How do fleas and bedbugs look? - briefly
Fleas are tiny, laterally flattened, wingless insects 1–3 mm long, dark brown with a hard exoskeleton and strong hind legs for jumping. Bedbugs are oval, reddish‑brown bugs about 4–5 mm long, flat when unfed and visibly swollen after a blood meal.
How do fleas and bedbugs look? - in detail
Fleas are small, laterally compressed insects measuring 1.5–3.3 mm in length. Their bodies are deep‑brown to reddish, lacking wings, and covered with tiny spines that give a rough texture. The head is small with large, compound eyes and elongated antennae. Jumping legs are enlarged, especially the hind femora, which contain powerful muscles for rapid propulsion. The abdomen is segmented, slightly flattened, and ends in a short, pointed telson. Adult fleas possess a narrow, streamlined profile that facilitates movement through host fur.
Bed bugs are larger, ranging from 4.5–7 mm when unfed and expanding to about 10 mm after a blood meal. Their bodies are oval, flat dorsally, and leathery, colored from light brown to reddish‑brown; after feeding, the abdomen becomes a deep, almost black hue. The head is concealed beneath the thorax, with short, thread‑like antennae. Six legs are positioned near the rear, each ending in a small claw for clinging to fabric. The pronotum bears a characteristic white‑margined “c‑shaped” marking on each side, a reliable field identifier. The abdomen consists of multiple visible segments and a terminal abdominal tip that may appear slightly pointed.
Key distinguishing traits:
- Size: flea 1.5–3.3 mm; bed bug 4.5–10 mm.
- Body shape: flea laterally flattened and elongated; bed bug dorsally flattened and oval.
- Color change after feeding: flea remains brown; bed bug darkens dramatically.
- Jumping ability: fleas capable of leaps up to 150 times body length; bed bugs crawl only.
- Antennae: flea antennae visible and elongated; bed bug antennae short and hidden.