What do bed bugs look like?
Bed bugs can be reddish-brown in color. They have flat, oval-shaped bodies that are typically the size of an apple seed. Their tiny bodies are divided into three segments. They have six legs with a set of antennae.
Bed bugs can be identified by:
- Their red-brown color
- Their flat bodies that occasionally engorge after a meal
- Their small size, usually no more than 5 mm
- Their eggs, which are white, oblong, and about 1 mm long
What is the Size of a Bed Bug?
Bed bugs range in size from ¼ to 3/16 of an inch. As adults, bed bugs can be up to 5 mm long, which is about the size of an apple seed. Depending on whether or not they’ve recently fed, their size can change. They may appear slightly engorged after a blood meal—their bodies could appear longer and more red in color. While nymphs and eggs are hard to see, it’s possible to spot bed bugs in the adult stage.
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What is a Bed Bug’s Life Cycle?
The life cycle of a bed bug includes five larvae or nymph stages. Eggs are often laid in mattresses or box springs, furniture, wall cracks, baseboards, and floorboards. Once they hatch, nymphs look like tiny versions of adult bed bugs. When feeding, the bed bug nymph will shed its exoskeleton as it grows in size several times before maturing into an adult bed bug.
How to Identify Bed Bugs in Illinois and Indiana
Bed bugs are often mistaken for other types of insects, making it important to know what they look like. Especially in the earlier stages of their life, they can be difficult to spot unless you know what you’re looking for. It’s recommended to use a magnifying glass to help identify them. Otherwise, you should always consult the opinion of a professional bed bug company when it comes to identifying bed bugs. By knowing what bed bugs look like,you can act quickly when you notice the first signs of a problem!
