-
This digitally-colorized scanning electron micrograph (SEM) revealed some of the ultrastructural morphology displayed on the head region of a bedbug, Cimex lectularius. Of interest is one of the insects compound eyes.The compound eye is given this name due to the fact that the single large eye is really made up of many repeating units known as "ommatidia. Each ommatidium is composed of separate units made up of a photoreceptor cell, support cell, and pigment cells. Though each of these visual mechanisms functions as a separate organ, together they provide the organism with a "compound picture of its environment. Due to what is referred to as the "flicker effect, the compound eye is made very sensitive to movement, with each ommatidium turning on and off, as objects pass across its field of view. The bilateral anatomical placement of the insect's eyes provides the organism with a very wide range of visual sensitivity.Created: 2009
-
This digitally-colorized scanning electron micrograph (SEM) revealed some of the ultrastructural morphology displayed on the dorsal exoskeletal surface of a bedbug, Cimex lectularius. A member of the phylum Arthropoda, this insect has three pairs of jointed legs, hence the name, Arthro = jointed, and poda = legs. What appeared to be hair was not hair at all, but sensory structures known as setae, and are composed of chitin, the same material as the rest of this organisms exoskeleton. Chitin is a molecule made up of bound units of acetylglucosamine, joined in such a way as to allow for increased points at which hydrogen bonding can occur. In this way chitin provides increased strength, and durability as an exoskeletal foundation.Bedbugs are not vectors in nature of any known human disease. Although some disease organisms have been recovered from bedbugs under laboratory conditions, none have been shown to be transmitted by bedbugs outside of the laboratory.Created: 2009
-
This highly-magnified scanning electron micrograph (SEM) revealed some of the ultrastructural morphology displayed on the rostral head region of a bedbug, Cimex lectularius. Note the distal anatomical relationships of the insects skin piercing mouthparts used to obtain its blood meal.Clinical Features:Created: 2009
-
This scanning electron micrograph (SEM) revealed some of the ultrastructural morphology displayed on the dorsal exoskeletal surface of the head region of a bedbug, Cimex lectularius. A member of the phylum Arthropoda, this insect has three pairs of jointed legs, hence the name, Arthro = jointed, and poda = legs. What appeared to be hair was not hair at all, but sensory structures known as setae, and are composed of chitin, the same material as the rest of this organisms exoskeleton. Chitin is a molecule made up of bound units of acetylglucosamine, joined in such a way as to allow for increased points at which hydrogen bonding can occur. In this way chitin provides increased strength, and durability as an exoskeletal foundation.Bedbugs are not vectors in nature of any known human disease. Although some disease organisms have been recovered from bedbugs under laboratory conditions, none have been shown to be transmitted by bedbugs outside of the laboratory.Created: 2009
-
This 2006 photograph depicted an oblique-dorsal view of a bedbug nymph, Cimex lectularius, as it was in the process of ingesting a blood meal from the arm of a voluntary human host.Bedbugs are not vectors in nature of any known human disease. Although some disease organisms have been recovered from bedbugs under laboratory conditions, none have been shown to be transmitted by bedbugs outside of the laboratory.The common bedbug is found worldwide. Infestations are common in the developing world, occurring in settings of unsanitary living conditions and severe crowding. In North America and Western Europe, bedbug infestations became rare during the second half of the 20th century and have been viewed as a condition that occurs in travelers returning from developing countries. However, anecdotal reports suggest that bedbugs are increasingly common in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom.Created: 2006
-
This 2006 photograph depicted an anterosuperior view, i.e., from the front and above, of an adult bedbug, Cimex lectularius, as it was in the process of ingesting a blood meal from the arm of a voluntary human host.Bedbugs are not vectors in nature of any known human disease. Although some disease organisms have been recovered from bedbugs under laboratory conditions, none have been shown to be transmitted by bedbugs outside of the laboratory.The common bedbug C. lectularius is a wingless, red-brown, blood-sucking insect that grows up to 7 mm in length and has a lifespan from 4 months up to 1 year. Bedbugs hide in cracks and crevices in beds, wooden furniture, floors, and walls during the daytime and emerge at night to feed on their preferred host, humans.Created: 2006
-
This 2006 photograph depicted a lateral view of an adult bedbug, Cimex lectularius, as it was in the process of ingesting a blood meal from the arm of a voluntary human host.Bedbugs are not vectors in nature of any known human disease. Although some disease organisms have been recovered from bedbugs under laboratory conditions, none have been shown to be transmitted by bedbugs outside of the laboratory. Bedbug bites are difficult to diagnose due to the variability in bite response between people, and due to the change in skin reaction for the same person over time. It is best to collect and identify bedbugs to confirm bites. Bedbugs are responsible for loss of sleep, discomfort, disfiguring from numerous bites and occasionally bites may become infected.Created: 2006
-
This 2006 photograph depicted a dorsal view of a bedbug nymph, Cimex lectularius, as it was in the process of ingesting a blood meal from the arm of a voluntary human host, which could be seen filling the insects abdomen.Bedbugs are not vectors in nature of any known human disease. Although some disease organisms have been recovered from bedbugs under laboratory conditions, none have been shown to be transmitted by bedbugs outside of the laboratory.The common bedbug is found worldwide. Infestations are common in the developing world, occurring in settings of unsanitary living conditions and severe crowding. In North America and Western Europe, bedbug infestations became rare during the second half of the 20th century and have been viewed as a condition that occurs in travelers returning from developing countries. However, anecdotal reports suggest that bedbugs are increasingly common in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom.Created: 2006
-
This 2006 photograph depicted a lateral view of an adult bedbug, Cimex lectularius, as it was in the process of ingesting a blood meal from the arm of a voluntary human host.Bedbugs are not vectors in nature of any known human disease. Although some disease organisms have been recovered from bedbugs under laboratory conditions, none have been shown to be transmitted by bedbugs outside of the laboratory. Bedbug bites are difficult to diagnose due to the variability in bite response between people, and due to the change in skin reaction for the same person over time. It is best to collect and identify bedbugs to confirm bites. Bedbugs are responsible for loss of sleep, discomfort, disfiguring from numerous bites and occasionally bites may become infected.Created: 2006
-
This 2006 photograph depicted a frontal view of an adult bedbug, Cimex lectularius, as it was in the process of ingesting a blood meal from the arm of a voluntary human host.Bedbugs are not vectors in nature of any known human disease. Although some disease organisms have been recovered from bedbugs under laboratory conditions, none have been shown to be transmitted by bedbugs outside of the laboratory. Bedbug bites are difficult to diagnose due to the variability in bite response between people, and due to the change in skin reaction for the same person over time. It is best to collect and identify bedbugs to confirm bites. Bedbugs are responsible for loss of sleep, discomfort, disfiguring from numerous bites and occasionally bites may become infected.Created: 2006
-
Centers for Disease Control/Division of Parasitic Diseases and Malaria
EOL staff
Life cycle of Cimex bedbugsAdults and all nymphal stages of Cimex species need to take blood meals from warm-blooded hosts, which are typically humans for C. lectularius and C. hemipterus, although other mammals and birds can be utilized in the absence of a human host. Female bed bugs lay about five eggs (1) daily throughout their adult lives in a sheltered location (mattress seams, crevices in box springs, spaces under baseboards, etc). Eggs hatch in about 4-12 days into first instar nymphs (2) which must take a blood meal before molting to the next stage. The bugs will undergo five nymphal stages (2,3,4,5,6), each one requiring a blood meal before molting to the next stage, with the fifth stage molting into an adult (7). Nymphs, although lacking wing buds, resemble smaller versions of the adults. Nymphs and adults take about 5-10 minutes to obtain a full blood meal. The adults may take several blood meals over several weeks, assuming a warm-blooded host is available. Mating occurs off the host and involves a unique form of copulation called ‘traumatic insemination’ whereby the male penetrates the female’s abdominal wall with his external genitalia and inseminates into her body cavity. Adults live 6-12 months and may survive for long periods of time without feeding.From
Centers for Disease Control Parasites and Health website
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-