What do bedbugs look like after they have bitten? - briefly
After feeding, a bedbug becomes noticeably larger, with a swollen, reddish‑brown abdomen. The bite on skin typically appears as a small, red, raised welt that may itch.
What do bedbugs look like after they have bitten? - in detail
A bedbug that has just taken a blood meal expands dramatically. Its abdomen swells to a glossy, mahogany‑brown oval that can be 5–7 mm long, nearly twice the size of an unfed specimen. The exoskeleton becomes softer, and the insect may appear translucent in places where the blood fills the gut. Legs and antennae remain the same dark brown, but the overall silhouette looks puffier and more rounded.
The bite itself produces a small, raised spot on the skin. Initially the mark is a faint pink papule, often 1–3 mm in diameter. Within a few hours it may turn brighter red and become intensely itchy. When multiple insects feed in succession, the lesions commonly line up in a short row or cluster, reflecting the bug’s habit of moving a short distance before biting again. The rash can develop a central puncture point, sometimes surrounded by a lighter halo. In some individuals the reaction intensifies, leading to swelling, a wheal, or a blister that may last several days before fading to a brownish discoloration.
Typical progression of the skin reaction:
- 0–2 hours: faint pink papule, mild itching.
- 2–24 hours: deepening redness, increased pruritus, possible linear arrangement.
- 24–72 hours: swelling or wheal formation, potential blister.
- 3–7 days: color fades to a light brown spot, itching diminishes.
- Beyond a week: residual hyperpigmentation may linger for weeks.
Key visual cues distinguishing bedbug bites from other arthropod reactions include the linear or clustered pattern and the absence of a central puncture mark typical of mosquito bites. The size remains small and uniform, and the lesions rarely develop a raised “target” shape seen with spider or tick bites.