Finding a tiny bug crawling in your bed can send your heart racing, especially if you’ve never seen it before. While the occasional ant or fruit fly might wander in by accident, discovering a bed bug, cockroach, or flea is a serious red flag.
Maryland is full of dozens of creepy-crawly little insects, and identifying the proper one can be quite difficult.
Don’t panic just yet. Let’s look at what kind of insect it might be and what options you have at your disposal, including calling professional pest control.
Common Small Bugs Found in Beds (It’s Not Always Bed Bugs!)
While bed bugs are certainly our top concern when spotting a small bug in your bed, there are tons of insects you may be dealing with. Some of the most common small bugs found in beds include:
1. Bed Bugs
Bed bugs are one of the most common types found in Maryland beds. Bed bugs are expert travelers and are known to hitch rides on luggage, used furniture, and even clothing, making it easy to go from one house to the next.
The most obvious sign you’re dealing with a bed bug is waking up to itchy welts or bug bites that were not there previously.
How to Identify: Bed bugs can be distinguished by their flat, oval-shaped bodies that resemble an apple seed and are usually reddish-brown in color.
2. Booklice
Often mistaken for bed bug nymphs, booklice are harmless pests that may occasionally appear in beds, though they typically prefer damp, humid areas like bathrooms, basements, or around leaky windows. Their presence in your bed is usually accidental.
How to Identify: Booklice are tiny (usually under 1 mm), pale or translucent, and have a soft body with a large head. Unlike bed bugs, they do not bite and tend to scatter when disturbed.
3. Fleas
Fleas are common in Maryland homes with pets and can occasionally show up in beds, especially if your dog or cat sleeps with you. They feed on the blood of mammals and are known for their ability to jump long distances.
How to Identify: Fleas are very small (1.5–3 mm), reddish-brown, wingless, and have strong legs for jumping. You may spot them moving quickly through bedding or see flea dirt (black specks) where your pet sleeps.
4. Cockroaches
While cockroaches aren’t typically bed dwellers, they may find their way into your bedroom, especially if there’s a larger infestation in your home. In Maryland, the most common types of cockroaches include German cockroaches, American cockroaches, and Oriental cockroaches. These pests are drawn to areas where they can find food, water, and shelter. Eating or drinking in bed increases your chances of attracting them.
How to Identify: Cockroaches vary in size and color but are typically brown with long antennae and fast-moving legs. Finding droppings or shed skins nearby may also be a sign of infestation.
5. Ticks
Ticks don’t live in bedding, but they may be carried inside on your clothing or on pets that spend time outdoors. If your dog or cat sleeps in your bed, there’s a chance a tick could end up there, too.
How to Identify: Ticks are small, oval-shaped arachnids. They may appear flat or swollen depending on whether they’ve fed. Look for a dark, leathery body with eight legs, often found near your pet’s resting spot.
Warning Signs You Have Bed Bugs
Bed bugs can quickly overwhelm households, but they may be difficult to spot at first if you don’t know where to check. Here are some telltale signs that you may be dealing with a bed bug infestation:
- Itchy, red bite marks (often in a line or cluster)
- Rust-colored stains on sheets or mattresses
- Tiny black dots (fecal droppings) on your bedding
- Small white eggs or shed skins
- A musty, sweet odor in the bedroom
- Seeing live or dead bed bugs, especially in mattress seams
How to Prevent Bed Bugs and Other Pests From Invading Your Bed
Preventing bed bugs and small insects from invading your bed is easier than you may think. It’s also the most efficient way to eliminate and avoid bed bugs altogether. Some helpful bed bug prevention tips include:
- Wash your bedding regularly in hot water
- Use bedbug-proof mattress and box spring covers
- Vacuum and steam clean furniture frequently
- Inspect used furniture or clothing before bringing it inside
- Avoid placing luggage on your bed after travel
- Keep bedrooms clean and clutter-free
When to Call a Pest Control Professional?
If you suspect you’re dealing with bed bugs—or any kind of infestation—it’s time to call in the pros. DIY treatments often miss the root of the problem, allowing bugs to come back stronger.
In many cases, bed bugs will require home heat treatments to eliminate entirely, as they can hide behind walls that allow them to quickly multiply.
Our Maryland pest control team offers fast, discreet inspections and targeted treatments that get results.
FAQs
Can I have bed bugs without seeing bites?
Yes, it is possible to have a bed bug infestation without actually seeing any bites on your body. Some people may be less sensitive to bed bug bites and won’t notice any visible or itchy bites, which may be the reason you aren’t seeing any bites on yourself.
Where do bed bugs hide during the day?
Bed bugs typically hide in dark, secluded areas during the day but prefer to stay close to humans, who are their primary food sources. Some common hiding areas for bed bugs during the day include inside the seams of mattresses, box springs, bed frames, and upholstered furniture, to name a few.
How do bed bugs get into my home?
Bed bugs can get into a home in a number of ways, but typically by latching onto luggage, used furniture, or clothing and entering a home that way. In multi-unit apartment buildings, bed bugs can also travel from unit to unit through shared walls or surfaces.