Adult bed bugs are small, wingless insects about the size of an apple seed, measuring roughly 5 to 7 millimeters (3/16 to 1/4 inch) long
. They have a flat, oval-shaped body and are reddish-brown in color. When unfed, their bodies appear flat and brown; after feeding, they become swollen, elongated, and bright red due to the ingested blood, resembling a balloon or torpedo shape
. Young bed bugs, called nymphs, go through five immature stages. They are smaller than adults and translucent whitish-yellow when hungry, but after feeding, they become plump and bright red, making them easier to see
. Bed bug eggs are tiny, about the size of a pinhead, pearl-white, and may show an eye spot after about five days
. In summary, bed bugs look like:
- Adults: Reddish-brown, flat, oval-shaped, wingless, about the size of an apple seed (5-7 mm).
- Nymphs: Smaller, translucent or whitish-yellow when unfed, bright red and plump after feeding.
- Eggs: Tiny, pearl-white, about 1 mm in size with possible eye spots after several days
They often hide in mattress seams, cracks, crevices, and furniture, making them difficult to spot unless recently fed or disturbed
