What Do Bed Bugs Look Like?
Bed bugs range from red to brown in color with flat, oval-shaped bodies that are roughly the size of an apple seed. Like other insects, their bodies are separated into three segments, with two antennae and six legs.
You can identify bed bugs by these qualities:
- Reddish-brown color
- Flat bodies that swell up after feeding
- Around 5 mm long at full growth
- Eggs are oblong, white, and about 1 mm long
How Big Do Bed Bugs Get?
Adult bed bugs can reach 5 mm in length, about the size of an apple seed, for reference. On average, the adult bed bug ranges from 1/4 to 3/16 of an inch long. Their size varies depending on whether they’ve recently found a blood meal. After feeding, the bed bug body will appear larger, rounder, and a brighter red. Adult bed bugs can be seen by the human eye even though they tend to hide away.
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Bed Bug Life Span
The bed bug life cycle progresses from the egg stage into five larvae (or nymph) stages. Bed bugs lay their eggs in safe and hidden areas like mattresses, furniture, wall cracks, baseboards, and floorboards. These eggs are white, oblong, and about 1 mm in length. Nymphs look like smaller versions of adult bed bugs. After finding a blood meal, the bed bug nymph will shed its exoskeleton several times before maturing into its adult stage.
How to Identify Bed Bugs in Northern Utah
Bed bugs are commonly mistaken for other insects, so it’s important to be able to identify them. Because they can be hard to see, you might want to use a magnifying glass to help identify them. Otherwise, it’s wise to ask a professional pest control company for help identifying bed bugs. By knowing how to discern bed bugs from other insects, you can more easily identify a problem in your home.
What Do Bed Bugs Look Like? in Salt Lake County and Northern Utah
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