What does a bed bug colony look like? - briefly
A bed‑bug colony is a compact aggregation of 1–5 mm, flattened, reddish‑brown insects hidden in mattress seams, furniture joints, baseboard cracks, and similar refuges, together with their shed skins and minute white eggs. The group contains all developmental stages—eggs, several nymphal instars, and mature adults—arranged in overlapping clusters that expand outward as the infestation grows.
What does a bed bug colony look like? - in detail
A bed‑bug colony consists of several life stages clustered within a confined microhabitat. The population is dominated by adult females, which lay 1–5 eggs per day, accumulating up to several hundred eggs in a single hiding spot. Eggs appear as tiny, white‑to‑pale brown ovals, 0.5 mm in length, often glued to seams, cracks, or the underside of mattress tags.
Nymphs progress through five instars, each larger than the previous, measuring from 1.5 mm (first instar) to 5 mm (fifth instar). Their bodies are flattened, oval, and translucent at early stages, becoming increasingly reddish‑brown after each molt. All stages remain wingless and lack visible antennae segments, but they possess six legs and a pair of scent glands that release a characteristic odor when disturbed.
Adults measure 4–5 mm, are reddish‑brown, and have a distinctive "c-shaped" posture when at rest. The dorsal surface is smooth, while the ventral side shows a lighter, almost ivory coloration. Adults are capable of flightless dispersal, crawling several meters to locate new hosts or refuges.
The colony’s architecture is defined by its refuges:
- Primary shelters: mattress seams, box‑spring crevices, headboard cracks, and behind wall baseboards. These locations provide darkness, limited airflow, and proximity to a blood source.
- Secondary shelters: furniture joints, picture frames, electrical outlets, and luggage compartments. They serve as temporary waypoints during migration.
- Feeding sites: the human body, typically exposed skin during sleep. Feeding takes 5–10 minutes, after which the insect retreats to its refuge to digest and excrete.
Excrement appears as small, dark specks resembling pepper grains, often found near hiding places. These fecal spots confirm activity and may accumulate over weeks, staining fabric and wood.
Population dynamics follow a predictable pattern: egg production peaks in warm months (20–30 °C), nymphal development shortens to 5–7 days per instar, and adult longevity reaches 6–12 months under optimal conditions. In colder environments, development slows, and the colony may enter a dormant state, clustering in insulated areas until temperatures rise.
Overall, a mature infestation presents a layered structure of eggs, successive nymphal stages, and mature adults, all concentrated in concealed microhabitats that facilitate continuous access to a blood meal while remaining hidden from detection.