What do bedbugs look? - briefly
Bedbugs are tiny, oval, flattened insects about 4–5 mm long, reddish‑brown in color, with a smooth, wingless body and no visible segmentation. After a blood meal they swell, becoming lighter‑colored and balloon‑like in shape.
What do bedbugs look? - in detail
Bedbugs are small, wingless insects belonging to the family Cimicidae. Adult specimens measure approximately 4–5 mm in length, comparable to the size of an apple seed. Their bodies are flattened dorsoventrally, allowing them to hide within narrow crevices. The exoskeleton exhibits a reddish‑brown hue that darkens after feeding, when the abdomen expands with digested blood.
Key visual characteristics include:
- Shape: Oval and elongated, with a distinct “cigar‑like” silhouette.
- Color: Initially pale brown; after a blood meal, the abdomen becomes a deep mahogany or rust color.
- Surface texture: Smooth, glossy cuticle lacking visible hairs or scales.
- Head: Small, concealed beneath the pronotum, bearing two short antennae and a pair of compound eyes.
- Mouthparts: Piercing‑sucking proboscis adapted for extracting blood, extending forward from the head.
- Legs: Six legs, each ending in a claw that assists in climbing fabric and walls.
- Wings: Absent; mobility relies on walking and occasional passive transport.
Nymphal stages resemble adults but are lighter in color and smaller, ranging from 1.5 mm in the first instar to 4 mm in the fifth. Their bodies become progressively darker with each molt. Eggs are tiny (≈0.5 mm), white, and oval, often deposited in clusters within seams of mattresses or furniture. This detailed morphology aids in accurate identification and effective control measures.