What does a domestic laundry bedbug look like? - briefly
The domestic laundry bedbug is a flat, oval, wingless insect about 4–5 mm long, reddish‑brown in color and becomes brighter and swollen after feeding. Its head is hidden beneath the thorax, and it possesses six legs with tiny bristles.
What does a domestic laundry bedbug look like? - in detail
A household laundry bedbug is a small, oval‑shaped insect measuring 4–5 mm in length when unfed. Its body is flattened dorsally, facilitating movement through fabric seams and creases. The exoskeleton is a matte, reddish‑brown hue that darkens to a deeper burgundy after a blood meal. The abdomen is broad, rounded, and covered with fine, hair‑like setae that give a slightly fuzzy appearance under magnification. Six legs emerge from the thorax, each ending in a pair of tiny claws that grip fibers. Antennae consist of four slender segments, each bearing sensory hairs. The head is concealed beneath the pronotum, making the eye spots difficult to see without a microscope; when visible, the eyes appear as tiny, dark dots near the front of the thorax.
Key visual markers:
- Size: 4–5 mm (unfed), expanding to about 6 mm after feeding.
- Color: matte reddish‑brown, turning deep burgundy post‑blood meal.
- Shape: dorsally flattened, oval, with a broad abdomen.
- Surface: fine setae giving a slight fuzziness.
- Legs: six, each with two claws adapted for fabric.
- Antennae: four segmented, tipped with sensory hairs.
Nymphal stages resemble adults but are lighter in color and smaller, ranging from 1.5 mm in the first instar to 3 mm in the fifth. Each molt adds a darker shade and increased size. After a blood meal, the abdomen swells noticeably, and the insect may appear glossy. When the bug is exposed to heat or detergent residues in laundry, the exoskeleton may become slightly cracked, but the overall morphology remains consistent.
These characteristics differentiate laundry‑associated bedbugs from moth larvae, carpet beetles, and other household pests, which typically exhibit smoother bodies, different coloration, or distinct leg structures.