What does a dead bedbug look like? - briefly
A dead bedbug is a tiny, flattened insect about 4–5 mm long, typically brown or reddish‑brown, with a hardened, non‑glossy exoskeleton and no visible movement. After desiccation it may turn pale or whitish, and its legs and antennae become rigid and detached.
What does a dead bedbug look like? - in detail
A dead bed bug measures roughly 4–5 mm in length and 1–2 mm in width. The body is oval, dorsoventrally flattened, and lacks the glossy, reddish hue seen in a freshly fed specimen. After death, the exoskeleton becomes matte and often turns brown to dark brown, sometimes appearing almost black as melanin accumulates.
The abdomen collapses slightly, causing the overall shape to look more tapered toward the posterior. Legs and antennae remain attached but become rigid; they may curl inward or lie flat against the thorax. The eyes, which are small dark spots on live insects, become indistinct. Mouthparts are still visible, but the proboscis loses its characteristic curvature.
Key visual cues include:
- Color shift from bright reddish‑brown to dull brown or black.
- Loss of sheen; the cuticle appears dry and matte.
- Rigid, non‑moving appendages that may be curled.
- Slight flattening of the abdomen and overall body.
- Absence of fresh blood stains or fecal spots nearby.
Live bed bugs are active, capable of rapid movement, and often display a swollen abdomen after feeding. In contrast, a deceased individual remains motionless, with a shrunken, desiccated abdomen and no sign of recent blood engorgement. The lack of any twitching or escape response confirms mortality.