What do pigeon bedbugs look like? - briefly
Pigeon bedbugs are tiny, reddish‑brown insects about 2–4 mm long, with flat, oval bodies and visible wing‑like folds. Their bodies bear fine hairs and a pointed beak for piercing bird skin.
What do pigeon bedbugs look like? - in detail
Pigeon‑associated bed bugs are small, wingless insects belonging to the Cimicidae family. Adults measure 4–5 mm in length, roughly the size of a grain of rice. Their bodies are flat, oval, and dorsoventrally compressed, allowing them to hide between feathers and in nest crevices.
Key visual characteristics:
- Coloration: Light brown to reddish‑brown when unfed; after a blood meal, the abdomen becomes noticeably engorged and turns a darker, mahogany hue.
- Body segmentation: Pronotum (the shield‑like segment behind the head) is distinctly narrower than the abdomen, creating a “waist” appearance. The abdomen is broader and rounded.
- Legs: Six legs are visible from the ventral side; each leg ends in a small claw adapted for gripping feather shafts.
- Antennae: Four segmented, slender, and held close to the head; they are not prominent but can be seen under magnification.
- Eyes: Small, dark, and positioned laterally on the head.
- Mouthparts: Elongated, needle‑like proboscis used to pierce skin and draw blood; it is concealed within a groove when not feeding.
Eggs are tiny, white, and about 0.5 mm long, laid in clusters of 5–7 on nest material. Nymphs resemble adults but lack fully developed wings and are lighter in color, becoming darker after each molt.
These morphological traits enable the insects to remain concealed in pigeon roosts and to move quickly between hosts during feeding periods.