What Do Bed Bugs Look Like?
WouterYou’ve probably been wondering, “What do bedbugs look like?” These insects are tiny, but their size can vary. They can grow to be up to an eighth of an inch long, depending on the life stage and their environment. Bedbugs’ body shape and size also differs from one generation to another.
Adult bedbugs are reddish brown in color and are about four to five millimeters in length. The larvae are much smaller and are often difficult to detect. However, you may notice that some bugs are larger than others. It’s possible to tell which type of bug you’ve encountered by its size and color.
Bedbugs have four parts to their antennae. These parts resemble wings but don’t allow them to fly. They also have short, gold-colored hairs and a musty odor. While they can’t fly, they can cause an allergic reaction in humans. In severe cases, oral corticosteroids are recommended.
Unlike fleas and mosquitoes, bedbugs can leave red and itchy welts, and bedbug bites can last up to 14 days. Most of these bugs can’t be seen by people, and most who are bitten don’t even know they’ve been bitten. However, some people develop skin infections and scars from their bites. These bugs are particularly harmful to people with asthma or allergies.
In order to reproduce, bedbugs must feed on their host. To do this, they probe the host’s skin, looking for a ‘perfect spot’. The feeding process takes five to ten minutes, and the bedbug’s body will be much heavier than it was before the meal.
