Bedbugs are parasitic insects that feed on blood—specifically, human blood. They’ll feed on other mammals such as cats and dogs as well. While these bugs are big enough to be seen by the human eye, hiding is one of their specialties. They enjoy burrowing into warm spaces like furniture, bedding and the cracks and crevices of mattresses. 

Adult bed bugs have wing pads, but they aren’t used for flying. These blood-sucking pests are crawlers—and fast ones at that. Bed bugs have antennas and short golden-colored hairs. They also give off a smelly, musty odor produced through their glands on the lower part of their body. It’s important to know what to look for, so you’re able to correctly identify them and stem a potential infestation. 

Color

Bed bug colors vary from red to orange to brown. Immature bed bugs are an off-white color—mostly translucent. They take on a bright red translucent color on their abdomen after feeding. That color then fades to brown and, as they grow, they become darker brown and less translucent. 

Adult bed bugs are a rusty reddish-brown color. Their bodies become a bright red color after feeding. They turn this color as they digest their blood meal. Once they have digested their food and are searching for their next meal, hungry bed bugs will turn a paler orange color.  

Shape

Bed bugs are oval-shaped with long bodies. They take on the shape of an apple seed. Sometimes, they look like tiny brown balloons. This depends on whether they’ve fed recently or not. They have six legs each with two antennas and are slightly flat unless they’ve fattened up from feeding.

Size

Bed bugs vary in size, depending on their stage in the life cycle. When they first hatch, they’re about the size of the head of a pin. It’ll be quite hard to see them at this size unless they’ve been feeding and their color starts to brighten. Adult bed bugs are about 4-5 millimeters or 3/16 of an inch long. Not only are they the shape of an apple seed, but they’re the size of one too.

No one wants to encounter bed bugs in their home. Their bite can impact your health in several ways, from allergic symptoms to skin rashes to even taking a toll on your psychological well-being. 

That’s why it’s so important to be on the lookout for signs and to know how to identify them. If you know or suspect that you have a bed bug infestation in your home or business, call on A-Academy Pest Control. Our team of experienced pest control technicians will put our expertise and skill to work and solve your pest problem before it rages out of control. Contact A-Academy Pest Control today!