Pests That Get Mistaken For Bed Bugs
Have you ever seen a bug in your home that you weren’t sure if it was a bed bug or not? If you have, then you’re not alone.
Identifying a bed bug can be difficult, especially because of the many doppelgangers out there that look so alike. But if you want to keep your bed free from bed bugs and your house safe from pests, knowing which bugs are getting comfortable in your home can be important.
Here are a few critters that you probably mistook for bed bugs before:
Fleas
Fleas are oval-shaped and have a similar color to bed bugs—reddish-brown, but they’re smaller than bed bugs, no bigger than 1/8th of an inch.
When compared to bed bugs, fleas are skinnier, more vertical; and they can jump.
As for their diet, bed bugs prefer human blood whereas fleas prefer the blood of animals like cats and dogs. So you’re more likely to find fleas on your pet’s bed than on your own!
Ticks
Ticks are usually brown in color and round like bed bugs. While bed bugs have six legs, ticks have eight—making them a part of the arachnid family. Similar to fleas, ticks prefer to feed on animals rather than on humans and are also known to transmit disease. Bed bugs, however, don’t transmit any illness.
Swallow Bugs
Swallow bugs look very similar to bed bugs, having the same size and color, but their body is covered in long hair. These bugs prefer to feed on swallows, but if they can’t find any birds to feed on, these bugs can find their way into your home and office and feed on human blood.
Carpet Beetle Adults
Carpet beetle adults are smaller than bed bugs, around 1/7th of an inch, with varying colors and patterns of black, white and yellow. Another major difference is that carpet beetles have wings whereas bed bugs don’t. They feed on pollen and nectar from plants, and the cast-skin of bed bugs. They’re often mistaken as bed bugs because they can sometimes be found in the same vicinity as bed bugs. Although they don’t feed on human blood; if exposed to the hair on carpet beetles, you can get a rash and develop an allergy.
Cockroach Nymph
Cockroach nymphs look white when they hatch but develop a reddish-brown color over time. They have a cylindrical body whereas bed bugs are rounder in shape; and unlike bed bugs, cockroach nymphs don’t feed on any kind of blood.
It’s not uncommon for people to mistake other pests for bed bugs—after all, they look incredibly alike. Pests, including bed bugs, can be extremely dangerous to health. The best way to identify the pests and get rid of them is to hire a professional pest control service.
Xterminator Pest Control in Columbus, Ohio, is an experienced and authentic pest extermination service that has been providing quality service for many years. Contact us and let us make your home safe from pests! Get your free quote now!