What does a bedbug look like: does it have wings? - briefly
A bedbug is a small, flat, oval insect about 4–5 mm long, reddish‑brown in color, with six legs and no visible antennae. It lacks wings entirely and moves by crawling.
What does a bedbug look like: does it have wings? - in detail
A bed bug (Cimex lectularius) measures 4–5 mm in length, about the size of an apple seed. Its body is oval, dorsoventrally flattened, and covered with a matte, reddish‑brown exoskeleton that darkens after feeding. The head is small, tucked beneath the pronotum, bearing a pair of short, beaded antennae. Each side of the thorax supports three pairs of legs, each leg ending in a claw that enables rapid movement across fabric. The abdomen consists of five visible segments, ending in a pointed tip.
Key visual markers include:
- Color change: After a blood meal, the abdomen expands and turns a brighter, engorged red.
- Wing absence: Members of the Cimicidae family lack functional wings; flight is impossible.
- Scent glands: A faint, sweet, musty odor may be detected when a large number of insects are present.
Reproductive females develop a swollen abdomen when filled with eggs, which appear as tiny, white ovals attached to a substrate. Nymphs resemble adults but are lighter in color and lack fully developed wing pads, confirming the species’ complete lack of wings throughout its life cycle.