How do laundry lice and bed bugs look? - briefly
Laundry lice are tiny, wingless insects about 1–2 mm long, gray‑brown, with elongated bodies and six legs that cling to fabric fibers. Bed bugs are slightly larger, 4–5 mm, oval‑shaped, reddish‑brown, and become swollen and darker after feeding.
How do laundry lice and bed bugs look? - in detail
Laundry lice are tiny, wingless insects that resemble small, flattened grayish‑white ticks. Adult specimens measure 2–4 mm in length, with a broad, oval body and a head that is barely distinguishable from the thorax. Their legs are six in total, each ending in a claw that allows them to cling tightly to fabric fibers. The antennae are short, segmented, and often hidden beneath the head. Color varies from pale ivory to light brown, becoming darker after a blood meal. Eggs (nits) are oval, about 0.8 mm long, and firmly attached to the surface of clothing with a cement‑like substance; they appear white or pale yellow and are difficult to see without magnification.
Bed bugs are larger, ranging from 4.5 to 7 mm when fully fed, and up to 3 mm when unfed. Their bodies are flat, oval, and reddish‑brown, with a distinctive “walnut‑shaped” appearance. The dorsal surface displays a faint, darker line running longitudinally along the center, and the abdomen shows a subtle, lighter “crown” pattern near the edges. Six short legs emerge from the thorax, each ending in a tiny hook for gripping mattress seams and fabric. After a blood meal, the abdomen expands and turns a brighter, almost brick‑red hue. Nymphs pass through five molts; each stage is similar in shape but smaller and paler than the adult, with the final instar reaching about 5 mm. Eggs are tiny, oval, and creamy white, about 0.5 mm long, deposited in clusters on seams, creases, or folds of bedding and clothing, and are often hidden from view.
Key visual differences:
- Size: lice 2–4 mm; bed bugs 4.5–7 mm.
- Body shape: lice flattened and more tick‑like; bed bugs broader, “walnut‑shaped.”
- Color: lice pale gray‑white to light brown; bed bugs reddish‑brown, darkening after feeding.
- Egg attachment: lice nits glued directly to fabric fibers; bed bug eggs laid in clusters on seams and folds, not cemented to individual fibers.