skin 1x every 2 weeks. Feeding take approximately 10 minutes and may consist of several bites.

Bed Bug Picture of Adult Bed Bugs and Nymphs (just born)
Source: PCT October 2005

Bed Bug Photo - Mattress

For smaller infestations 4 - 200 bedbugs, they tend to stay near the host. Since human hosts are bitten on a mattress when sleeping, this is where to spot the first signs of bed bugs. You will see bed bug feces, shell and blood marks on the bed.

Source: University of Kentucky

Bed Bug Bite Photo

Every person reacts differently to bed bug bites. Redness that appears after a bite is due to an allergic reaction. While some people may develop small red bumps, others may get a large hive. Most redness will go away in 4 to 7 days. If they are itchy, there are products made to help with bed bug related skin itch such as All Stop Healing and Protection Spray.

Bites tend to appear in patterns and are usually seen on exposed areas of the body such as the legs, arms and neck.  It is unusual to see them on the bottom of the feet.  In this case, the problem is probably scabies.

Share Your Bed Bug Experience With Others

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