What do bedbugs, fleas, and lice look like? - briefly
Bedbugs are reddish‑brown, oval, flattened insects about 4–5 mm long, with a pointed head and visible antennae. Fleas are dark brown, laterally‑compressed jumpers roughly 2–3 mm in size, while lice are elongated, wingless parasites 2–4 mm long, gray‑to‑brown, with clawed legs for gripping hair or feathers.
What do bedbugs, fleas, and lice look like? - in detail
Bedbugs are oval, flattened insects measuring 4–5 mm in length. Their bodies are reddish‑brown, becoming darker after feeding. Antennae consist of four short segments, and they possess a beak‑like proboscis for piercing skin. The dorsal surface shows faint mottled patterns, while the legs are short and adapted for crawling on fabric.
Fleas are small, laterally compressed arthropods about 2–3 mm long. Their bodies are dark brown to reddish, with a hard exoskeleton that gives a shiny appearance. Large hind legs are built for jumping, ending in spines that grip host hair. Antennae are concealed beneath the head capsule, and the head bears a siphon used to ingest blood.
Lice are wingless, elongated parasites ranging from 2 mm (head lice) to 4 mm (body lice). Their coloration varies from gray‑white to tan, often with a darker posterior abdomen. Each louse has six legs, each ending in clawed tarsi that cling to hair shafts. The head bears a short, pointed mandible for feeding, and the thorax bears three pairs of legs, giving a characteristic “spider‑like” silhouette.