Not every bedroom bug is a bed bug
Most bugs in a Kansas City bedroom are common pests that a regular plan already handles.
Look closely.
Bed bugs are flat, oval and about the size of an apple seed. Most look-alikes are rounder, paler or able to jump.
Check the clues.
Bed bugs leave dark spots on mattress seams. Other pests leave different signs.
Get it handled.
Our plans cover most look-alikes, and every recurring plan includes bed bug protection.
Finding a bug near your bed is unsettling, but most bugs in bedroom spaces are not bed bugs. The usual suspects are carpet beetles, spiders, ants, fleas and tiny booklice. The bug’s shape and the clues around it usually tell you which one you have.
Most of these pests are covered by our home pest control plans. Here’s how to sort out what you found.
Bugs in bedroom, not bed bugs? What else could it be?
Carpet beetles, spiders, ants, fleas and booklice top the list, plus fall invaders when the weather cools.
- Carpet beetles. Small, round and often speckled. Their fuzzy larvae feed on wool, rugs and stored clothes.
- Spiders. Kansas City has brown recluse, so don’t handle an unknown spider bare handed. See our spider control page.
- Ants. Often trailing to a snack, a drink or a window ledge.
- Fleas. Tiny, dark and quick to jump. Usually tied to a pet, with bites around the ankles.
- Booklice. Pale, soft and tiny. They live in damp spots and feed on mold, not people.
- Fall invaders. Boxelder bugs and stink bugs slip in around windows in fall.
How can you tell bed bugs from other bedroom bugs?
Bed bugs are flat, oval and reddish brown, about the size of an apple seed. They hide in mattress seams, box springs and headboards.
Look for tiny dark spots on sheets or seams, shed skins and bites, often in a line or small cluster. If the bug is round, fuzzy, pale or jumps, it’s probably something else. Snap a clear photo before you squash it so we can help identify it.
Does a pest control plan cover these bedroom bugs?
Yes, most of them. Our plans cover beetles, spiders (including brown recluse), ants, fleas inside the home, silverfish, boxelder bugs and stink bugs. Booklice are not covered on our plans, so drying out damp rooms is the main fix for them.
Our post on what pest control covers lists the full set.
What if it turns out to be bed bugs?
Bed bugs are a separate service, treated with heat or spray. Every recurring plan includes our Lifetime Bed Bug Protection Plan at no extra cost.
Bed bug prep is different and does require moving furniture away from walls. Our bed bug control page explains how we treat.
What can you do about bugs in bedroom spaces today?
Start with these steps while you sort out what you have.
- Vacuum floors, baseboards and under the bed, then empty the vacuum outside.
- Wash and dry bedding on high heat.
- Store wool and off-season clothes in sealed bins.
- Run a dehumidifier in damp rooms to discourage booklice.
Hosting guests in a rental? Here’s our guide to pest control for short-term rentals.
Other bedroom suspects: booklice, clothes moths and the truth about whether you eat spiders in your sleep.
Not sure what you found in your bedroom? Call 913-735-5451, answered 24/7, or schedule online. Most services can be scheduled same day.
Frequently Asked Questions
They’re most often carpet beetle larvae, fleas or booklice. Bed bugs are flat, oval and reddish brown, while these look-alikes are fuzzy, jumpy or pale and soft.
No, carpet beetles don’t bite people. Some people get an itchy rash from the larvae’s tiny hairs, which can be mistaken for bites.
Yes, Rock Pest plans cover most bedroom pests, including beetles, spiders, ants, fleas inside the home and stink bugs. Quarterly service is $56.50 a month after a $289 initial service.
No, bed bug treatment is a separate heat or spray service. Every Rock Pest recurring plan includes the Lifetime Bed Bug Protection Plan free.
