What do bed bugs and their eggs look like? - briefly
Adult bed bugs are flat, oval insects about 4–5 mm long, reddish‑brown in color and become engorged and darker after a blood meal. Their eggs are tiny (≈0.5 mm), white or translucent, and look like miniature grains of rice.
What do bed bugs and their eggs look like? - in detail
Bed bugs are small, flat insects measuring 4–5 mm in length when unfed and expanding to about 7 mm after a blood meal. Their bodies are oval‑shaped, resembling a tiny apple seed, and display a reddish‑brown hue that darkens to a deeper mahogany after feeding. The dorsal surface is smooth, lacking wings or noticeable hairs, while the ventral side shows a lighter, cream‑colored abdomen. Six legs emerge from the thorax, each ending in tiny claws that aid in clinging to fabric. Antennae consist of three short segments, and the head bears a pair of beady eyes and a proboscis used for piercing skin.
Eggs are markedly smaller, averaging 0.5 mm in length and 0.2 mm in width. They appear as translucent, oval capsules that often take on a faint ivory or pale yellow tint. The shell is thin yet resilient, allowing the embryo to develop while remaining attached to a substrate. Bed bug females typically deposit eggs in clusters of 10–50, cementing each to fabric fibers, mattress seams, or cracks in walls. The adhesive secretion creates a matte, slightly glossy coating that can be seen as a faint line of specks along the edge of a mattress or in the creases of upholstery.
Key visual identifiers:
- Adult size: 4–5 mm (unfed), up to 7 mm (fed)
- Color: Reddish‑brown, darkening after a meal
- Shape: Flat, oval, apple‑seed silhouette
- Legs: Six, ending in claws; no wings or noticeable setae
- Eyes: Small, black, positioned on the head
- Egg dimensions: ~0.5 mm × 0.2 mm, translucent ivory
- Egg arrangement: Clusters of 10–50, cemented to surfaces
Recognizing these characteristics enables accurate identification of infestations and informs targeted control measures.