Which insect smells like a bedbug? - briefly
The insect whose odor resembles that of a bed bug is the «stink bug». Both emit a faint, musty scent detectable when the insects are disturbed.
Which insect smells like a bedbug? - in detail
The odor associated with a fed or disturbed bed‑bug is a sweet, musty, slightly acidic scent that many people compare to coriander or a stale, damp carpet. Several other insects generate a comparable volatile profile.
- German cockroach (Blattella germanica) releases a musky, oily aroma from its defensive glands; the scent is often described as reminiscent of the bed‑bug’s “coriander‑like” note.
- American cockroach (Periplaneta americana) produces a similar musty fragrance when threatened, arising from the same cuticular hydrocarbons that give the bed‑bug its characteristic smell.
- Carpet beetle (Anthrenus verbasci) emits a faint, sweet, stale odor when crushed, closely matching the bed‑bug’s description.
- Darkling beetle (Tenebrionidae family) excretes a weak, earthy smell that can be mistaken for the same musty scent.
These insects share chemical compounds such as benzoic acid derivatives and aldehydes, which contribute to the overlapping odor profile. The similarity arises from convergent evolution of defensive secretions that deter predators while inadvertently producing a scent recognizable as “bed‑bug‑like.”