Fleas
Fleas are narrow from side to side rather than broadly oval from above. Their enlarged hind legs allow them to jump. Bed bugs crawl and cannot jump or fly.
- Laterally compressed body
- Powerful hind legs
- Often linked to pets or animal bedding
Carpet beetle larvae
Carpet beetle larvae are elongated and visibly bristly or hairy. Their shed hairs can irritate skin, which sometimes creates a bed bug false alarm.
- Brown banded body
- Dense hairs or a tail tuft
- Often near natural fibres, edges and windowsills
Booklice and mites
Booklice are usually much smaller than adult bed bugs and are associated with damp, stored materials or mould. Mites are a broad group; many are too small for reliable identification with the naked eye.
Ticks and cockroach nymphs
Adult ticks have eight legs and no antennae. Small cockroach nymphs have a more elongated body and longer antennae than bed bugs. Preserve a specimen before relying on an online photograph.
Limits and sources
This page supports triage, not diagnosis. Health wording follows current NHS guidance. Identification logic uses visible anatomy, movement and harbourage evidence; an intact specimen reviewed by a competent expert remains stronger.