Have I Found a Bed Bug in my Manhattan Apartment?
Bed bugs can be difficult to identify as they are similar to many other small insects. Also, their appearance will change depending on their age and if they have recently eaten.
Adult bed bugs are reddish brown in color and approximately ¼ to 3/8 inch long; they are nearly as wide as they are long. They are about the size of an apple seed. Juvenile bed bugs can be very small and very hard to see.
Bed bugs do not have wings, and cannot fly. Bed Bugs can move very quickly on both horizontal and vertical surfaces
If a bed bug has not recently eaten it is flat and oval shaped. Once a bed bug has bitten someone it swells in size, becoming longer and redder in color; frequently compared to the shape of a cigar.
If you have a bed bug infestation you may also notice cast skins. The cast skin of a bed bug is an empty shell that is left behind when a bed bug grows. This skin will be in the shape of a bed bug but it will be transparent.
Bed bugs are active mainly at night, so it is unlikely that you will see one during the day. They can become accustomed to feeding during the day if they become aware that people are resting or sleeping during the day. Bed bugs may be seen during the day if there is a big infestation, or if the insect you have found is actually a bat bug. Bat Bugs are very similar to bed bugs and are often found in places with bats or birds. Bugs should be sent to a professional for identification.
If you think you have found a bed bug, try to catch it on a piece of tape or put it in a plastic bag, you can then have this bug identified by a Acme Exterminating professional.
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