Do Bed Bugs Have Long Legs?
WouterBed bugs have six legs – the first pair of legs extending from the thorax and the second pair extending from the abdomen. Their feet have tiny hooks. Adult bed bugs are reddish brown in color, while their nymphs are paler. As they age, their exoskeleton darkens. The red color comes from the blood that they consume. They appear brighter when they have recently finished feeding.
Bed bugs are closely related to bat bugs. They have small oval bodies, two antennae, and beak-like mouthparts for feeding. Their bodies are segmented and have long hairs on their bodies. They are much smaller than a human, and the thorax is round.
In addition to feeding on human blood, bedbugs can feed on the blood of other mammals. While bedbugs are mainly attracted to human hosts, they are also known to live in clean and tidy environments. The bedbugs usually feed on their host’s blood during sleep. The beak of the insect pierces the skin and draws in blood from the host. The feeding process takes anywhere from three to ten minutes. Then, the bedbugs crawl away unnoticed.
Adult bed bugs are about four to five millimeters long. However, if they have recently consumed blood, their legs will be up to seven millimeters long. When feeding, bed bugs expand to accommodate their food. Their body shape is similar to that of an apple seed. They have oval-shaped abdomens and small heads. The coloration of their bodies depends on how recently they fed and their age.
