What does a bloodied bedbug look like? - briefly
A blood‑filled bed bug is a tiny, oval insect about 5 mm long, with a swollen, reddish‑brown abdomen that appears glossy and may show dark spots where the blood is concentrated. Its legs and antennae stay pale, contrasting sharply with the darkened body.
What does a bloodied bedbug look like? - in detail
A fed bed bug measures roughly 5–7 mm in length, slightly larger than its unfed counterpart. The body becomes markedly swollen, especially the abdomen, which expands to a rounded, dome‑shaped form that can increase the insect’s overall size by up to 50 %. The cuticle, normally a matte brown‑reddish hue, turns a deep, glossy crimson or maroon as the engorged abdomen fills with digested blood.
The dorsal surface appears smooth, with the tergites (dorsal plates) stretched outward, revealing faint, irregular blood stains that may seep onto the surrounding exoskeleton. The ventral side shows a similar coloration, though the sternites may retain a lighter, tan shade where the cuticle is thinner.
Legs remain slender and elongated, each bearing five segments ending in tiny claws that cling to fabric or mattress seams. Antennae, composed of 11 segments, retain their pale, translucent appearance, contrasting with the darkened body. The head, tucked beneath the thorax, is small and rounded, with prominent, beady compound eyes that reflect light.
After a blood meal, the insect’s exoskeleton may exhibit a subtle sheen due to the fluid’s surface tension. If the bug is disturbed before the blood is fully digested, droplets of fresh blood can be observed at the tip of the proboscis or leaking from the abdominal region. This combination of enlarged, glossy abdomen, darkened coloration, and retained anatomical features defines the visual appearance of a blood‑filled bed bug.