{"id":238485,"date":"2023-10-11T18:17:12","date_gmt":"2023-10-11T18:17:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lovemainstream.com\/?p=238485"},"modified":"2023-10-11T18:17:12","modified_gmt":"2023-10-11T18:17:12","slug":"what-do-bedbugs-look-like-how-to-tell-if-you-have-spotted-one-the-sun","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lovemainstream.com\/world-news\/what-do-bedbugs-look-like-how-to-tell-if-you-have-spotted-one-the-sun\/","title":{"rendered":"What do bedbugs look like? How to tell if you have spotted one | The Sun"},"content":{"rendered":"

BEDBUG infestations are on the rise and as a result experts are urging the public to remain vigilant. <\/p>\n

Therefore it's important to know what the critters look like and how to tell them apart from other bugs.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

What do bedbugs look like?<\/h2>\n

According to the NHS, bedbugs can be dark yellow, red or brown.<\/p>\n

The critters are oval shaped and are around the size of an apple seed.<\/p>\n

As an insect they have six legs and two antenna.<\/p>\n

You can identify adult bedbugs by their size as they are around 5mm long and there will be spots from their waste like little ink splats.<\/p>\n

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The adult pesky pests do have the vestiges of wings called wing pads, but they do not fully develop into functional wings, therefore they cannot fly<\/p>\n

Bedbugs can look somewhat different depending on
their feeding status<\/p>\n

After they have fed, bedbugs bodies will swell and turn a reddish colour from their latest meal.\u00a0<\/p>\n

How to tell bedbugs apart from other bugs<\/h2>\n

As well as knowing how to identify bedbugs, it is also important to know how to tell them apart from other bugs.<\/p>\n

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With so many critters crawling around, it may be confusing to identify exactly which insect is invading your home.<\/p>\n

From carpet beetles to fleas – here's how to tell bugs apart from the bloodsucking critters.<\/p>\n

Carpet beetles<\/h3>\n

<\/p>\n

Bedbugs and carpet beetles have similarities that can confuse people – however, these two pesky pests are quite different.<\/p>\n

Like bedbugs, carpet beetles are common among households and can cause severe damage to bedding, clothes and carpets if left unchecked.<\/p>\n

Their name may be deceiving, as they can appear in any home, whether you have carpets, hardwood flooring or tiles.<\/p>\n

Carpet beetles\u00a0are tiny bugs considered as a fabric pest and have six legs, wings, two antennae, and a hard body.<\/p>\n

Whereas bedbugs\u00a0are tiny, flat insects that feed on humans, leaving behind itchy bites and causing distress.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Fleas<\/h3>\n

<\/p>\n

It can also be difficult to tell these two critters apart.<\/p>\n

While both require a warm-blooded host to provide blood meals,\u00a0fleas\u00a0tend to prefer feeding on hairy or furry animals such as cats and dogs, where as bedbugs prefer feeding on a human host.<\/p>\n

It's also useful to note that bedbugs\u00a0do not fly or jump but fleas do – they can jump almost 200 times their body length.<\/p>\n

Although the two also look quite similar – there are certain ways to tell the insects apart.<\/p>\n

Like bedbugs, fleas are also reddish-brown but have a more oval shape that appears skinnier and longer, rather than flatter.<\/p>\n

Fleas are also generally smaller.<\/p>\n

Other bugs that share similarities with bedbugs include, booklice, ticks, baby cockroaches and spider beetles.<\/p>\n

Are bedbugs dangerous?<\/h2>\n

The good news is bedbugs are not considered to be dangerous.<\/p>\n

However, it is important to note that although bedbugs are not dangerous, they can cause extreme discomfort and distress if bitten by them.<\/p>\n

Their bites can be itchy and lead to skin rashes, however, they do not usually cause serious health problems.<\/p>\n

A\u00a0severe allergic reaction (anaphylaxis)\u00a0is also possible but rare.<\/p>\n

Discussing the critters, Robert Smith, emeritus\u00a0professor at the University of Huddersfield: ''The thought of these bloodsuckers might be unpleasant, but don't panic as they don't carry or spread any human diseases, as far as we know.''<\/p>\n

Can you see bedbugs with the naked eye?<\/h2>\n

Although bedbugs are small, they are perfectly visible to the naked eye.<\/p>\n

When bedbugs are fully grown it's easy to spot them – whether they are found on clothes, beds and belongings.<\/p>\n

Aside from knowing how to spot the pesky pests, it is also important to know the five signs bedbugs have invaded your home.<\/p>\n

Nic Shacklock told The Sun the\u00a0five things to look out\u00a0for are:<\/p>\n