What do indoor bedbugs look like? - briefly
Indoor bedbugs are small, oval‑shaped insects about 4–5 mm long, reddish‑brown, and flat when unfed, becoming swollen and brighter after feeding. Their bodies are covered with tiny hairs and they lack wings.
What do indoor bedbugs look like? - in detail
Indoor bedbugs are small, flattened insects that measure approximately 4–5 mm in length when unfed and about 2–3 mm after a blood meal. Their bodies are oval and dorsoventrally compressed, allowing easy movement beneath mattress seams and furniture joints. The exoskeleton is a matte, reddish‑brown hue; after feeding, the abdomen expands and the color becomes a brighter, reddish tone. When the insect is fully engorged, its size can increase to nearly 7 mm, and the abdomen appears distended and lighter in shade.
Key visual characteristics include:
- Six legs positioned laterally, each ending in a pair of tiny claws that facilitate climbing on fabric and smooth surfaces.
- Two antennae, each about 1 mm long, equipped with sensory hairs for detecting heat and carbon dioxide.
- No wings; flight is impossible, emphasizing a crawling locomotion pattern.
- A pair of small, curved mouthparts (proboscis) concealed beneath the head, used to pierce skin and draw blood.
- Lightly spotted or speckled pattern on the dorsal surface, often visible only under magnification.
Molting stages (nymphs) resemble adults but are lighter in color and smaller, ranging from 1.5 mm to 4 mm. Each molt results in a darker, more robust appearance. Egg clusters, or “oothecae,” are about 1 mm in diameter, creamy‑white, and attached to fabric folds or crevices; they hatch into nymphs within 6–10 days under optimal conditions.
The combination of size, color change after feeding, flattened body, and distinct leg and antenna morphology distinguishes indoor bedbugs from other household pests such as carpet beetles, fleas, or moth larvae. Recognizing these traits facilitates early detection and appropriate control measures.