What is the bedbug they are showing? - briefly
The insect shown is a common bedbug (Cimex lectularius), a wing‑less, reddish‑brown parasite that feeds on human blood, typically hiding in mattresses and cracks near sleeping areas. It has a flattened body, nocturnal activity, and can survive for months without feeding.
What is the bedbug they are showing? - in detail
The insect displayed is a common bed bug, Cimex lectularius, an obligate hematophagous parasite of humans. Adults measure 4–5 mm in length, have a flattened, oval body, and lack wings. Their coloration ranges from reddish‑brown after feeding to a lighter amber when unfed. The dorsal surface is covered with fine hairs and a distinctive, crescent‑shaped pale band runs across the abdomen.
Legs are short, each ending in a claw that enables the bug to cling to fabric and mattress seams. Antennae consist of five segments, each bearing sensory receptors for heat, carbon dioxide, and host odor. The mouthparts form a beak‑like proboscis capable of piercing skin and injecting saliva that contains anticoagulants and anesthetics, allowing painless feeding.
Reproductive biology includes traumatic insemination, where the male pierces the female’s abdomen to deliver sperm directly into the hemocoel. Females lay 1–5 eggs per day, depositing them in crevices near the host’s sleeping area. Eggs hatch in 6–10 days, and nymphs undergo five molts before reaching adulthood, requiring a blood meal at each stage.
Key identification features:
- Size: 4–5 mm (adult)
- Body shape: dorsoventrally flattened, oval
- Color: reddish‑brown after a blood meal, lighter when unfed
- Abdomen: pale, crescent‑shaped band
- Antennae: five‑segmented, sensory
- Legs: short with clawed tarsi
Behavioral traits include nocturnal activity, attraction to body heat and carbon dioxide, and a tendency to hide in mattress seams, box springs, furniture crevices, and wall voids. The species survives for months without feeding, enabling persistence in unoccupied dwellings.
Understanding these morphological and biological characteristics is essential for accurate identification and effective control measures.