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How Many Legs Do Bed Bugs Have?

If you find a bug in your bed or home, make sure that you properly identify it before you assume that you have bed bugs. When you are trying to identify a bug, one of the best places to start is with the number of legs. Bed bugs belong to the classInsecta.Like all other real insects, this means that they have six legs. Bed bugs also have two antennae that you should be careful not to mistake for legs. While this is a good place to start, properbed bug identification requires knowledge of a few more characteristics. Bed bugs are small, flat, and oval shaped. They cannot fly and only have residual wing pads, not real wings. Adult bed bugs are reddish brown in color and approximately 5-6 mm long. Bed bugs have segmented abdomens with microscopic hairs on them. These hairs may give the appearance of stripes. After a bed bug has taken a blood meal, it may swell up in a balloon shape to as much as 10 mm long.



Some of the other little critters commonly mistaken for bed bugs include:

  • Cockroach nymphs
  • Wood “dog” ticks
  • Carpet beetles
  • Spider beetles
  • Fleas
By doing a little bit of research and a close examination of the specimen, you can feel more confident in your identification. If you need help with bed bugs, PF Harris is your source for great home pest control products. Save yourself loads of money on an exterminator by taking care of the bed bugs yourself. With our full line ofbed bug products, you can create a customized approach to meet your needs. Bed bugs won’t stand a chance because Harris products have you covered!