What do bedbug bites and the bugs themselves look like? - briefly
Bedbug bites appear as tiny, red, itchy welts often grouped in a line or cluster on exposed skin. The insects are flat, oval, reddish‑brown insects about 4–5 mm long, becoming slightly swollen and lighter after feeding.
What do bedbug bites and the bugs themselves look like? - in detail
Bed‑bug bites appear as small, raised welts typically 2–5 mm in diameter. The center is often a pale, slightly raised area surrounded by a reddish halo that may become more pronounced after several hours. Itching intensity varies, but the lesions frequently develop in linear or clustered patterns, reflecting the insect’s feeding habit of moving along a host’s skin. In some cases, a faint, dark spot marks the exact point of penetration where the insect injected saliva.
The insect itself measures 4–5 mm in length, resembling an apple seed when unfed. Its body is flat, oval, and reddish‑brown, becoming more swollen and darker after a blood meal. Six legs emerge from the thorax, each ending in a tiny claw. Two elongated antennae extend forward, and a pair of wing‑like folds cover the dorsal surface, though true wings are absent. The abdomen shows visible segmentation, and the head bears a short proboscis used to pierce skin.
Key visual identifiers that separate bed‑bugs from similar pests:
- Size comparable to a grain of rice, not exceeding 6 mm.
- Color transition from light brown to deep mahogany after feeding.
- Flat, oval silhouette with no wings.
- Presence of a “c‑shaped” or “U‑shaped” bite arrangement on the skin.
- Dark, rust‑colored spots on fabrics where insects have been crushed.
These characteristics enable reliable recognition of both the bite marks and the insects responsible.