The thought of bed bugs alone is enough to make a person anxious because these pests will cause both pain and frustration. Their bites will hurt, and getting rid of them is not an easy thing to do.
Knowing what bed bugs look like will allow for easy detection, making removal easier and less stressful. Proper identification will allow for early intervention, which is very important. Bed bugs are often mistaken for other insects, so a close examination is a must; otherwise, you may think they are fleas, ticks or carpet beetles.
Characteristics
Bed bugs have three main body parts, six legs and two antennae. These insects are generally light brown or reddish brown and grow to about 7mm long. Their shape and size are comparable to that of an apple seed, and because bed bugs feed exclusively on blood, their shape will change based on how recently they have eaten. An unfed bug will be flat and oval-shaped, whereas a full one will look swollen and balloon-shaped.
Bed bugs do not have wings and cannot jump or fly, and are generally found within a few feet of a sleeping area.
Nymphs
Baby bed bugs are called nymphs. These insects will go through incomplete metamorphosis, so they will hatch from an egg and go through several nymphal stages and moults before they reach adulthood. A bed bug will look like small versions of the adult form during every stage, although they will be sexually immature.
Newly hatched nymphs are very tiny and are comparable to the size of a pinhead. They are also clear or translucent in colour, so if a baby bug consumes a blood meal, its abdomen will be bright red until the blood is digested. They are challenging to see during this stage, but bed bug nymphs will become larger and darker in colour with each moult.
Eggs
A bed bug infestation will consist mainly of nymphs and eggs, and adult bed bugs will make up only a small part of the population. The problem is that bed bug eggs are very small and difficult to see because they are whitish in colour and about 1 mm long. Their shape can be compared to that of a grain of rice.
Bed bug eggs can be stuck to the surfaces of bedding, mattresses, furniture and in small crevices and cracks.
If you notice unexplained bites while sleeping or spot bed bugs in your home, it’s a sign that you have a problem, and it is best to rely on a professional exterminator for help. Contact Pest Control has been helping homeowners in the Toronto and North York areas for years. We will always use the best tools, methods and equipment to safely and effectively eliminate your infestation. We are experts when it comes to pest control and will apply the right bed bug treatment.
Contact us today to hear more about our bed bug removal services!