What does a clothing bedbug look like? - briefly
The clothing bed bug is a small, reddish‑brown insect about 4–5 mm long, with a flat, oval body and visible wing pads. It lacks the darker‑colored abdomen of the common bed bug and is typically found in seams and folds of fabrics.
What does a clothing bedbug look like? - in detail
The clothing bed bug, Cimex hemipterus or the less common Cimex lectularius when found in fabrics, measures 4–5 mm in length as an adult. Its body is oval, flattened laterally, and covered with a fine, pale‑brown exoskeleton that darkens to reddish‑brown after a blood meal. The dorsal surface bears a smooth, matte texture without noticeable hairs or scales. The head is concealed beneath the pronotum, leaving only the antennae—four segmented, slender, and light‑colored—visible at the anterior margin.
Key visual characteristics:
- Color variation: unengorged individuals appear light tan; engorged specimens become deep mahogany, sometimes with a glossy sheen.
- Body shape: egg‑shaped when unfed, becoming markedly swollen after feeding, expanding up to 7 mm in length.
- Wings: vestigial, non‑functional, hidden beneath the thorax, confirming the insect’s flightlessness.
- Legs: six short, sturdy legs ending in tiny claws adapted for gripping fabric fibers.
- Eyes: absent; navigation relies on sensory setae and chemical cues.
- Abdomen: segmented with faint pale lines that may become visible when the insect is illuminated from behind.
Nymphal stages resemble the adult but are smaller (1.5–4 mm) and lighter in color, lacking the deepening hue that appears after blood ingestion. Each molt adds a new instar, increasing size and darkening the cuticle gradually.
When inspected on clothing, the bug often hides in seams, folds, or the inner lining of garments. Under magnification, the exoskeleton shows a subtle, reticulated pattern of minute punctures, especially on the pronotum and elytra. These details differentiate the clothing‑dwelling species from other small, winged insects that may be present in textiles.