What do lice, fleas, and bedbugs look like? - briefly
Lice are tiny, wingless insects 2–4 mm long, flattened, gray‑white, and often found attached to hair shafts. Fleas are 1–4 mm, laterally compressed, dark brown with long hind legs for jumping, while bedbugs are oval, reddish‑brown bugs about 4–5 mm that swell after feeding.
What do lice, fleas, and bedbugs look like? - in detail
Lice are tiny, wing‑less insects measuring 2–4 mm in length. Their bodies are flattened laterally, facilitating movement through hair shafts. The head‑lice variety exhibits a gray‑white coloration, while body lice appear slightly larger (up to 5 mm) and have a more robust, darker abdomen. Both sexes possess six legs ending in clawed tarsi that grasp individual hairs. Antennae are short, and the head bears a pair of compound eyes. Eggs, called nits, are oval, translucent, and firmly attached to hair strands near the scalp.
Fleas are agile, laterally compressed parasites ranging from 1.5 to 3.5 mm. Their exoskeleton is dark brown to reddish‑black, often appearing glossy. The body tapers toward the rear, ending in a short, stiff “paddle” used for jumping. Large hind femora house powerful muscles that enable leaps up to 150 times their body length. Six legs end in spines that grip fur or fabric. Antennae are concealed beneath the head capsule, and the mouthparts form a piercing‑sucking stylet for blood extraction.
Bed bugs are oval, flattened insects measuring 4–5 mm when unfed and expanding to 6–7 mm after feeding. Their coloration varies from reddish‑brown to a lighter tan after a blood meal. The dorsal surface displays a distinct, diamond‑shaped pattern formed by the fusion of the thorax and abdomen. Six legs are short, ending in blunt claws suited for crawling on fabric. The head bears a beak‑like proboscis used to pierce skin. Eggs are tiny, white, and about 1 mm long, laid in clusters on seams or crevices.
Key visual distinctions:
- Size: lice (2–4 mm), fleas (1.5–3.5 mm), bed bugs (4–7 mm after feeding).
- Body shape: lice flattened laterally, fleas laterally compressed with a jumping paddle, bed bugs oval with a dorsal diamond pattern.
- Color: lice gray‑white, fleas dark brown to black, bed bugs reddish‑brown to tan.
- Locomotion: lice crawl through hair, fleas jump using enlarged hind legs, bed bugs crawl on textiles.
These characteristics enable accurate identification and appropriate control measures.