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Bed bugs are small insects with the scientific name Cimex lectularius. Through the decades, these insects are considered pests in different countries, be it in the US, in Europe, in Asian countries and even in Africa.
Bed bugs are tiny miniscule creatures that creep slowly. They appear like tiny crawling dots when seen by the naked eye in broad daylight.
People have their opinion and perception as to how bed bugs look like. But generally, as can be seen in pictures printed all over text books, magazines or even online through the Internet, bed bugs closely resemble their closest relatives – mites.
Physical attributes
Since bed bugs are so tiny, it would be difficult if you attempt to just capture one and closely look at it. But you may try, if you are really curious. It is advisable, though, that you make use of a magnifying glass or lens.
Also make sure that the insect is already paralyzed or even dead, before touching it for inspection. Otherwise, you may find out for yourself how bed bugs look like in general, but you may be a catalyst in spreading the pest.
Keep in mind, small insects like bed bugs are very resilient, contrary to how they look like. Touching it for inspection, the bed bug might crawl out or run away of your palm.
Better to look at pictures of bed bugs in different easily accessible sources if you really want to know how it looks like.
To describe bed bugs, they generally are very tiny. They are usually colored deep brown. However, some bed bugs might appear white to creamy white.
When bed bugs are full of blood (after suck blooding blood for a living), they usually appear or look differently. Bed bugs which just enjoyed a sumptuous meal of blood from unwilling and unaware hosts, appear bloated. Usually, bed bugs look flat when viewed from to bottom.
But having blood in their stomach, bed bugs may look like small balloons. The difference, actually, is that what is inside them is not air but blood.
Presence of host’s blood inside their systems can also make bed bugs appear like small creatures with little black or deep red masses inside their bodies.
Wingless creatures
Unfortunately, the bed bugs are wingless. That means the only way they travel from one place to another to find ideal habitats or hosts, is through crawling.
That can be hard. Just imagine how rampant and wide spread they could have been if they have wings to allow them to easily wander and fly around.
Bed bugs look like tiny creatures, they are tinier than mites and ants, that creep into, through and from crevices, small cracks and tiny holes in floors, furniture, walls, bed and even clothes and bed sheets.
Bed bugs do not look like bats or vampires, but they are also nocturnal. It means they are out of sight during daytime, but go out to feed themselves during the night, when the unsuspecting host or victim is sleeping tightly.
However, so miniscule they may seem, but did you know that bed bugs, when reaching their full adult stage, can grow and lengthen by as long as a quarter of an inch? If you happen to closely look at one, or if you have seen one, for sure you have wished that they could have remained small.
Bed bugs’ life span
Bed bugs are so tiny, but did you know that on the average, adult bed bugs (with the assumption they eat regularly or are not starved) can last more than a year without consuming food?
That is true. Younger bed bugs, which, if not able to suck blood from victims, would only last a few weeks to about a month. That is much shorter compared to their adult counterparts, but apparently proves their resilience.
It is another wrong assumption that bed bugs look like they are not active in the reproductive department. During their entire life span, female bed bugs can carry and survive three pregnancies. Whenever they lay eggs, they lay about three hundred tiny eggs! That is really amazing considering their body size.
Size really matters because in bed bugs’ case, they have proven that they are small but terrible. You may not exactly imagine how they look like, but knowing their functions and notoriety would be an effective measure and equipment against them.
Tagged with: bed bugs control • pests control
Filed under: Bed Bugs