Flea
Key clue: a flea jumps and looks narrow from the side, with enlarged hind legs. Bed bugs crawl and cannot jump.
Compare fleas →Evidence triage · About 2 minutes
Is it a
bed bug?
Use what you can observe to decide what the evidence supports. Look at shape, movement, size, signs and location, then choose your next step.
Bites alone cannot identify bed bugs.Skin reactions are non-specific and vary widely. The checker gives physical evidence much more weight.
Start with what you found ↓
Browser-only checker
One observation at a time.
Your selections stay inside this page. Nothing is uploaded, stored or sent to us. However, the optional enquiry form further down is separate and sends only what you type into it.
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Optional next step
Ask a pest professional to confirm
Want a second opinion on what you found? Send an enquiry and we will pass it to a pest-control professional, who may then contact you. The checker above never sends anything, so this form is entirely your choice.
Fast comparisons
Features that point away from bed bugs
Carpet beetle larva
Key clue: the larva looks visibly hairy or bristly. You will usually find it near natural fibres.
Compare larvae →Tick
Key clue: an adult tick has eight legs and no antennae. A bed bug has six legs.
Compare ticks →Booklouse
Key clue: a booklouse is much smaller and pale. People usually find it in damp places.
Compare booklice →Better evidence
Found a bug? Keep the body and the context.
A competent identification is easier when the specimen is intact, photographed from above and labelled with where it was found. Because a crushed insect loses the features that matter, keep it whole.
Follow the capture steps →- 01Cover with a clear container or use transparent tape.
- 02Take a sharp top-down photograph beside a millimetre scale.
- 03Record the room, exact surface, date and movement.
Health note: NHS guidance says bed bug bites usually clear up on their own, although they can itch. Seek advice when symptoms are severe, spreading or infected.
What bites can and cannot tell you → NHS bed bug guidance ↗Keep reading
Latest guides
New articles cover identification, lookalikes, inspection and renting. For example, you can read the latest bed bug guides for plain-English advice, because each one cites its sources.