Unlike most other bugs, the bed
bug is wingless. When it has not recently fed the body is paper
thin, and almost red brown. So far as is known bed bugs came
originally from Asia, but they have now spread to all parts
of the world. They were well known in ancient times in the
Mediterranean area. As they require a warm, dry climate they
did not spread to northern regions until buildings started
to be heated, but when this did happen they soon became very
abundant. They are now less common and are largely kept under
control by modern insecticides.
Bedbugs belong to the family of true bugs known as Cimicidae.
Members of this family are small, oval, flat, hard-bodied,
flightless insects in which the wings are absent or reduced
to stubs. When unfed, the common bedbug adult is 1/4 to 3/8
inch in length and brownish in color. After feeding, the body
elongates and widens and the color changes to dull red. This
apparent change is quite striking and may cause the observer
to believe that two different species of insects are present.
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