What does a house bedbug look like and its bite? - briefly
The common household bedbug is a small, flat, reddish‑brown insect about 4–5 mm long, with an oval shape and visible seams on its back. Its bite causes a painless puncture followed by a small, red, itchy wel‑whe‑like swelling that may develop a raised, inflamed halo within hours.
What does a house bedbug look like and its bite? - in detail
The domestic bed bug is a small, oval‑shaped insect measuring 4–5 mm in length when unfed and expanding to about 7 mm after a blood meal. Its body is dorsally flat, reddish‑brown, and covered with fine hairs that give a matte appearance. The abdomen displays a distinctive, lighter‑colored crescent marking on each side, while the head and thorax are darker. Legs are short, three‑segmented, and end in tiny claws adapted for clinging to fabric. Antennae consist of six segments, each bearing sensory hairs. The insect’s mouthparts form a beak‑like proboscis capable of piercing skin and drawing blood.
Bite characteristics are defined by the following points:
- Location: Typically on exposed skin during sleep; common sites include the face, neck, arms, and hands.
- Initial appearance: Small, raised, red papules that may be grouped in a linear or clustered pattern, reflecting the insect’s feeding habit of moving along a host.
- Delayed reaction: Erythema and swelling often develop 12–48 hours after the bite; some individuals experience immediate itching, while others show no reaction until later.
- Secondary signs: Secondary excoriation from scratching, occasional formation of a wheal, and, in rare cases, vesicle or pustule development.
- Duration: Redness and itching can persist for several days; post‑inflammatory hyperpigmentation may remain for weeks.
Identification of the insect and recognition of its bite pattern are essential for timely control measures. Accurate visual assessment combined with observation of characteristic skin lesions enables effective diagnosis and intervention.