What do domestic bed bugs look like and where can they be found? - briefly
Domestic bed bugs («Cimex lectularius») are oval, flattened insects about 4‑5 mm long, reddish‑brown before feeding and turning brighter after a blood meal. They are found in mattress seams, box‑spring crevices, headboards, upholstered furniture and any nearby cracks or crevices where people sleep.
What do domestic bed bugs look like and where can they be found? - in detail
Domestic bed bugs are small, wingless insects measuring approximately 4–5 mm in length when unfed and expanding to about 7 mm after a blood meal. Their bodies are flat and oval, resembling a reddish‑brown apple seed. The abdomen displays a darker, almost black hue, while the thorax is lighter. After feeding, the abdomen becomes swollen and more pronouncedly crimson. Six legs emerge from the thorax, each ending in tiny claws that aid in clinging to fabric. Antennae are short, segmented, and hidden beneath the head when at rest. Eggs are tiny, white, and about 0.5 mm in diameter, often deposited in clusters of 10–30 on surfaces near host activity.
Typical habitats include:
- Mattress seams, box‑spring folds, and bed frames where blood‑rich environments exist.
- Upholstered furniture such as sofas, armchairs, and recliners, particularly in crevices and stitching.
- Wall voids, baseboard cracks, and electrical outlet covers that provide shelter and access routes.
- Luggage, backpacks, and clothing transported from infested locations, facilitating spread to new dwellings.
- Curtains, draperies, and decorative fabrics that remain undisturbed for extended periods.
Infestations frequently concentrate near sleeping areas but can extend throughout a residence via interconnected voids and personal belongings. Early detection relies on visual identification of the insect’s characteristic shape and coloration, as well as the presence of shed exoskeletons, dark fecal spots, and faint, sweet‑musty odors emitted by large colonies.