What does a real bed bug look like? - briefly
A real bed bug is a flat, oval, wingless insect about 4–5 mm long, reddish‑brown in color, with a smooth body and tiny white eggs often visible near the abdomen. Its head is tiny, eyes are absent, and its legs are short and adapted for crawling.
What does a real bed bug look like? - in detail
A genuine Cimex lectularius measures approximately 4–5 mm in length and 1.5–3 mm in width, resembling an apple seed when unfed. The body is flat and oval, becoming more elongated after a blood meal. Color shifts from a pale, almost translucent hue to a deep reddish‑brown as it fills with blood; after digestion, the abdomen may appear mottled or lighter.
The exoskeleton consists of three distinct regions:
- Head: diminutive, equipped with a pair of long, slender antennae bearing sensory pits.
- Thorax: bears six legs, each ending in a curved claw for gripping fabric; legs are visible as thin, dark lines along the sides.
- Abdomen: segmented into seven visible tergites, each bearing fine hairs that give a slightly fuzzy appearance. The dorsal surface often shows a faint, honey‑comb pattern of tiny punctures.
Nymphs resemble adults but are smaller (1.5–2 mm) and lighter in color, lacking the deep red after feeding. They undergo five molts, each stage increasing in size and acquiring the characteristic reddish tone after a blood meal.
Key visual markers for identification:
- Flat, oval body when not engorged; becomes balloon‑like after feeding.
- Reddish‑brown coloration in fed individuals.
- Six legs positioned near the rear half of the body.
- Two small, beak‑like mouthparts (proboscis) concealed beneath the head.
- No wings and no visible external ears or eyes; sight is limited to light‑sensitive cells on the antennae.
These characteristics differentiate true bed bugs from similar insects such as booklice, carpet beetles, or mosquito larvae, which vary in size, body shape, and coloration.