Bed Bug Pictures – Pictures of Eggs, Nymphs, Adults & Other Signs

Last Updated on 09/06/2025 by Tony Abrahams

Bed Bug Pictures Gallery

Our gallery has bed bug pictures from many angles to help you identify them. There are views from the top, underneath, side, while feeding, eggs, squashed, the bed bug life cycle and more.

Click on the image to enlarge.

Common Bugs That Resemble Bed Bugs

There are several bugs that look like bed bugs, including

• book lice – similar to bed bug nymphs, these bugs feed on fungi and mould
• carpet beetles – small and brown but with discernible wings
• bat bugs – very similar in appearance to bed bugs, but they tend to have longer hair and feed off the blood of bats
• spider beetles – dark reddish brown/black mini beetles that are often found in pantries
• cockroach nymphs – more cylindrical in shape than a bed bug and are white after hatching, later turning reddish/brown.

What Do Bed Bugs Look Like?

Adult bed bugs are small, flat, oval-shaped, dark brown insects with 6 legs and two antennae that feed at night. When their eggs hatch, they are translucent, but they turn dark brown after they feed for the first time.

Before they feed, they are flat, but afterwards, they become tubular and redder as they fill with blood. They don’t have wings, so bed bugs can’t fly or jump. They can only crawl and sometimes drop from high places.

Bed Bug Bites Picture Gallery

Click on the image of bed bug bites below to enlarge

Bed Bug Pictures of the Life Cycle

There are five stages of the bed bug life cycle that bed bugs go through after the eggs have hatched and before reaching adulthood:

Nymphs generally “moult” to the next life stage after a feed or blood meal. The lifecycle process can be anywhere from 5 weeks to 6 months.

What Do Bed Bugs Look Like on My Bed?

If you think you have bed bugs, here are some pictures to help you identify them: bed bugs of various sizes (life cycle stages), bed bug eggs, castings/shells, blood spots, and faeces/black dots. If you can’t see evidence of bed bugs on your mattress, check the cracks and crevices, as these are the places that bed bugs tend to hide.

Picture Gallery Of Bed Bug Infestations

Click on the image to enlarge.

Here’s how to remove every bed bug from your room – instantly and for the long haul:

• Strip off all bedding and wash/dry it on a hot cycle to destroy any hidden bugs or eggs.
• Thoroughly vacuum around the bed base, mattress seams, furniture joints, mouldings, and carpet edges to remove loose bugs and debris.
• Use a handheld steamer to kill any live bed bugs hiding in cracks and crevices — steam kills them instantly on contact.
• Apply Diatomaceous Earth (Bed Bug Killer Powder – APVMA approved) to bed frames, floor edges, and hiding spots to kill any survivors and provide years of residual protection.
• Use bed bug proof mattress covers.

But here’s where the real magic happens…

Use the Bed Bug Isolation Method to trap and eliminate every last bed bug – guaranteed.

This method creates a physical barrier around your bed using our scientifically tested bed leg traps filled with Diatomaceous Earth. Once your bed is isolated, the only way bed bugs can reach you (their food source) is by walking through the traps – and when they do, the powder starts drying them out from the inside.

• Instant protection: You can sleep in the bed the same night.
• Long-term kill: Bed bugs die slowly after exposure, even the ones you missed.
• No toxic sprays: Safe for families, pets, and the planet.

If you’re serious about ending a bed bug problem without going in circles or relying on pest control companies that can’t offer a guarantee, the Bed Bug Isolation Method is your one-time, proven solution.

Are You Looking for an Organic DIY Treatment for Bed Bugs?

Bed Bug Treatment For An Ensemble Bed

Bed Bug Treatment For A Bed with Slats

Frequently Asked Questions:

1. How do you identify a bed bug?
   Bed bugs are small, reddish-brown insects, about the size of an apple seed. Look for them in mattress seams, bed bases, and bed frames. Signs include rusty or reddish stains, dark spots (excrement), eggshells, and shed skins. Bites often appear in clusters or lines and are very itchy.
2. What bug can be mistaken for a bed bug?
   Bat bugs, carpet beetles, spider beetles, and booklice can be mistaken for bed bugs. Bat bugs are almost identical but have longer fringe hairs. Carpet beetles are smaller and have distinct colour patterns. Spider beetles are shiny dark brown, while booklice are tiny and pale, and found in humid areas.
3. How to get rid of bed bugs fast?
   To get rid of bed bugs fast use a bed bug steamer. Steam kills bed bugs instantly without the need for poisons. Steam the areas on the mattress and bed frame where bed bugs hide and nest.

Sources:

Extension (spider beetles), Njaes Rutgers (bed bug/photos), Prevention (bed bug bites)