Bed bugs are small oval-shaped bugs roughly ¼ inch long. They’re usually appear brown, but can also appear to be dark red shortly after feeding. There are many bugs that look like bed bugs. So, unless you’re familiar with the appearance of bed bugs, it’s easy to misdiagnose your bug problem.
Here are a few bugs often confused with bed bugs.
1. Bat Bugs share a strong resemblance to bed bugs. They feed on bats and can be found when bats have made their way into your home or have left recently. They prefer the blood of bats, but can feed on humans as a last resort. However, without bats, they are unable to sustain and reproduce.
2. Poultry Bugs feed off chickens and other poultry and are generally found in chicken coops. Similar to bed bugs, they hide during the day and feed at night. Poultry bug bites are usually only found on individuals who spend a lot of time around poultry, especially in the evening.
3. Swallow Bugs normally reside in the nests of swallows. Although their first choice is the blood of swallows, they can feed off humans when swallows migrate and they’re left to find other forms of nutrients. Once in your home, they act similar to bed bugs, residing in places where humans spend much of their time.
How to know if you have bed bugs
Bugs that look like bed bugs but are not actually bed bugs will only feed on humans if their primary food source is gone. Also, you may not get as many bites as you would if they were bed bugs. Due to the tiny size of all these bug species that look alike, you will most likely have a hard time identifying exactly what kind of bug is invading your home. To determine if you have a bed bugs problem in your home, get a professional bed bug inspection. A professional bed bug inspection will accurately diagnose your problem and the correct treatments will eliminate it once and for all.
If you’re unsure if you have bed bugs or if it’s bugs that look like bed bugs, give us a call at (905) 738-6676 or contact us today for a Toronto bed bug inspection.