What does a tropical bed bug look like? - briefly
The tropical bed bug is a wingless, oval insect roughly 4–5 mm in length, displaying a reddish‑brown to amber coloration that often lightens after a blood meal. Its dorsal surface is smooth, and it possesses short, slender legs ending in tiny claws.
What does a tropical bed bug look like? - in detail
The tropical bed bug, Cimex hemipterus, measures approximately 4.5–5 mm in length as an adult, slightly larger than the common species. Its body is dorsoventrally flattened, enabling movement beneath mattress seams and fabric folds. The exoskeleton displays a uniform reddish‑brown hue that darkens to a deep mahogany after a blood meal, while unfed individuals retain a lighter, tan coloration.
The head is short, bearing a pair of elongated, beaded antennae that extend forward. Compound eyes are absent; instead, simple ocelli are positioned laterally. Mouthparts form a curved proboscis, concealed beneath the head when not feeding, adapted for piercing skin and extracting blood.
The thorax consists of three distinct segments, each supporting a pair of legs with clawed tarsi. Legs are slender, pale‑yellow, and equipped with sensory setae that detect temperature and carbon dioxide. The abdomen is segmented, displaying subtle dorsal ridges and a smooth, glossy surface. After engorgement, the abdomen expands dramatically, taking on a rounded, balloon‑like appearance.
Key distinguishing features include:
- Slightly larger size compared with Cimex lectularius
- Darker post‑feeding coloration, shifting from tan to deep brown
- More pronounced dorsal ridges on the abdominal plates
- Antennae with a characteristic bead‑like segmentation pattern
Eggs are tiny, oval, and white, deposited in clusters of 10–50 on crevices near host sleeping areas. Nymphal stages resemble adults but are uniformly lighter and lack the full darkening observed after feeding. Each molt adds a new set of wing pads, though the species remains wingless throughout its life cycle.