What do bed lice and bedbugs look like? - briefly
Bed lice are tiny, wing‑less insects about 1–2 mm long, reddish‑brown, flattened, with six clearly visible legs. Bedbugs are slightly larger (4–5 mm), also reddish‑brown and oval, but become more swollen and darker after feeding, showing a distinctive “apple‑core” silhouette.
What do bed lice and bedbugs look like? - in detail
Bed lice are tiny, wingless insects belonging to the family Pediculidae. Adults measure 2–4 mm in length, have a flattened, oval body, and display a gray‑white coloration that darkens after a blood meal. Their heads are small with short, claw‑like mouthparts adapted for piercing skin. Six legs end in hooked claws that enable firm attachment to hair shafts or fabric. The abdomen consists of seven visible segments, each bearing fine, translucent scales that give a slightly iridescent sheen. Nymphs resemble adults but are smaller (1 mm at hatching) and lack fully developed reproductive organs.
Bedbugs, members of the family Cimicidae, are slightly larger, ranging from 4.5 to 7 mm when fully grown. Their bodies are dorsoventrally flattened, facilitating movement within crevices. Color varies from reddish‑brown in unfed individuals to a deeper, engorged hue after feeding. The head is short, bearing a beak‑like proboscis used to draw blood. Antennae consist of four segments, each bearing sensory hairs. Six legs are positioned midway along the body; each leg ends in a small claw for gripping surfaces. The abdomen is composed of five visible segments, each bearing a pair of dorsal bristles that can be felt as a faint ridge. Nymphal stages progress through five instars, increasing in size from about 1.5 mm (first instar) to near adult dimensions, with coloration darkening after each blood meal.
Key visual distinctions:
- Size: lice 2–4 mm; bedbugs 4.5–7 mm.
- Body shape: lice more cylindrical; bedbugs broader and flatter.
- Color: lice generally pale gray‑white; bedbugs reddish‑brown, darkening after feeding.
- Antennae: lice have short, three‑segmented antennae; bedbugs have four‑segmented antennae.
- Habitat clues: lice are found attached to hair or clothing fibers; bedbugs are located in mattress seams, furniture cracks, and wall voids.
These characteristics enable accurate identification and differentiation between the two pests.