Quick answer
A bed bug is a small, flat, wingless insect, most often the species Cimex lectularius, that hides near where people sleep and feeds on human blood, mostly at night.
Adults are about the size of an apple seed. Bed bugs are not known to spread disease, but their bites itch and an infestation is hard to clear without a careful, repeated plan.
Quick facts
The key facts about Bed Bug, with sources:
- Scientific name
- Cimex lectularius, the most common species in U.S. homes 8
- Adult size
- 5–7 mm (3/16 to 1/4 inch), about the size of an apple seed 1
- Eggs per female
- 1–3 a day and 200–500 in a lifetime 2
- Lethal heat
- Bugs die when their body reaches 113°F (45°C) 2
- Where they hide
- About 85% are found in or near the bed 7
Key takeaways
- Bed bugs are blood-feeding insects that live close to beds, couches and other places people rest.
- Bites alone cannot confirm bed bugs, because some people never react and other pests bite too.
- The surest signs are live bugs, shed skins, tiny pale eggs and dark spots of droppings on bedding.
- They spread by riding in luggage, clothing and used furniture, not by dirt or poor housekeeping.
- Most infestations take more than one visit to clear, followed by months of monitoring.
What a bed bug is and how to recognize one
A bed bug is a blood-feeding insect that cannot fly or jump, so it walks to you while you sleep, feeds for a few minutes and walks back to a hiding spot. Unfed adults are flat, oval and brown, and after a meal they swell and turn reddish-brown 1.
In science terms, bed bugs are “true bugs,” with a three-segment beak that pierces skin. They also have four-part antennae, wings that do not work and short golden hairs, and glands on the body give off a musty, sweet smell 1.
The EPA, CDC and USDA all class bed bugs as a public health pest. Yet unlike most pests on that list, they are not known to carry disease 3. The harm is itching, lost sleep, worry and the cost and work of getting rid of them 6.
The CDC reports bed bugs across the Americas, Africa, Asia and Europe, including in five-star hotels, and says how clean a place is does not decide whether they live there 6. A tidy home can get them from one suitcase.
Not a sign of a dirty home
Bed bugs feed on blood, not crumbs or trash. Clutter gives them more places to hide and makes treatment harder, but it does not attract them 6.
How bed bugs live and feed
A bed bug’s life follows a simple loop, and each turn of it needs one blood meal.
- Hide: Bugs rest in seams, cracks and folds near a sleeping person, and a gap the width of a credit card is enough 2.
- Find a host: They are mostly active at night, but a hungry bug will feed in daylight, and they usually travel 5 to 20 feet from their hiding place to feed 2.
- Feed: A meal takes about 3 to 12 minutes 2. The bite holds a numbing agent and a blood thinner, so many people feel nothing 6.
- Digest and leave droppings: Back in hiding, the bug digests the blood, and its droppings dry into dark spots that can smear like marker ink 2.
- Grow or breed: A nymph molts to the next stage, and an adult female lays eggs. Both sexes must feed at least once every 14 days to keep mating and laying eggs 2.
- EggAbout 1 mm, pearl-white; shows an eye spot after 5+ days
- 1st-stage nymph1.5 mm; needs a blood meal to molt
- 2nd-stage nymph2 mm; blood meal, then molt
- 3rd-stage nymph2.5 mm; blood meal, then molt
- 4th-stage nymph3 mm; blood meal, then molt
- 5th-stage nymph4.5 mm; last molt into an adult
- Adult5–7 mm; females lay 1–3 eggs a day
- Back to step 1
Each molt leaves a shed skin behind, which is one reason shed skins are a strong sign of a breeding infestation. Source: [1] [2]
The full life cycle, egg to egg, can take 4 to 5 weeks in warm rooms 2. Growth is fastest from about 70°F to 82°F, and there can be up to four generations a year 7. Our page on the pest life cycle explains why that pace matters for treatment timing.
Bed bug species and common look-alikes
| Insect | Main host | How to tell it apart |
|---|---|---|
| Common bed bug (Cimex lectularius) | People | Hairs on the pronotum (the plate behind the head) are shorter than the eye is wide 7 |
| Eastern bat bug (Cimex adjunctus) | Bats | Same shape; pronotum hairs are longer than the eye is wide 7; found in homes with bats 8 |
| Swallow bug | Cliff and barn swallows | Same long-hair test as bat bugs; shows up near old bird nests 7 |
| Conenose (kissing) bug | Wild animals, sometimes people | Much larger, up to 3/4 inch long 7 |
| Flea, tick, carpet beetle | Pets, wildlife, fabrics | Often mistaken for bed bugs; Penn State says not to judge by bites 8 |
Bat bugs and swallow bugs need a different fix: if the host animal is the source, the bats or nests must be dealt with too, or the bugs come back. Our bat exclusion page covers removing a bat colony. Our pest identifier walks through the visible clues.
Example: how one bug becomes an infestation
This is an illustration, not a forecast. It uses only the published rates below to show why one missed female matters. Real numbers depend on room heat and how often the bugs can feed.
| Step | Published figure | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Eggs per day | 1–3 per female 2 | One fed female can add a few eggs every day |
| Eggs per lifetime | 200–500 per female 2 | A single female can seed hundreds of bugs over her life |
| Egg to egg-laying adult | 4–5 weeks in good conditions 2 | Her first offspring can start laying eggs about a month later |
| Generations per year | Up to 4 7 | Growth builds on itself several times a year |
| Female lifespan | 6–12 months, maybe longer 2 | A missed adult keeps laying for months |
Timing is the lesson here: a small, early problem is far easier to clear than one found after a second generation. That is why the EPA tells people to keep checking at least every 7 days and for at least a year after treatment 5.
Where you will see the term on paperwork
On a pest inspection report, a technician lists where bugs or signs were found, such as mattress seams, the box spring, the headboard or a couch. Good reports name the life stages seen, because eggs and shed skins mean the bugs are breeding.
On a treatment plan or quote, look for the method (heat, chemical, or both), the number of visits, what you must do to prepare, and how follow-up is handled. Our guide to pest control contracts covers what each of those lines should say.
In a rental, the word may appear in your lease or a separate notice. In California, landlords must give tenants a written bed bug notice (see the local section below) 9.
On a product label, “bed bugs” must be listed as a target pest. The EPA has registered more than 300 bed bug products, and its search tool shows which ones are labeled for them 4.
Warning signs of bed bugs
Check mattress seams, box springs, bed frames and the headboard first. These are the signs the EPA and CDC list:
- Rusty or reddish stains on sheets or the mattress, from bugs that were crushed 2.
- Dark spots about the size of a printed dot, which are droppings that smear like marker ink 2.
- Pale yellow eggs and eggshells about 1 mm long 21.
- Shed skins left after molting 6.
- Live bugs in the folds of mattresses and sheets 6.
- A sweet, musty odor, which Penn State says points to a moderate to large infestation 8.
- Itchy red bites that show up one to several days after sleeping, sometimes up to 14 days later, though bites alone are a poor sign 62.
Bites and health
Most bites need no medical care, but scratching can cause a skin infection. Rarely, people have a strong allergic reaction. If a bite swells badly, hurts or you have trouble breathing, call a doctor or 911 6.
What each detection method does well
Strengths
- Visual inspection by a trained person finds about 72% of infestations, per Penn State 8.
- Interceptor cups under bed legs catch bugs walking to and from the bed, and UC IPM reports they caught six times more bugs than visual searches alone 7.
- Trained dogs can find hidden bugs fast. Penn State cites about 97% accuracy 8.
- Combining a visual check with interceptors raised detection to about 99% 8.
Weak spots
- Visual checks miss low numbers of bugs hiding deep in furniture or walls.
- Interceptors only catch bugs that walk past them and must be checked each week 5.
- UC IPM says dog accuracy varies a lot in the field, so any alert should be confirmed by a trained inspector 7.
- Sticky traps do not work well for bed bugs, according to the EPA 5.
Why bed bugs are hard to get rid of
Bed bugs are small and patient. Unfed nymphs can be almost invisible 1, and the bugs can go a long time without food: UC IPM gives a range of 20 to 400 days, based on heat and humidity 7. Leaving a home empty for a few weeks will not starve them out.
Pesticide resistance is a big part of the problem. The EPA lists more travel, poor knowledge of prevention, ineffective control and pesticide resistance as reasons bed bugs have come back in the U.S. 3. Some groups no longer respond to pyrethrins and pyrethroids, two common classes of insecticide 4.
Eggs are tough, and several products do not kill them, so treatment has to be repeated after they hatch. Bugs that hide in walls, outlets or the next apartment can reinfest a treated room.
What drives the cost of bed bug control
We do not publish treatment prices here, because a fair price needs many dated local quotes. What we can say is what moves the price up or down.
The size of the problem matters most: how many rooms, how many beds and couches, and how far the bugs have spread.
The method matters next, since whole-room heat, chemical treatment and combined plans use different equipment and labor.
The number of follow-up visits, the type of building (a house versus a shared apartment block) and whether neighbors’ units are treated all add up.
Prep work can cut cost and improve results, because washing and drying bedding, reducing clutter and sealing items in bags means less time for the crew. Our bed bug cost estimator shows how these factors combine, and the main pest control cost guide covers how quotes are built.
Warranties cover the work, not the bugs, so ask what the plan guarantees, for how long and what voids it. The EPA advises monitoring for at least a year after treatment, so a short guarantee may end before you know the job worked 5.
How a bed bug treatment usually works
The EPA’s plan has six steps, and they may need to repeat 5. A professional job follows the same logic.
- Confirm the pest: A trained inspector finds and identifies the bugs, so you do not treat for the wrong insect.
- Make a plan: The company maps every room with signs and picks methods. In a rental, the EPA says to tell your landlord, who may share responsibility for treatment 5.
- Stop the spread: Do not move furniture or bedding to other rooms, and bag items before moving them.
- Prepare: Wash and dry bedding and clothes on high heat, cut clutter, and put encasements on the mattress and box spring.
- Treat: Pros may heat rooms to at least 140°F for 2 hours or 130°F for 3 hours 7, apply labeled products to cracks and crevices, use steam, or combine them. Our heat treatment for bed bugs page explains the heat option.
- Check and follow up: Return visits treat bugs that hatched from eggs, and monitoring continues for months.
Do not use heaters, foggers or outdoor products
The EPA warns that raising room heat with a thermostat, propane heater or fireplace does not work and is dangerous 5. Penn State notes foggers have shown low effect on bed bugs 8.
Only use products labeled for bed bugs and indoor use, and follow the label. If a bed bug spray reaches skin, eyes or a mouth, call Poison Help at 1-800-222-1222.
No federal permit is needed for a home treatment, but pest control companies and their applicators are licensed by your state. Our page on pest control licensing explains how to check.
Ongoing checks and prevention
- Look at mattress seams, the box spring and headboard when you change sheets.
- Keep an interceptor under each bed leg, and check and clean them weekly 5.
- Use zippered mattress and box spring encasements, which trap any bugs inside until they die 5.
- When you travel, check behind the headboard and under sheets, and look over luggage before it comes inside 8.
- Wash and dry travel clothes on high heat when you get home 8.
- Inspect used beds and couches before bringing them home 8.
- Items that cannot be washed can be frozen at 0°F in a sealed bag for three days, checked with a thermometer 5.
Laundry settings that work
UC IPM says to wash bedding in 120°F water and dry it on the hottest setting for at least 10 to 15 minutes. Bugs and eggs die at 113°F and above 72.
A broader pest monitoring routine catches problems early, and the pest risk checklist lists other habits that keep pests out.
When to call a professional
Call when you find live bugs or eggs, when signs show up in more than one room, or when bugs come back after a home effort. The CDC advises contacting a pest control company with bed bug experience for an infestation 6.
Call sooner if you live in an apartment, dorm or shared home, because bugs move between units and the landlord may need to act. Call too if anyone in the home is reacting badly to bites.
The EPA notes that home heat treatments might not work, and that pros have stronger methods such as whole-house heat 5. See our bed bug treatment service page for what a job includes.
Rules and standards that apply
Federal (EPA, FIFRA): Under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act, the EPA registers every pesticide sold in the U.S. More than 300 products are registered for bed bugs, and a few are restricted to trained professionals 4.
Seven classes are widely used: pyrethrins, pyrethroids, desiccants, biochemicals, pyrroles, neonicotinoids and insect growth regulators 4.
The label: Using a product in a way its label does not allow is against federal law. The EPA warns that only desiccants registered and labeled for bed bugs should be used, because food-grade or pool-grade powders carry more breathing risk 4. Our pesticide safety guide explains labels and signal words.
State: States license pest control companies and applicators, and some methods need a special license. In Pennsylvania, for example, fumigation with sulfuryl fluoride requires a Category 13 certified applicator 8.
Housing law: Some states and cities set landlord duties for bed bugs. California’s rules are described below.
Bed bug vs other biting household pests
| Pest | Where it lives | Spreads disease to people? | Main clue |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bed bug | Mattress seams, furniture, cracks near beds 7 | Not known to 6 | Shed skins, dark spots and eggs on bedding 2 |
| Flea | Pets, pet bedding, carpet | See the flea page | Jumping insects and bites around ankles |
| Tick | Outdoors, attached to skin | See the tick page | A bug stuck to the skin after time outside |
| Bat bug | Near bat roosts in attics and walls 8 | Not covered by our sources | Bugs appear near walls or ceilings, often with bats present |
| Cockroach | Kitchens, bathrooms, warm gaps | See the cockroach page | Fast-running insects, droppings near food |
If you are not sure which one you have, start with pest identification before anyone treats.
Common bed bug myths
- Myth Bed bugs only live in dirty homes.
- Reality The CDC says cleanliness does not decide whether bed bugs are present, and they turn up in five-star hotels 6.
- Myth If I have no bites, I have no bed bugs.
- Reality Some people do not react to bites at all, so bites are a poor sign 2.
- Myth Bed bugs can jump or fly.
- Reality Neither. They walk, and they ride in bags and furniture 1.
- Myth Leaving the house empty for a month will starve them.
- Reality They can survive 20 to 400 days without feeding, depending on conditions 7.
- Myth Turning up the thermostat will kill them.
- Reality The EPA says raising room heat with a thermostat, heater or fireplace does not work and is dangerous 5.
- Myth A bug bomb will clear the room.
- Reality Foggers have shown low effect on bed bugs and do not reach where they hide 8.
Where state law changes the picture
Bed bug biology is the same everywhere, but landlord duties are not. California’s AB 551 (Chapter 599, Statutes of 2016) added Civil Code sections 1954.600 to 1954.605.
A landlord may not show or rent a vacant unit they know has a current bed bug infestation.
They must give a written bed bug notice to new tenants from July 1, 2017 and to all other tenants by January 1, 2018.
After a pest control operator inspects, the landlord must tell tenants of the inspected units in writing within two business days of getting the findings 9. Other states set different rules, so check your own state and city.
When it matters to you, and what to do next
If you see only bites, inspect the bed and set interceptors before you treat anything. If you find a live bug, eggs, shed skins or dark spots, confirm the pest and call a professional. If you rent, tell your landlord in writing the same day.
Do not throw out your mattress in a panic, because encasements can save it and moving it through the home can spread bugs. If you do discard furniture, Penn State advises making it unusable first, so no one takes it home 8.
When you compare companies, ask how they confirm the pest, which methods they use, how many visits are included and how follow-up works. Our guide to choosing a pest control company lists the questions to ask.
Quick decision guide
Only bites? Inspect and monitor. Found bugs, eggs or skins? Call a licensed pro. Renting? Give the landlord written notice. Bugs back after treatment? Ask for the follow-up the plan includes.
Questions about Bed Bug
What do bed bugs look like?
Adult bed bugs are flat, oval, brown insects about the size of an apple seed, 5 to 7 mm long. After feeding they swell and turn reddish-brown.
Young bugs, called nymphs, are smaller and pale yellow or clear, and can be hard to see until they feed. Eggs are about 1 mm long and pearl-white, roughly the size of a pinhead.
Do bed bugs spread disease?
Bed bugs are not known to spread disease to people, according to the EPA and CDC. They are still called a public health pest because their bites itch and can cause lost sleep and anxiety.
Scratching bites can lead to a skin infection, and rare allergic reactions do happen. See a doctor if a bite swells badly or you feel unwell.
How do I know if I have bed bugs or something else?
Look for the bugs themselves or their signs, not just bites. Check mattress seams, the box spring and the headboard for live bugs, shed skins, tiny pale eggs and dark spots of droppings.
Fleas, carpet beetles and other pests also bite or look similar, so if you catch a bug, keep it in a sealed bag and have a professional identify it.
How long can bed bugs live without feeding?
Bed bugs can live for months without a blood meal. UC IPM gives a range of 20 to 400 days, depending on temperature and humidity, with longer survival in cool conditions.
The CDC also says they can live several months without feeding. This is why leaving a home empty for a few weeks rarely gets rid of them.
Where do bed bugs hide during the day?
Most bed bugs hide in or near the bed. UC IPM says about 85% are found there, in mattress seams, box springs, bed frames and headboards.
The rest hide in couches, cabinets, baseboards, behind loose wallpaper and in carpet edges. Any crack as thin as a credit card can hold one, which is why careful inspection takes time.
How do bed bugs get into a home?
Bed bugs usually arrive by hitchhiking in luggage, clothing, bags or used furniture. The CDC notes most people do not know they are carrying them while traveling.
In apartments, bugs can also walk between units through walls and shared spaces. They do not come from dirt, and a clean home can pick them up from one trip.
Can I get rid of bed bugs myself?
Small, early infestations can sometimes be controlled with the EPA’s step-by-step plan, but many cases need a professional. Washing and drying on high heat, encasements, vacuuming and interceptors all help.
The EPA warns that home heat methods may not work, and that using space heaters or a thermostat to heat a room is dangerous. Never use outdoor products indoors.
What temperature kills bed bugs?
Bed bugs die when their body temperature reaches 113°F, according to the EPA.
Because heat must reach deep hiding spots, professional heat treatments hold rooms at about 140°F for 2 hours or 130°F for 3 hours, per UC IPM.
For laundry, UC IPM recommends a hot wash and at least 10 to 15 minutes on the dryer’s hottest setting.
Should I throw away my mattress if I have bed bugs?
Most people can keep it. A mattress can often be treated and then sealed in a bed bug encasement, which traps any remaining bugs until they die.
Dragging an infested mattress through the home can spread bugs to other rooms. If you do discard it, Penn State advises making it unusable first so nobody else takes it home.
How long does it take to get rid of bed bugs?
Most bed bug jobs take weeks, not a single day, because eggs can survive one treatment and hatch later. Plans often include one or more follow-up visits.
The EPA advises checking for bed bugs at least every 7 days and continuing to monitor for at least a year after treatment to be sure they are gone.
Sources
- U.S. EPA, Bed Bugs Appearance and Life Cycle, retrieved .
- U.S. EPA, How to Find Bed Bugs, retrieved .
- U.S. EPA, Introduction to Bed Bugs, retrieved .
- U.S. EPA, Pesticides to Control Bed Bugs, retrieved .
- U.S. EPA, Do-it-yourself Bed Bug Control, retrieved .
- U.S. CDC, About Bed Bugs, retrieved .
- UC Statewide IPM Program, Pest Notes: Bed Bugs (Publication 7454), retrieved .
- Penn State Extension, Biology, Habitat, and Management of Bed Bugs, retrieved .
- California Legislature, AB 551 (Chapter 599, Statutes of 2016), chaptered text adding Civil Code §§1954.600–1954.605, retrieved .
Expert review
Written by the HyrePest Research team. Not yet reviewed by an outside expert. We say so rather than imply a review that has not happened; see our editorial policy.
How the numbers were checked: Appearance, life-stage sizes, feeding, egg and temperature facts follow the EPA bed bug pages cited. Disease, bite and spread facts are from the CDC.
Survival, heat-treatment and detection figures are from UC IPM Pest Notes 7454 and Penn State Extension, attributed to each. The California notice duties are from the chaptered text of AB 551. No prices or application rates are given.
Suggest a correction. We fix errors and say what changed.