Is this insect a bed bug, or something else? - Ask Extension
Hello. I’m concerned about this bug I found on my bed around 2 am local time in Portland. The light was on in the room and I noticed the bug crawlin...
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Is this insect a bed bug, or something else? #841428
Asked July 19, 2023, 8:58 AM EDT
Hello. I’m concerned about this bug I found on my bed around 2 am local time in Portland. The light was on in the room and I noticed the bug crawling when I started to get into bed. When I lightly smashed the insect, there was red blood on the tissue. The bug is about the size of two pin heads and it has a long tube or "horn" on its head. It appears dark until I shined a flashlight on it for some of the photos. The band around its neck is dark and I couldn't get a good shot of it. The antennae are kind of long and look like they have a rounded tip, which I don’t see in bed bug photos online, so hopefully it is some other insect! Please let me know what you think it is.
Here is the Google directory with photos at different angles and in different lighting:
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1fN-YhDiMjQ8R0QxOQnt6Zcp1yzmf9A2j?usp=drive_link. I attached a few of the photos too. Thanks!
Multnomah County Oregon
Expert Response
P.S. I also did not notice any hairs or appearance of vertical bands on the insect, which I'd expect to see with a bed bug.
Hi Laura,
That is some kind of true bug (Order: Hemiptera). I can't see very much detail in your photos, but the antennae definitely look different than bed bug antennae, so I think you are fine.
Hope that helps!
Yours,
That is some kind of true bug (Order: Hemiptera). I can't see very much detail in your photos, but the antennae definitely look different than bed bug antennae, so I think you are fine.
Hope that helps!
Yours,