How do domestic bedbugs look inside a house? - briefly
Domestic bedbugs are flat, oval insects about 4–5 mm long, reddish‑brown before feeding and turning a deeper, almost orange hue after a blood meal; they are wingless and have six legs and tiny antennae. Inside a home they hide in mattress seams, furniture crevices, baseboards, and behind wallpaper, emerging at night to feed.
How do domestic bedbugs look inside a house? - in detail
Domestic bedbugs are small, oval‑shaped insects measuring 4–5 mm when fully grown. Their bodies are flat, dorsoventrally compressed, and covered with fine hairs that give a matte appearance. Color varies with feeding status: unfed adults are reddish‑brown, while those that have recently ingested blood appear swollen and take on a brighter, almost ruby hue. Nymphs resemble adults but are lighter in color and increase in size with each molt, progressing through five instars before reaching maturity.
The head is concealed beneath the pronotum, making it difficult to distinguish. Antennae consist of six segments and are positioned near the mouthparts, which are adapted for piercing skin and sucking blood. Legs are short, ending in small claws that enable the insect to cling to fabric, seams, and crevices.
Inside a residence, bedbugs are typically found in:
- Mattress seams, box‑spring folds, and bed frames
- Headboards, nightstands, and upholstered furniture
- Baseboard cracks, wall voids, and electrical outlet covers
- Luggage, clothing, and personal items that have been in infested environments
Visible evidence of an infestation includes:
- Small, rust‑colored spots on bedding (digested blood)
- Tiny, whitish excrement stains on fabrics or walls
- Molted skins (exuviae) left behind after each molt
- Live or dead insects, often concealed in tight folds or behind wallpaper
Eggs are about 0.5 mm in length, white, and deposited in clusters of 10–20 within hidden crevices. They hatch in 6–10 days under favorable conditions. The developmental cycle from egg to adult can be completed in as little as four weeks when temperature and humidity are optimal (25–28 °C, 70–80 % relative humidity).
Understanding these morphological traits and typical harborages enables precise detection and targeted control measures within a household.