How Large Can Bed Bugs Grow?
WouterWhen you find a bedbug in your house, you may be wondering, how large can bed bugs grow? The answer depends on their life cycle. The nymphs, or baby bedbugs, are about 5 millimeters in length and can be easily seen in the nymph stage. These insects grow darker and larger as they mature. They are similar in size to fleas, which are about 1.5 to 3 millimeters long.
Adult bedbugs are oval in shape and have two antennae. The coloration of the bugs depends on their age and feeding habits. The young are translucent and reddish-brown, while the adult ones are light-colored and brown. The coloration varies with feeding status and size.
Bedbugs can grow to about 50% in size after a meal. They have 6 legs and are able to travel three to four feet per minute. Their life cycle begins with an egg. It is difficult to detect the eggs, because they are microscopic piles of rice. Once they have fed, they are able to move to the next nymph stage.
In the early stages of development, bedbugs are small, measuring only six to seven millimeters. Female bedbugs lay four to five eggs a day, and they will become adults within six weeks. A full-grown bedbug is about the size of an apple seed.
