What Do Bedbugs Look Like?

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What do bedbugs look like? This is a question that you may find yourself asking after noticing a few bites. Bedbugs closely resemble other bugs like ticks, spider beetles, and fleas. But other factors like behavior and infestation signs can help in their identification. This article gives a detailed description of what bedbugs look like.

The adverse effects of bedbug infestations pose a serious problem. Not only are bedbugs a nuisance, but they can also cause health problems like allergy reactions and infections. Millions of dollars have also been spent to fix the damage that results from their activities. Yet, many people do not seem to know a bedbug when they see one. But if you can properly identify bedbugs, then you’re taking the first step to controlling them.

How to Identify a Bedbug

bedbugs are flat with an oval or round body. Like other insects, they have bodies divided into the head, thorax, and abdomen. Bedbugs have a pair of antennae and six legs, but they do not come with wings. Bedbugs can escape by crawling and hiding in crevices. When squashed, bedbugs release an offensive, musty odor.

Size of a Bedbug

Bedbugs are relatively small in size—ranging from 4 to 7mm in length. Being tiny makes bedbugs inconspicuous and enables them to stay concealed with ease.

Colour of a Bedbug

When adult bedbugs haven’t yet had food, they appear oval, flat, and brown. As soon as a bedbug eats, these insects become round, balloon-like, and turn reddish-brown. Bedbug eggs are minute and white, and younger bedbugs (nymphs) are cream-colored and look a bit smaller than the adults 

The behavior of a Bedbug

Bedbugs are widely spread around the globe. Their small form and hiding abilities make their dispersal easy. Both male and female bedbugs feed only on blood, so they stay near mammals—especially humans. Bedbugs have modified biting mouthparts that enable them to suck blood. As nocturnal parasites, they are most at work during the night. When hungry for long, bedbugs can feed during the day while staying in the dark.

Mattresses, beddings, furniture, and crevices are good hiding spots for bedbugs, so you might not encounter them often and could even unknowingly carry them to new locations. This pest species can live for months and survive for a long time without feeding on blood.

Life Stages of a Bedbug

Bedbugs go through an incomplete metamorphosis. Female bedbugs lay many whitish eggs in mattresses and crevices. The eggs then hatch into a younger and smaller form called a nymph. During the next 6-7 weeks, these bedbug nymphs grow through five subsequent stages which are called instars. During that time, they actively feed and shed their molt, so you may find insect sheddings on mattresses or furniture. Bedbug nymphs are tiny and can prove difficult to see, but when they grow into adults they become more visible.

Signs of Bedbug Infestation

You may have a bedbug infestation if you have the following signs:

• Itchy bumps on your skin
• Specks of bedbug molt, egg cases, or feces on beddings and mattresses
• Offensive or musty smell around bed or furniture
• Reddish or brown bloodstains on bedclothes or pillowcases.

If you plan on traveling, always check The Bed Bug Registry before leaving.

Bedbug Services in Metro Detroit

Take note of the physical features and behaviors of bedbugs to identify them. Detecting signs of their infestation can help to spot an invasion before it gets out of hand. Controlling bedbugs can be difficult and the sooner you contact a bedbug professional, the faster you get rid of them.

Solidified Pest Control offers bedbug services all throughout Metro Detroit, Michigan. We even offer discreet commercial bedbug services for apartments, hotels, rentals, and homes. Contact us today at (248) 820-3057.

Solidified Pest Control of Michigan offers bedbug removal services all over Wayne, Oakland, and Macomb counties. We service cities like Redford, Livonia, Dearborn, Troy, Ferndale, Southfield, Royal Oak, Canton, Westland, Plymouth, Ann Arbor, Detroit, Farmington, Farmington Hills, Novi, Wixom, Milford, West Bloomfield, Bloomfield Township, Sterling Heights, Clinton Township, Harrison Township, Eastpointe, Auburn Hills, Rochester, Rochester Hills, and Pontiac, Michigan. In addition to bedbug services, Solidified Pest Control also has pest and wildlife removal.