How do bedbugs look in photos and what are their names? - briefly
In photographs bed bugs appear as tiny, oval, flat insects about 4–5 mm long, reddish‑brown before feeding and markedly swollen after a blood meal. The species commonly shown are the common bed bug (Cimex lectularius) and the tropical bed bug (Cimex hemipterus).
How do bedbugs look in photos and what are their names? - in detail
Bed bugs appear as small, oval‑shaped insects with a flattened dorsal surface. In photographs they are typically shown in shades of brown to reddish‑brown, the color deepening after a blood meal. The abdomen is broad, the head is concealed beneath the thorax, and six legs protrude from the sides. Antennae are short and consist of four segments.
Adult individuals measure 4–5 mm in length, roughly the size of a grain of rice. Nymphs are progressively smaller, ranging from 1.5 mm (first instar) to 3.5 mm (fifth instar), and they exhibit lighter, almost translucent coloration until they feed. After engorgement, the abdomen expands dramatically, giving the bug a balloon‑like silhouette that is easily captured in close‑up images.
The most frequently encountered species are:
- Cimex lectularius – the common household bed bug; responsible for infestations in residential settings worldwide.
- Cimex hemipterus – the tropical bed bug; prevalent in warm climates and often found in hotels and dormitories.
- Leptocimex boueti – a less common species, primarily associated with bird nests but occasionally reported in human dwellings.
Photographic identification relies on several visual cues:
- Body outline – a smooth, elongated oval without pronounced wings.
- Color shift – a change from light brown in unfed stages to deep rust after feeding.
- Leg placement – six legs emerging from the thorax, each ending in a small claw.
- Antennae – short, segmented, positioned near the head region.
Distinguishing bed bugs from similar insects, such as carpet beetles or spider mites, requires attention to the lack of wings and the characteristic “apple‑seed” shape of the abdomen. High‑resolution macro photographs that capture the ventral side reveal the distinct arrangement of the respiratory spiracles and the pattern of the dorsal plates, confirming species identity.