A Simple Guide to Bed Bug Anatomy
Several creatures can cause an infestation, including bed bugs.
Several creatures can cause an infestation, including bed bugs. However, these tiny animals make it hard to determine whether they've inhabited a home or its residents and visitors.
Homeowners needing more information about these pests can learn the essentials in this guide to bed bug anatomy.
Bed bugs' appearance
After feeding, bed bugs have a reddish-brown color. They appear rusty brown or mahogany when unfed. Babies are practically colorless upon hatching and become more brownish as they grow.
As for their shape, most bed bugs are oval and flat when unfed. Once they have a meal, they become extended and swollen.
Adults are about 0.25 inches long. They generally have six legs and two antennas. Baby bed bugs are even smaller. They're usually no larger than a pin.
Regarding bed bug eggs, they generally appear whitish and are about the same size as poppy seeds. They resemble elongated capsules.
It's possible to see bed bug eggs with the naked eye. However, their miniature bodies are only likely to be detected with a professional exterminator's knowledge. Magnifying glasses and flashlights are also necessary, especially in dark areas.
What do bed bugs eat?
Humans emit carbon dioxide all day long, which is what bed bugs seek. Once they find a host, bed bugs feed on their exposed bare skin while the target is asleep. People are their prime targets, but bed bugs can infest animals and many other hosts.
These creatures can also suck blood. It takes them between five and 10 minutes to enlarge when consuming it.
The process starts when they insert two feeding tubes inside the host. The first one transfers the saliva from the bug to the feeding spot, an anesthetic to numb the area. The other tube extracts blood.
Once they're finished with their meal, bed bugs relocate to a secluded place, where they remain hidden for up to 10 days. They don't eat during this period. Instead, they primarily mate, lay eggs, and digest their food.
How long do bed bugs live?
Female species lay between one and five eggs daily throughout their lifetime, about 10 to 12 months. They usually lay eggs on rough surfaces or cracks, and it takes baby bugs less than a month to complete their stages of development. Babies become mature at the end of this period.
Most bed bugs molt once per each development stage. Each molt requires the critters to feed on their hosts, which is why these creatures were born for infestations.
Without blood meals, adults can only survive for a few months.
Fight bed bugs and win
Contacting a professional exterminator is the most reliable way to eliminate bed bugs. They have the equipment and skills to remove these critters and prevent them from causing sleep issues or other problems.
Bed Bugs Arizona offers a free, in-home bed bug inspection and a one-year warranty on all bed bug services. No obligation. We specialize in apartment communities. Our fast, certified technicians provide the Bed Bug Pro-Treat Plus method of bed bug removal to Phoenix and surrounding cities in a 100-mile-plus radius, including Flagstaff, Globe, and Casa Grande. Veteran and senior discounts. Call now at (623) 451-0541.