Flea
Key clue: jumps, narrow from the side, enlarged hind legs.
Compare fleas →Evidence triage · About 2 minutes
Is it a
bed bug?
Use what you can observe—shape, movement, size, signs and location—to decide what the evidence supports and what to do next.
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 ↓
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One observation at a time.
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Fast comparisons
Features that point away from bed bugs
Carpet beetle larva
Key clue: visibly hairy or bristly, often near natural fibres.
Compare larvae →Tick
Key clue: adult has eight legs and no antennae.
Compare ticks →Booklouse
Key clue: much smaller, pale and often associated with damp.
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.
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 are often itchy and usually clear on their own. Seek advice when symptoms are severe, spreading or infected.
NHS bed bug guidance ↗