How Small Can Bed Bugs Get?
WouterThe size of bedbugs depends on their stage of development and the environment they live in. Adult bugs can grow up to seven millimeters in length, but nymphs start at just one millimeter in length. Since bedbugs are flat, they can squeeze into cracks and crevices larger than two millimeters. They prefer to hide in bed seams and furniture joints, as well as in folds of curtains.
Adult bedbugs are reddish brown in color and are three-quarters of an inch long. They have six legs and two antennae. The adults are easily mistaken for other household insects, because their bodies are similar in appearance. They also change color when they feed. The adult bedbugs live for about 6-7 weeks before producing eggs.
Eggs of bed bugs are smaller than the adult bedbugs and are about a millimeter in diameter. If you use a bright flashlight to look for the eggs, you’ll be able to spot them. The eggs are white and pearl-like, and they’re almost invisible to the naked eye.
The bite of a bedbug is difficult to detect. The bites themselves look like those of other insects. However, they’re painless and don’t cause any discomfort. In addition, they take days or weeks to appear, depending on the severity of the infestation. The bites are usually between 0.1 to 1.5 inches in diameter, though some people have larger bites than others.
