How do small bed bugs look? - briefly
Tiny bed bugs measure roughly 1–2 mm, have an oval, reddish‑brown, flattened body, and lack wings. They possess six legs, short antennae near the head, and a visible thoracic shield («pronotum») often outlined in a darker shade.
How do small bed bugs look? - in detail
Bed bugs in their early developmental stages measure approximately one to two millimetres in length, considerably smaller than mature individuals that reach five millimetres. Their bodies are dorsoventrally flattened, forming an oval silhouette that facilitates movement within tight crevices.
Coloration varies with feeding status. Unfed nymphs appear translucent to light‑brown, while those that have recently consumed blood display a reddish‑brown hue. The exoskeleton remains smooth, lacking distinct markings or patterns.
The anatomy includes six short legs emerging from the thorax, each ending in a pair of claws adapted for gripping fabric fibers. Antennae consist of four slender, segmented pedicels, positioned near the head and serving sensory functions. Eyes are reduced to simple ocelli, barely visible on the dorsal surface. Mouthparts form a elongated, needle‑like rostrum designed for piercing skin and extracting blood.
Key visual identifiers of miniature specimens:
- Length: 1–2 mm
- Body shape: flattened oval, slightly convex dorsally
- Color: translucent to light‑brown when unfed; reddish‑brown after feeding
- Legs: six, short, ending in two claws each
- Antennae: four‑segmented, slender
- Eyes: rudimentary ocelli
- Mouthparts: elongated piercing‑sucking rostrum
These characteristics collectively enable accurate recognition of small bed bugs without reliance on adult morphology.