Something Everyone Should Know About Bed Bugs 2
All bed bugs do not look alike. In fact, young bed bugs are clear– they’re almost transparent– and they don’t look like the bed bugs you’re likely to find in pictures on the internet. They don’t turn reddish or dark brown until after they’ve fed on your blood. Most people don’t know this, but everyone really should, because it’s easy to miss a tiny little translucent bug in the corner of your mattress if you don’t know you should be looking for it. Here are some amazing photos of a first instar nymph (a bed bug in its first stage of life) before, during, and at the end of a feeding session on a real live human hand, courtesy of AMNH- Sorkin & Mercurio on this Flickr Photostream:
I know, I know, it’s gross, but it’s a reality for many, many people. And knowing this could save you lots of time, money, and misery in the future. So, take a mental picture, and the next time you take your sheets off your bed, give your mattress a good inspection, okay? Trust me, you want to catch it early, even if it creeps you out!
